VALORANT Patch 12.08 arrives with Skirmish: Ascension, a limited-time ranked mode that promises faster matches focused on pure skill. Throughout Act 3, this mode puts gunplay in the spotlight while still keeping things tactical thanks to carefully chosen Agent abilities. Players can jump in solo or as a duo (1v1 or 2v2), battling it out in dedicated queues with a completely separate FTW leaderboard.

Here, you pick from 14 pre-selected Agents, each with just a single ability from their kit. The usual economy is out the window; weapon progression happens step by step. The first rounds (1-4) are all pistols, then rifles enter the mix (rounds 5-8), and from round 9 onward, it’s time for the classic Vandal and Phantom. You can also unlock player cards after each match and earn exclusive titles based on your best rank, from Skirmish Competitor all the way up to Skirmish Legend.

Patch 12.08 also brings a new map rotation for everyone. Ascent makes its big comeback in Competitive and Deathmatch queues, while Bind bows out. The limited-time Knockout mode is also leaving, and Riot took the chance to thank everyone who gave it a shot.

On PC, Premier returns with Stage V26A3, with matches kicking off on May 6. The Contender and Invite Divisions get six weeks of matches, happening every Saturday from May 9 to June 13, followed by playoffs on June 20 and 21. This patch also fixes several bugs affecting Agents like Viper, Sage, Tejo, Yoru, Gekko, KAY/O, Neon, and Veto. A heads-up for console players: a few known issues remain in Skirmish: Ascension, especially with overtime timers and ability tracking in the Combat Report.

We designed this mode as a fast, skill-forward competitive experience where gunplay stays primary, but selected abilities create more tactical decisions and replayable duels. Pick from a curated roster of Agents, each equipped with a single ability, and fight through staged weapon rounds in 1v1 or 2v2. Compete on the FTW ranked ladder to earn rewards and prove you are better. Available for Act 3.

Jett (Tailwind)

Waylay (Refract)

Chamber (Rendezvous)

Cypher (Cyber Cage)

Omen (Shrouded Step)

Phoenix (Curve Ball)

Yoru (Clone)

Iso (Contingency)

Sage (Barrier Orb)

Raze (Blast Pack)

Vyse (Arc Rose)

KAY/O (Flash/Drive)

Breach (Flashpoint)

Veto (Crosscut)

There are only 6 weeks of matches this stage – the matches are still each Saturday from May 9 - June 13.

Playoffs now take place across multiple days.

The first round of playoffs takes place on June 20.

Teams that advance from the first round return on June 21 for their next matchup.