Patch 12.00: new bandit weapon, breeze rework, and competitive MMR Systems go live

Patch 12.00 of VALORANT - Credit: Riot GAMES

New weapon

On January 6, Riot Games kicked off the VALORANT 2026 season with the deployment of Patch 12.00, a major update impacting every core pillar of the game. The introduction of the Bandit, a new 600-credit precision sidearm, is set to disrupt the economy of light rounds by positioning itself as a direct alternative to the Ghost and the Sheriff. In parallel, the matchmaking system is undergoing a significant overhaul of its hidden MMR to ensure better competitive integrity, while high-ranking players (Ascendant+) in Europe must now enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access the Competitive queue, a decisive measure aimed at curbing account sharing.

In terms of gameplay and immersion, this update marks the highly anticipated return of Breeze, which has been fully reworked to simplify firing angles and streamline defensive rotations. The Agent roster also sees notable adjustments for Breach, Harbor, and Tejo, designed to amplify their tactical impact. Additionally, players can now experience the "All Random, One Site" limited-time mode, a fast-paced environment where Agents rotate every round on a single objective. Finally, the PC client features a complete redesign of the Home Screen and Social Panel, providing a more modern and intuitive navigation experience for the new competitive year.

GENERAL UPDATES

Replays

Replays are now available for Custom Swiftplay and Standard matches. Party leaders can opt in to a Custom game being recorded in the Custom lobby settings.

COMPETITIVE UPDATES

Hidden MMR Update

We’ve made changes to our hidden MMR calculation that should improve match quality and help bring more consistent experiences match-to-match.

MFA for EU

Starting in 12.00, accounts detected for sharing in EU and all Ascendant+ players must enable Riot Mobile multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access Competitive queue. Other modes will remain unaffected.
You can check out this article for more information on why we're making this change, or get yourself set up with MFA now using this how-to guide.

AGENTS UPDATES

Breach

Breach has been underperforming in high level play so we are adding power back that we’re hoping will better reward precision and coordination.

Flashpoint

Projectile speed increased 20% from 2000 >>> 2400

2. Fault Line

Width increased from 7.5m >>> 8m

Brimstone

Tactical map on the on Sky Smoke and Orbital Strike have been updated for better readability

Harbor

Harbor’s new abilities haven’t made the splash we had hoped for, so we’re increasing the windows of advantage when enemies are hit by his new aggressive abilities.

Storm Surge

Explosion no longer requires line of sight to nearsight and slow players
Explosion windup decreased from 0.8s >>> 0.6s
Slow duration increased from 0.6s >>> 2s

2. Reckoning

Slow duration increased from 0.6s >>> 2s

Sage

We have updated Sage targeting to make it more accurate to Agent models. Players can now heal targeted allies if the mid and lower sections of their models are blocked by geometry.
Healing Orb
Updated targeting

Tejo

We’ve been confident in Tejo’s unique slot in the roster as our primary flushing Initiator, but wanted to add a bit of power to the abilities that are supporting Guided Salvos, round over round. Adding damage to Special Delivery should help provide an additional way to disrupt defensive utility in ways players are already able to do with Guided Salvos, while changes to Stealth Drone are aimed at helping with making the call to actions clearer for knowing where to place Guided Salvos or when playing alongside a Tejo.

Special Delivery

Concuss duration decreased from 4 seconds >>> 2.5 seconds
Added damage on the explosion - Maximum damage of 35 at center, with minimum damage of 20

2. Stealth Drone

Reveal type has been changed from Snapshot reveal to being fully Revealed
Pulse radius decreased from 30m >>> 16m

Vyse

Vyse has been slightly underperforming after recent changes, so we’re giving back some area to Steel Garden to compensate. This should make site takes and defensive holds more reliable.

Steel Garden

Radius increased from 26m >>> 28m
Width increased from 7.5m >>> 8m

MAP UPDATES

Breeze Rework

Breeze is back—and has received our biggest map rework yet! We've made significant changes across the entire map to reduce angle complexity, tighten open spaces, and improve rotation times for defenders. The sun's still shining, but a lot of your old setups probably won’t work. Check out this video to take a look at the changes.
Breeze Rework Event: For the first 2 weeks of Competitive, Breeze RR losses are reduced by 50%, wins are still 100% (to also help you learn the map!)

Haven and Corrode

Haven and Corrode are receiving targeted wall penetration updates. We're addressing specific positions where teams could meaningfully influence rounds through firing at walls with high penetration weapons without much exposure.
Haven - Mid Window
Added a breakable element to prevent early round start kills through wall penetration

Corrode

Some of Corrode's wall materials have made certain positions too effective at denying space through penetration alone. We're adjusting the wall materials in key areas so that holding these spots requires more commitment.
A Site - Adjusted wall material on a key surface
B Site - Adjusted wall material on a key surface

Map Pool Updates

BREEZE is IN the COMPETITIVE and DEATHMATCH queues.
SUNSET is OUT of the COMPETITIVE and DEATHMATCH queues.

MODES UPDATES

New Limited Time Mode

Introducing All Random One Site—an all new fast-paced 5v5 limited-time mode. Your Agent changes every round, you fight for a single site, loadouts are free, and abilities recharge throughout the round while high-value Ultimate Orbs are scattered across the map—get ready for ultimate chaos!
Mode Details
Random Agents - You're assigned a new random Agent every round—no duplicates per team - All Agents are available regardless of ownership
Single Site - Each round activates one bomb site with barriers blocking unused areas of the map - The active site randomizes each round - Active site is revealed during the buy phase
Available Maps - Abyss, Ascent, Breeze, Corrode, Pearl, Icebox, Sunset, Split
Abilities - Full ability charges granted each round at no cost - Abilities recharge throughout the round
Ultimate Orbs - Start each round at 0% ultimate charge - Ultimate Orbs are placed around the map and grant 50% ultimate charge when captured - Kills grant 50% ultimate charge - Killed players drop Ground Orbs containing their accumulated charge
Loadouts - No economy—select your loadout each round - Weapon offerings escalate through stages as the match progresses
Leaving Limited Time Mode - Snowball Fight is heading out. Thanks for playing!

PLAYER BEHAVIOR UPDATES

Behavior Standing is Live! - You’ll see an indicator on the Social Panel if you have an active penalty or are at immediate risk of a future penalty. After expanding the indicator, you’ll see additional information related to your active and at-risk penalties.
Riot Games Community Pact - Play to Win. Play Fair. Play with Respect. Or play something else.
When you log in for the first time after this patch you’ll see the Community Pact. The Community Pact is an evolution of the Community Code and covers our expectations for player behavior. However, unlike the Community Code, you should expect to see and recommit to it every year.
To better reflect these expectations in-game, we've updated the categories and descriptions on Report Player screens to align with these core principles.
We’ve adjusted our systems for Chat and Inappropriate Name penalties.
Our systems will more reliably issue firmer penalties sooner for frequent or severe Voice and Text Chat offenses.
If you receive an Account Ban for having an Inappropriate Riot ID, you’ll be unable to change your Riot ID until the ban is over.

WEAPONS UPDATES

Introducing the Bandit, a precision sidearm with 1-tap headshot power for those that want to steal some rounds on a budget. The Bandit lands right between the Ghost and Sheriff, offering more diversity in light rounds whether choosing to focus on Agent abilities or focus on gunplay.
Weapon Class: Sidearm
Price: 600 credits
Attachments: None
Bullets per Magazine: 8
Ammo Reserve: 24
Reload Timing: 1.5s
Equip Timing: .75s
Wall Penetration: Medium

BUG FIXES

Agents

General Agents: Fixed a bug where ability cooldown bars would disappear for observers when switching between Agents.
General Agents: Fixed many bugs where throw animations would break if aiming straight down.
This applies to Clove’s Meddle, Cypher’s Cyber Cage, Deadlock’s Gravnet and Barrier Mesh, Fade’s Haunt and Seize, Gekko’s Mosh Pit, Iso’s Undercut, Jett’s Cloudburst, KAY/O’s FRAG/MENT, Pheonix’s Hot Hands, Reyna’s Leer, and Viper’s Poison Cloud.

Astra:

Fixed a bug where Astra's Nebula created by Dissipate did not have an icon on the minimap.

Breach:

Fixed a bug where Breach’s Rolling Thunder was launching people at inconsistent heights if Breach was on different elevation.

Clove:

Fixed a bug where their total health pool was displaying 151 instead of 150 when overhealed with Pick Me Up.

Cypher:

Fixed a bug where a placed Trapwire could be heard being placed again as the barrier drops.

Deadlock:

Fixed a bug where Annihilation would phase through certain parts of Breeze and leave captured enemies stuck against a wall.

Gekko:

Fixed a bug where Wingman could continue chasing players after they teleport away.

Sova:

Fixed a bug where switching to melee after fully charging Recon Dart or Shock Dart caused the lightning VFX to disappear for the rest of the game.

Veto:

Fixed a bug where Chokehold’s jump throw trajectory was inconsistent.

Yoru:

Fixed a bug where using Dimensional Drift while attaching to an ascender would cause Yoru to get stuck in an animation loop.

Maps

Haven

Fixed unintended wall penetration between A Tower and A Site

Fixed unintended wall penetration between B Site and C Garage

Bind

Fixed unintended wall penetration between B Window and B Garden

Competitive

Fixed an issue where V25A3 ranked gun buddies were shown in your collection with the incorrect name of “V25A6.”

PC ONLY

CLIENT UPDATES

Refreshed Home Screen Layout

The Home Screen has been revamped to utilize the top navigation of other screens

Refreshed Lobby / Queue Select

Matchmade Lobby
Added a “Queue Select” screen, with new art and queue descriptions
Your currently selected queue is now more prominently displayed on the left side of the lobby screen

Custom Lobby

Updated layout for custom lobby
Mode and Map select are now located on the left and utilize selection screens with new art and descriptions

The Social Panel has been revamped with a fresh coat of paint and some quality of life improvements, including a new tab for managing friend requests!

PREMIER UPDATES

Welcome to Stage V26A1! Matches start on January 14.
If your team was in the Invite Division in Stage V25A6 and did not finish the Stage in the top 16 teams, your team has been demoted. You’ll see your new Provisional Division in the Premier hub.
Demoted teams seeded into the zone they originally promoted from. Your Team Owner can change your team’s zone in the Team Settings dropdown anytime before your team plays a match.
If your team cannot be placed into a zone, your Team Owner will be prompted to select a zone.

BUG FIXES

Agent
Deadlock:
Fixed a bug where Barrier Mesh walls were sometimes invisible if placed when experiencing packet loss.
KAY/O:
Fixed a bug where KAY/O would make no sound upon dying while downed in NULL/cmd.

KNOWN ISSUES

Client
Known Issue with Whispers
If whispering a friend doesn't work, you can send them a message via Riot Client's social panel first, join a party together, or re-add them as a friend.

CONSOLE ONLY

BUG FIXES

Client

The queue timer now displays correctly when disconnecting and reconnecting with the timer active.
The queue can now be canceled after reconnecting with the timer active.
“Choose a mode” now properly displays as “Choose a Queue” on the queue select screen.
You can now start the queue after the party leader leaves or the party is disbanded.

Patch 12.00: new bandit weapon, breeze rework, and competitive MMR Systems go live

Patch 12.00 adds the Bandit sidearm, reworks Breeze, updates hidden MMR, and mandates MFA for EU Ascendant+ competitors.

GENERAL UPDATES

Replays

COMPETITIVE UPDATES

Hidden MMR Update

MFA for EU

AGENTS UPDATES

Breach

Brimstone

Harbor

Sage

Tejo

Vyse

MAP UPDATES

Breeze Rework

Haven and Corrode

Corrode

Map Pool Updates

MODES UPDATES

New Limited Time Mode

PLAYER BEHAVIOR UPDATES

WEAPONS UPDATES

BUG FIXES

Agents

Astra:

Breach:

Clove:

Cypher:

Deadlock:

Gekko:

Sova:

Veto:

Yoru:

Maps

Competitive

PC ONLY

CLIENT UPDATES

Refreshed Home Screen Layout

Refreshed Lobby / Queue Select

Custom Lobby

Refreshed Social Panel

PREMIER UPDATES

BUG FIXES

KNOWN ISSUES

CONSOLE ONLY

BUG FIXES

Client

Author

Corentin Phalip