New map, new skins, new season.
Earlier than 2022 ended, Riot Video games stunned the VALORANT group by dropping one of many greatest sport updates of the 12 months that noticed meta-defining adjustments for a number of Brokers, gameplay techniques, and weapons.
To formally begin the brand new VALORANT season, Riot Video games have dropped Episode 6 Act 1 full with a model new map, pores and skin bundle, and rank reset.
We now have outlined every part it’s good to know concerning the Episode 6 Act 1 replace on this information.
New Map: Lotus
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Since Pearl’s launch again in June 2022, gamers have loved numerous matches within the conventional two-bombsite map located in an underwater dome.
It feels prefer it was simply yesterday when Riot Video games launched VALORANT’s eighth map. So it’s laborious to imagine that Pearl debuted nearly greater than six months in the past. Gamers are most likely already itching for the subsequent huge map to be added to the rotation.
Fortuitously, followers didn’t have to attend too lengthy as the discharge of Patch 6.0 brings Lotus – a triple-bombsite map that the devs describe as “Impressed by conventional Indian stepwell and rock-cut Dravidian structure.”
Lotus is the second triple-bombsite map in VALORANT, the primary being the basic map, Haven, and if the gameplay in Haven is something to go by, gamers can count on action-packed rotation-heavy gameplay on Lotus as effectively. Will probably be fascinating to see how gamers handle manpower between Lotus’ a number of bomb websites whereas maneuvering the map’s distinctive components resembling destructible, revolving doorways, and silent drop spots.
The excellent news is that the devs are giving gamers a while to stand up shut and private with the brand new map with out having to danger RR or MMR within the course of. For a restricted time, the devs have added a Lotus-only Swiftplay sport mode, so gamers can get a fast style of the brand new map.
New Pores and skin Bundle: Araxys
A brand new VALORANT Episode/Act is not going to really feel full and not using a new Weapon Pores and skin Bundle, so for Episode 6 Act 1, the devs have added a brand new Skinline referred to as Araxys.
The Araxys skinline sports activities a futuristic and angular but modern design language that screams alien tech, which isn’t too shocking because the devs say the Araxys weapons had been created by a sophisticated alien race.
For now, the Araxys skinline will solely cowl the Vandal, Operator, Shorty, Bulldog, and knife. If the skins garner sufficient reputation, then the devs would possibly cowl an extra set of weapons sooner or later, very similar to they did with the Reaver skinline.
The Araxys skinline will likely be obtainable within the VALORANT retailer beginning January 11, 2023.
Rank Reset
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2022 was a wild 12 months for Ranked Video games in VALORANT. Some gamers most likely misplaced a ton of RR as their favourite Brokers and Weapons acquired sudden reworks all year long, whereas others most likely reached their peak rank within the final Act.
Regardless in case you misplaced or gained within the earlier Act, Episode 6 Act 1 brings a contemporary new begin for all gamers. Begin grinding these video games to succeed in new heights for the brand new 12 months.
The Rank Reset will begin on January 11, 2023.
All Set For The New Yr
With Lotus formally added into the sport, gamers can lastly begin exploring and familiarizing themselves with the ins and outs of VALORANT’s second three-bombsite map. Will probably be fascinating to see the default setups and techniques that gamers gravitate towards as extra gamers and groups be taught the map.
If in case you have some leftover money from the vacations, decide up an Araxys pores and skin to your favourite gun and raid Lotus in model. There’s nothing like the sensation of getting contemporary new skins to kickstart your grind for the brand new season.