1. Introduction

Valorant is a 5v5 character-based tactical shooter developed by Riot Games. Players select unique Agents with distinct abilities and compete in round-based matches where one team attacks (plants the Spike) and the other defends. The game combines precise gunplay with strategic ability usage.

The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) is the official competitive circuit organized by Riot Games, featuring international leagues, Masters events, and the annual Champions tournament. The VCT operates across three partnership leagues: Americas, Pacific, and EMEA.

This ruleset covers the standard competitive format used in VCT events and Riot-sanctioned tournaments.

2. Equipment & Technical Requirements

Hardware

Gaming PC meeting Riot Games tournament specifications
Monitor: 240Hz refresh rate, 24-25 inch display (tournament standard)
Mouse: players bring their own (must be tournament-approved)
Keyboard: players bring their own (no macro functionality)
Headset: noise-isolating with microphone for team communication
Mouse pad: players may bring their own

Software

Official Valorant tournament client (provided by Riot Games)
Current competitive patch version
Riot Vanguard anti-cheat must be active
No unauthorized third-party software or overlays permitted
Custom crosshair and keybind settings allowed within client parameters

Network

LAN play for all VCT international events
Tournament realm servers operated by Riot Games
128-tick servers standard for all competitive play
Online matches: <35ms ping required to tournament server

3. Playing Area (Maps)

Matches are played on maps from the competitive map pool, which Riot Games rotates periodically.

Competitive Map Pool (2026)

Ascent: Classic two-site map with open mid and closeable doors
Bind: Two sites connected by one-way teleporters, no traditional mid
Haven: Unique three-bombsite layout requiring split defensive strategies
Lotus: Three-site map with rotating doors and destructible walls
Sunset: Two-site map with a central market area and tight corridors
Abyss: Map with open edges where players can fall off the map
Split: Vertically-oriented two-site map with ropes and elevated positions

Map Structure

Each map has two or three spike sites where attackers can plant the Spike
Maps feature unique interactive elements (teleporters, doors, destructible walls, zip lines)
Ability orbs are placed on maps for players to collect and charge abilities

4. Players & Officials

Team Composition

Each team consists of 5 active players and up to 1 substitute
Each player selects a unique Agent (no duplicate Agents per team)
Agent roles: Duelists, Initiators, Controllers, Sentinels
One coach per team; coaches may communicate during agent select, timeouts, and between maps

Officials

Match referees: Monitor gameplay, manage pauses, enforce competitive rules
Tournament administrators: Handle scheduling, protests, agent bans, and rule interpretations
Technical staff: Maintain servers, player PCs, and network infrastructure
Integrity team: Monitor for unauthorized software and competitive violations

Player Eligibility

Minimum age: 16 years
Must be signed to a VCT partnership team or qualify through Challengers/Ascension
Must not be under an active Riot Games competitive ruling
Regional residency rules apply for league participation
Must complete all required competitive integrity training

5. Rules of Play

Map Veto & Agent Select

Map veto follows a ban-pick sequence similar to CS2
BO3: Each team bans one map, picks one map, remaining map is decider
BO5: Each team bans one map, then alternating picks
After map selection, teams enter Agent Select phase
Agent Select: simultaneous selection with a 60-second timer
Agents may be locked in or changed until the timer expires

Round Structure

Each half consists of 12 rounds (teams switch sides after 12 rounds)
Round time: 1 minute 40 seconds
Spike detonation timer: 45 seconds after plant
Buy phase: 30 seconds at the start of each round
Barrier phase: players confined to spawn until round begins

Economy System

Players earn credits through kills, spike plants/defuses, and round results
Pistol round starting credits: 800
Maximum credits: 9,000
Loss streak bonus: incremental credits for consecutive losses
Economy management (eco, force buy, full buy) is central to strategy

Abilities

Each Agent has 4 abilities: 2 purchasable, 1 signature (free each round), 1 ultimate
Ultimate abilities charge through kills, deaths, orb pickups, and round progression
Abilities interact with the environment (smokes block vision, walls block movement, etc.)
Friendly fire on abilities is limited but may affect teammates in some cases

Timeouts

Each team receives 2 tactical timeouts per map (60 seconds each)
Technical pauses may be called for hardware/software issues (referee approval)
Coaches may communicate with players during timeouts

6. Scoring & Victory Conditions

Round Win Conditions

Attackers: Plant and detonate the Spike, OR eliminate all defenders
Defenders: Defuse the Spike, eliminate all attackers, OR let the round timer expire

Match Win Condition

First team to 13 rounds wins the map
If the score reaches 12-12, overtime begins

Overtime

Teams vote to draw or play overtime (both must agree to draw)
Overtime: 2 rounds per side (4 total per OT period)
Starting credits: 5,000 per OT round
First to win both rounds on a side wins the OT period
Additional OT periods until a winner is determined
In tournament play, overtime is mandatory (no draw option)

Series Scoring

BO1: Single map win
BO3: First to 2 map wins (standard playoff format)
BO5: First to 3 map wins (Grand Finals)

7. Violations & Penalties

Competitive Integrity

Cheating: Use of aimbots, wallhacks, or any unauthorized software — permanent competitive ban
Match fixing: Manipulating match outcomes or betting — permanent ban
Bug exploitation: Intentional abuse of known bugs — round forfeit to match forfeit
Stream sniping: Using broadcast information during matches — suspension
Account violations: Smurfing or account sharing in competitive play — suspension

Behavioral Violations

Disruptive behavior: Intentional team damage, refusal to play, AFK — warning to suspension
Harassment: Personal attacks against players, staff, or fans — fine to suspension
Social media violations: Leaking confidential information or hate speech — fine to suspension
Gambling: Betting on Valorant matches by players or staff — suspension to permanent ban

Penalty Tiers

Verbal or written warning
Round or map forfeiture
Monetary fine
Match suspension (1-10 matches)
Season suspension from VCT
Permanent ban from Riot-sanctioned competition

8. Safety & Integrity

Anti-Cheat

Riot Vanguard: Kernel-level anti-cheat required on all competitive systems
Tournament PCs are hardened with restricted software installations
Peripheral device verification at all LAN events
Real-time monitoring during matches by integrity staff

Player Welfare

Adequate rest periods mandated between matches and across event days
Soundproof booths or isolation setups at international events
Access to sports psychologists and mental health resources
Anti-harassment policies protect all event participants
Riot Games Code of Conduct applies to all VCT participants

Competitive Environment

All matches recorded server-side for review and dispute resolution
Replay files available to teams after matches
White noise and soundproofing to prevent crowd interference
Independent integrity reviews may be conducted by third parties
All competitive rulings are publicly documented for transparency

How to win

Win the map — First team to 13 rounds wins; overtime begins at 12-12.

Win the map — Attackers detonate the Spike; defenders defuse it. First team to 13 rounds wins (+ variants).

Overtime or draw — Both teams must agree to draw; overtime has two rounds per side with 5,000 starting credits.

Win the round — Attackers detonate the Spike; defenders defuse it or let time expire (+ variants).

BO1: Single map win; BO3: First to 2 map wins (standard playoff format); BO5: First to 3 map wins (Grand Finals)

The game

Team and agents — Use 5 active players, up to 1 substitute, and unique Agents per team.

Staff responsibilities — Referees monitor play and enforce rules; administrators manage competition; technical staff maintain systems.

Player eligibility — Players must be 16+, qualify through an approved pathway, and have no active Riot competitive ruling.

Team roster — Each team has 5 active players and up to 1 substitute.

Unique agents — Each player must select a different Agent within their team.

Playing the ball

Map veto — In BO3, each team bans one map and picks one; the remaining map is the decider. (+ variants)

Round timing — Each half has 12 rounds before teams switch sides; rounds last 1:40, and planted Spikes detonate after 45 seconds.

Each team receives 2 tactical timeouts per map (60 seconds each); Technical pauses may be called for hardware/software issues (referee approval); Coaches may communicate with players during timeouts

Agent abilities — Each Agent has two purchasable abilities, one free signature per round, and one chargeable ultimate.

Credits — Earn credits from kills, spike plants or defuses, and round results; start pistol rounds with 800, up to 9,000.

Fouls & penalties

Cheating penalties — Unauthorized software or match fixing results in a permanent competitive ban; bug exploitation may forfeit rounds or matches.

Conduct violations — Team damage, refusing to play, AFK, harassment, leaks, or hate speech may result in warnings, fines, or suspension.

Possible penalties — Penalties include warnings, round or map forfeiture, and monetary fines.

Cheating — Using aimbots, wallhacks, or unauthorized software results in a permanent competitive ban.

Match fixing — Manipulating match outcomes or betting results in a permanent ban.

Equipment

Gaming PC meeting Riot Games tournament specifications; Monitor: 240Hz refresh rate, 24-25 inch display (tournament standard); Mouse: players bring their own (must be tournament-approved)

Tournament client — Use Riot’s official tournament client on the current competitive patch with Vanguard active.

Competitive servers — International VCT events use LAN play, with Riot-operated tournament realm servers and standard 128-tick servers.

Version History(5)

2026 Season (Patch 13.02)CurrentJul 28, 2026

Auto-detected content change during sync (commit 89c159c)

2026 SeasonJan 1, 2026

Auto-detected content change during sync (commit 84da984)

2020 Valorant Windows Release (June 2)Jun 2, 2020

Foundational game-release milestone for Valorant. The game was released on 2 June 2020 for Windows. Valorant's June 2020 release came at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and benefited from increased PC-gaming engagement during global lockdowns, accelerating the game's competitive ecosystem build-up. Valorant's design — hybridizing Counter-Strike-style tactical FPS gunplay with hero-ability mechanics from Overwatch / League of Legends — established a new competitive genre that became the third-pillar esports FPS of the 2020s alongside Counter-Strike and Apex Legends. Every modern Valorant competitive convention (5v5 attack/defend rounds, weapon economy, ability-charge management, anti-cheat via Vanguard kernel-level driver) descends from this 2020 launch.

2020 VCT (Valorant Champions Tour) AnnouncedNov 1, 2020

Federation-equivalent competitive-structure milestone for Valorant. In November 2020, Riot Games announced the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), which is a year-long tournament circuit consisting of three levels. The 2020 VCT announcement established Valorant's flagship competitive ecosystem just five months after the game's June 2020 release — making Valorant the first major 2020s-launched esports game to have a publisher-organized annual competitive circuit in place from its first competitive year. The three-level VCT structure (open Challengers tournaments → regional Masters → annual Champions) became the structural template for subsequent Valorant competitive seasons and would later be reformatted to the partner-league system in 2023.

2023 VCT Partner Team Model AnnouncedJan 1, 2023

Federation-equivalent governance milestone for Valorant esports. In 2023, Riot Games announced a partner team model for their Valorant Champions Tour. The partner-team transition replaced the previous open-qualifier / promotion-relegation VCT structure with permanent partner teams competing in three regional partner leagues at launch — Americas, EMEA, and Pacific, joined by China as a fourth partnered league in 2024 — each carrying a guaranteed roster of partnered organizations paying buy-in fees in exchange for guaranteed league spots and revenue sharing. The 2023 partner-team model directly mirrored the franchised-system transition that LoL underwent 2018-2021 and governed elite Valorant esports for the 2023-2026 seasons, and 2026 is the final franchised season. On 8 April 2026 Riot announced that from 2027 the partner leagues are disbanded: every team, partnered organisations included, qualifies through open qualifiers, the tier-2 split is removed, and the partnership arrangement moves to a two-year cycle. The four major regions remain as regions; the closed league structure does not.

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