Owl Drone icon
Sova · Basic ability

Owl Drone

Owl Drone is Sova's C basic ability. EQUIP a destructible Owl Drone. FIRE to take control. FIRE again to shoot a dart that repeatedly reveals enemies.

Agent
Sova
Role
Initiator
Key
C
Type
Basic ability

How has Owl Drone changed in every patch?

All patch notes →

Owl Drone has been changed in 14 patches, from patch 0.50 to patch 12.05: 9 buffs, 10 nerfs and 13 bug fixes. Newest changes first.

  1. Patch 12.05
    • Bugfix Fixed a bug where a floating gun may briefly appear when a suppression effect interrupts it
  2. Patch 11.05
    • BugfixNerf Fixed audio issue where the “being watched” sonic feedback wouldn't trigger if the drone had line-of-sight to the player when the drone spawned.
  3. Patch 11.00
    • Added Enemies now hear a light warning audio loop when they are spotted by Sova’s drone
    • Added Audio hit confirm feedback has been added when shooting the drone successfully
  4. Patch 10.06
    • Bugfix Fixed an issue where Sova would go into an incorrect idle animation pose in third person after exiting Owl Drone.
  5. Patch 7.12
    • BugfixBuff Fixed an issue causing kills with Shock Bolt to not be awarded while using Owl Drone
  6. Patch 5.12
    • Buff Now immune to all allied damage
  7. Patch 4.08
    • Nerf Duration reduced 10s → 7s
    • Nerf Health reduced 125 → 100
    • Nerf Number of reveal pings reduced 3 → 2
    • Nerf Initial delay before first ping reveals increased 1.2s → 1.6s
      • Delay between the first and second ping remains 1.2s
    • Buff Changed crosshair color to green to better stand out against the white HUD
    • Buff Removed delay on [Target Hit] confirmation text
    • Buff [Target Hit] confirmation text now remains on the player HUD when transitioning out of Owl Drone
    • Adjustment Duration that [Target Hit] confirmation text remains on screen increased 1s → 2s
    • Adjustment Adjusted audio on drone dart hits for both Sova and the player hit to make confirmations more noticeable
    • BugfixBuff Fixed a bug where the Dart Cooldown UI element would not properly update after tagging an opponent
  8. Patch 3.00
    • Nerf Cost increased 300 → 400
  9. Patch 2.05
    • BugfixBuff Fixed a rare bug that could leave players unable to move or process inputs until they died when entering or returning from Owl Drone
      • "We previously addressed some causes of this bug last patch, this fix should address the remaining known causes"
  10. Patch 2.03
    • BugfixNerf Fixed issue where Owl Drone could clip through specific map geo and view the other side
    • BugfixBuff Fixed a couple input bugs around possessing and unpossessing Owl Drone in the same frame which lead to locking all inputs or locking view direction
  11. Patch 1.09
    • BugfixNerf Fixed issue where Sova's hitbox was incorrect while using Owl Drone
  12. Patch 1.05
    • BugfixBuff Fixed issue causing Owl Drone to rotate slower
  13. Patch 1.04
    • Bugfix Fixed jittering when reaching the max flight height
  14. Patch 0.50
    • Adjustment Now includes a layer of sound for engine rotors.
      • Audio should better reflect thematics, while maintaining how noticeable the previous version of Owl Drone audio was for allies and enemies, as heard in 3rd-person
    • BugfixNerf Sova will no longer float in the air if the Sage Barrier Orb Barrier Orb wall he is standing on is destroyed while using Owl Drone
    • BugfixNerf No longer rapid-fires darts if the prior one hits an enemy

Patch change data adapted from Sova's update history on the VALORANT Wiki, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.

Sova's other abilities

Sova guide →
Q

Shock Bolt

Basic ability

EQUIP a Shock Bolt. FIRE to shoot a bolt that explodes on any surface, dealing damage to all players. HOLD FIRE to increase the bolt’s velocity. ALT FIRE to add up to two bounces.
E

Recon Bolt

Signature ability

EQUIP a destructible Recon Bolt. FIRE to shoot a bolt that repeatedly reveals nearby enemies in range and line of sight. HOLD FIRE to increase the bolt’s velocity. ALT FIRE to add up to two bounces.
X

Hunter's Fury

Ultimate ability

EQUIP Hunter’s Fury. FIRE to shoot a zone that deals damage. Can be fired up to two more times. Enemies hit are revealed to Sova.

Other Initiator C abilities

All abilities →
C

Aftershock

Breach · Basic ability

EQUIP Aftershock. FIRE to send a zone through a wall, exploding to repeatedly deal damage to all players.
C

Prowler

Fade · Basic ability

EQUIP a destructible Prowler. FIRE to send it forward. HOLD FIRE to steer towards your crosshair. Chases the first enemy or Terror Trail it sees, nearsighting on impact.
C

Mosh Pit

Gekko · Basic ability

EQUIP Mosh. FIRE to throw. ALT FIRE to lob. On landing, create a zone that deals low damage over time before exploding, dealing high damage to all players. Reverts to a Globule.
C

FRAG/ment

KAY/O · Basic ability

EQUIP FRAG/ment. FIRE to throw. ALT FIRE to lob. Explodes on landing, repeatedly dealing pulses of damage to all players.
C

Regrowth

Skye · Basic ability

EQUIP Regrowth. HOLD FIRE to heal allies in range and line of sight. Uses a limited healing pool. Cannot heal self.
C

Stealth Drone

Tejo · Basic ability

EQUIP a destructible Stealth Drone. FIRE to take control. FIRE again to reveal and suppress nearby enemies in range and line of sight.