The big 5.0 update for Valorant brings a new map, Pearl, removes an old one, Split, and changes the competitive tier system.
For two weeks after Pearl launches, Valorant will offer a Pearl-only playlist. After those two weeks, Pearl will be included in Unranked and Competitive modes. The split map will also be temporarily removed from the competitive and unranked map pools.
The other significant change is the addition of the Ascendant rank, which falls between Diamond and Immortal ranks in competitive play. The patch notes cite concerns about player distribution across ranks, especially at lower tiers. An additional rank will help, the notes state, define the skill level of each rank and properly distribute players. Similarly, the rank determining MMR targets for all ranks below Immortal have been moved down to make room for the incoming tier. Also, the seasonal reset will be less severe than before and after this patch, because players are moving up to the Ascendant level.
The rest of the patch includes some bug fixes. For example, weapon equips will no longer occasionally display the wrong initial animation, the channeling bar will update normally if a player disconnects and then reconnects to a match, and Jett can’t equip a weapon during Tailwind.
You can find the full patch notes below or on Valorant’s website.
MAP UPDATES
PEARL
- NEW MAP: Pearl goes live!
- Tail only for pearls
- This queue is a standard, unranked mode that will give players a chance to practice the new map before they see it in competitive play.
- Pearl-only queue will be available for 2 weeks, after that Pearl will enter Competitive.
PULL APART
COMPETITIVE UPDATES
NEW RANK: Ascendant
- Added an additional rank above Diamond, below Immortal, called “Ascendant”.
- We think our lower ranks have too many of you, especially Bronze and Silver. When we looked at the rank distribution, we realized that if we moved some of you up and out of those lower ranks, you would overpopulate Platinum and Diamond. So by adding a new rank, we can better distribute it across ranks, keep the ranks prestige high, and help better define the skill level of each rank.
- Moved rank determining rank MMR targets down, due to the addition of the new Ascendant rank, for all ranks below Ascendant. Moved ranked target for Immortal 1/2/3 and Radiant up.
- These are caps that say “You must have X MMR to reach this rank.” MMR goals determine your RR gains and help boost your rank to match your MMR.
- This means that players will rank up if they are below the Ascendant.
- To align with our expectations of what it means to be at the higher ranks in VALORANT, Immortal+ players will find it more difficult to climb back up to their previous episode rank. This means Immortal will also have a smaller ranked population in all regions.
- Due to the seasonal reset, you may not see a rank increase at the beginning of the episode without doing some work; but the reboot will be “less severe” compared to the last reboot of the episode. So, because we’re pushing the player base up to fill Ascendant, the reset won’t hit them as hard.
- The next time we reset ranks, it will probably push you down more than this episode’s reset. Remember that the “less severe” reset is unique to this episode due to the introduction of Ascendant.
- Pool restrictions for Ascendant are 3 ranks above or below the Ascendant ranked player
- This fits in with our Platinum+ set of rules for grouping.
- The highest placement allowed has increased to Ascendant 1 (previously Diamond 1)
- Five stack 25% RR penalty now starts at Immortal 1 (previously Diamond 3)
- Solo/Duo/5-stack restriction now starts at Immortal 1 (previously Diamond 3)
- Remember, Diamond 3 and higher previously could only solo, duo, and 5-stack. This restriction now starts in Immortal 1.
- By adding another range, we were able to bring the Five Stack penalty and Solo/Duo restrictions to Immortal. This makes it easier, Immortal is where the leaderboard starts and so we try to make players more accountable for their positions.
- Due to a naming conflict with the new rank, we’ve changed the name of Sage’s Tier 8 Agent Contract unlock: Sage’s new title is “Dauntless.”
- Changing the name of this title was not something we chose lightly, but after discussing the title, we felt it was an opportunity to give more meaning to Sage and her personality/theme.
INSECTS
maps
- Fixed a bug in Haven that prevented players from using their spray on a wall in A Garden
Agents
- Fixed a bug where Jett could equip a weapon during Tailwind
- Fixed a bug where Operators revealed by Sova’s Recon Bolt or Fade’s Haunt would sometimes briefly appear in the wrong location on the minimap.
- Fixed a bug where the scope visual effect would sometimes disappear when aiming with Chamber’s Tour De Force.
game systems
- Fixed a bug where using an Ultimate Point Orb or disabling the Spike at max range could cause channeling and progress bar animations to flicker.
- Fixed a bug where the usage channel progress bar would not update if the player disconnects and reconnects during the match.
- Fixed a bug where some weapon rigs could play the wrong rig speed animation, which could visually misrepresent when you could fire. Some situations affected by this error were:
- Cypher leaving Spycam
- Ultimate Point Orb Capture
- Canceling and completing the Spike plant
GameSpot may earn a commission from retail offers.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a portion of the proceeds if you purchase something featured on our site.