Valorant Season 2026 Act 1 update was unveiled. As per developer Riot Games, V26 Act 1 (launching with Patch 12) includes the new sidearm weapon Bandit, the new AR1S game mode, MMR system updates for players, Ayakashi skin bundle, and a new battlepass.
Here's a quick rundown of Valorant Season 2026 Act 1 updates.
New Sidearm Weapon: Bandit
Bandit addresses a Ghost-Sheriff gameplay gap. You can feel empowered on ultra-light buys with its 1-shot headshot kills against Light armor-equipped opponents, where the Ghost falls off.
Riot Games intended to give players new opportunities to demonstrate their aiming skills during pistol and eco rounds. The Bandit weapon will shift their thrifty mindset.
Map Updates: Breeze Reworked, Haven and Corrode Updated
Riot Games improved Controller (Agent) diversity and angle isolation in the Breeze Map. They also narrowed some of the map's large, wide spaces, so combating there doesn't feel like entering no-man's land.
Further, Breeze returns to Competitive map rotation, replacing Sunset. Riot Games is cutting RR losses by 50 percent for the first two weeks due to the major changes.
In addition to the Breeze rework, Riot Games updated critical areas on Haven and Corrode maps to make wall penetration more predictable.
New Game Mode: AR1S
All Random, One Site is a limited-time, ultra-rapid arcade spike mode. In this 5v5 mode, players spawn with random Agents, TDM-style abilities, tiered Buy stages, contested Map Orbs, and condensed maps that force them to battle on one site per round.
The smaller maps and more ults on AR1S game mode provide unforeseen moments and uncommon ability combinations not seen in standard play.
MMR System Updates
Riot Games is recalculating Valorant players' concealed MMR (Matchmaking Rating) for 2026. Changes should better reflect individual skills. Most players' ranks should stay the same, but some may change. Riot Games hopes these adjustments will improve match-to-match consistency so more matches feel balanced and each player belongs in their respective lobbies.
Riot Games' goal this year is to improve competitive match quality overall. The developer wants gamers to start Valorant and play competitively. Riot believes its back-end tweaking will get them there.
Player Behavior
Riot Games prioritizes players' disruptive behavior in 2026. Valorant requires all players to accept a new Community Pact each year to continue playing. This may seem insignificant, but the developer must make their expectations clear so you can keep each other accountable. You probably last saw and accepted Valorant's community standards on your first day.
Moreover, Riot Games has strengthened Valorant's policies and principles on smurfing, comms abuse, and other irritating issues to better the game's systems and processes. Their views on text and voice chat harassment are changing. They are improving their mechanisms to administer harsher penalties for serious offenders more reliably.
In addition, Riot Games is launching Behavior Standing to help players take responsibility for their actions and understand their impact. You can examine your present penalties, potential penalties, and future disruption penalties.
Ayakashi Skin Bundle
Ayakashi Collection revives Japanese mythology with a dark, modern edge. Each weapon's cursed flame represents the restless souls inside. Beautiful and terrifying realms are sealed by the Kitsune mask theme. For the first time, use two underworld-forged short katanas in perfect, lethal harmony.
Weapons included in the Ayakashi Skin Collection are the Ghost, Phantom, and Kogitsune (dual short katana melee).
V26 Act 1 Battlepass
Here are the contents (free and paid tracks) of the Battlepass (priced 1000 VP) in Valorant Season 2026 Act 1.
Happy New Year 2026, Filipino Valo players! I am interested in your thoughts on this V26 Act 1, the shooter game's first update of the year. I am also curious to know if your ping has got better since the launch of the Valorant Manila server. – PinoyTechSaga
All images courtesy of Riot Games
0 Comments