With VALORANT Patch 10.1 on the horizon, players can anticipate a series of refinements to the competitive experience. While not a major overhaul, this update introduces a crucial new feature alongside several bug fixes designed to maintain a balanced and enjoyable meta.
As promised with the launch of Act One in V25, Riot Games has integrated Rank Shields into the competitive mode. This welcome addition provides a safety net for players in the first tier of each rank (excluding Radiant). Players are now granted two shields that activate when their Rank Rating (RR) reaches zero, preventing immediate demotion to the lower rank after a single loss.
It’s important to note that Rank Shields are exclusive to the first tier of each rank and are not applicable to Radiant. Players automatically receive two shields upon promotion or demotion into the first tier of any rank. Furthermore, the shields do not regenerate after a win at zero RR. Thus, if a player utilizes a shield to prevent demotion and subsequently wins a match, increasing their RR, they will only have a single shield remaining for future protection at zero RR.
Without wasting time, let’s check out the official Valorant 10.01 patch notes:
ALL PLATFORMS
COMPETITIVE UPDATES
- Rank Shields have been added to Competitive Mode!
- You are granted two Rank Shields while in Tier 1 (e.g. Silver 1, Gold 1, Platinum 1) of all Ranks except Radiant.
- When you lose a game at 0 RR, one shield is consumed, leaving you with one shield remaining.
- Losing again at 0 RR consumes the second shield, leaving you with zero shields remaining.
- If you lose three games while at 0 RR, you demote to the lower rank (e.g. Gold 1 to Silver 3).
- You do not have shields in the other tiers of a Rank (e.g. There are no shields when losing at 0 RR in Gold 2).
- Only when you move into Tier 1 via promotion or demotion, will you replenish two shields for that tier.
- Winning at 0 RR and going back to 10 RR will not replenish your shields.
- You are granted two Rank Shields while in Tier 1 (e.g. Silver 1, Gold 1, Platinum 1) of all Ranks except Radiant.
- You can see all information about Rank Shields in the Rank Details screen in the client!
BUG FIXES
- Agents
- Tejo
- Fixed an issue where players who exited then re-entered Tejo’s Armageddon blast zone do not count as Displaced in the Combat Report.
- Fixed an issue where Tejo’s Guided Salvo projectile would get stuck inside the wall when cast towards a path blocked by Sage’s Barrier Orb.
- Fixed an issue where Tejo’s Stealth Drone affected by Nearsight could see Enemy Players’ model outline at certain distances.
- Improved an issue where Tejo’s Guided Salvo smoke trail VFX could clip through thin walls and structures once cast.
- Fixed an issue where Tejo’s Stealth Drone is slowed outside the AOE of Sage’s Slow Orb.
- Fixed an issue where Tejo’s Guided Salvo missile visuals are set to draw as a Cylinder instead of Sphere, showing an incorrect damage zone.
- Fixed an issue where Tejo’s Artillery Missile loses functionality and appears as stuck if he cast it while being outside of the map.
- Fixed an issue where Tejo’s Guided Salvo damages players on elevation without showing a warning indicator.
- Tejo
- Maps
- Bind
- Fixed an issue where invisible collision would sometimes impede agent utility inside one of the teleporter rooms.
- Bind
PC ONLY
BUG FIXES
- Premier
- Fixed an issue where there were inconsistent font sizes on the Change Zone and the Delete Team pop-up screens in Premier.
- Fixed an issue where Premier matches in match history did not show a mode tooltip when you hovered over them.
- Fixed an issue where the ineligibility warning tooltip in the lobby was very hard to trigger.
CONSOLE ONLY
BUG FIXES
- Competitive Systems
- Fixed a bug where the queue timer overlaps with a portion of the Leaderboard page.
