VALORANT Battle pass Guide
VALORANT Battle pass overview
The VALORANT battle pass is a derivation of a concept that has amassed popularity in much more recent times. Essentially, the battle pass is a progression and reward system used in many online multiplayer games that provides players with a structured way to earn in-game rewards, cosmetics, and other items as they play the game.
Apart from offering unique in-game cosmetics, be it weapon skins, sprays or gun buddies, on a rolling basis in the item shop, the battle pass offers players the opportunity to earn a set of pre-assigned cosmetics for a much cheaper aggregate price.
Battle pass VALORANT pricing
Free vs. Premium tracks in the VALORANT Battle pass
Before we delve into the details of how the battle pass works in VALORANT, it is worth noting that there are two tracks’ players can opt between: the Free track, and the Premium track.
Free Track:
- Players on the free track receive rewards upon completing each chapter of the Battle Pass including one free weapon skin
- Additionally, all players, regardless of whether they are on the free track or the premium track, have access to the Epilogue rewards.
Premium Track:
- To access the premium track, players must invest 1,000 Valorant Points ($10 value).
- The premium track offers several advantages, including a 3% boost to Battle Pass XP earned from matchmade games (excluding mission XP).
- Premium track participants enjoy bonus rewards at every tier they successfully reach.
- Offers a wider selection of cosmetic rewards and weapon skins
Can you still progress VALORANT Battle pass without buying it at the start?
It's important to note that players make progress toward their Battle Pass tiers irrespective of whether they have purchased access to the premium track or not. This inclusivity ensures that everyone can earn rewards. If a player decides to upgrade to the premium track later in the Act, they can retroactively unlock the rewards corresponding to the tiers they have already completed on the free track. However, the 3% XP boost only applies to games played after unlocking the premium track.
Related: VALORANT gun skins
An additional aspect of VALORANT battle pass pricing is the ability to expedite battle pass progression using 300 VALORANT points (VP) per tier. This feature, while being extremely efficient for players to earn their rewards faster, in unable to capitalize upon in the Epilogue chapter.
How does the battle pass work in VALORANT?
In order to maintain a consistent timeline for updates and keep the game interesting with new narratives, Riot has devised a system of Acts and Episodes. Within this framework, each Act serves as a competitive chapter, typically encompassing four to five update patches and spanning approximately two months.
But how does understanding the structure of acts pertain to the battle pass? The answer is simple: each new act marks the arrival of significant in-game elements, be it the introduction of new agents and maps or, at the very least, the unveiling of a fresh Battle Pass and substantial enhancements to the Competitive mode.
Related: How much have I spent on VALORANT?
VALORANT Battle pass progression
As mentioned earlier, the start of each act is accompanied by a new battle pass, with a fresh set of rewards for the players to enjoy. Much like its counterparts, the VALORANT battle pass has a set number of tiers with the total leading up to 55 divided into 11 chapters: chapters 1 through 10 and a concluding Epilogue chapter. Each chapter contains 5 tiers, with the progression between these tiers fuelled by the XP gained through indulging in gameplay and various challenges.
However, it is worth noting that the progression through the tiers in VALORANT battle pass is not a simple, linear climb. Rather, it's a journey that gets progressively harder where the XP required to attain the next tier increases gradually with each step.
How much XP do I need to finish the Battle pass?
Since the climb through the tiers features an exponential increased, it can be simplified into an elegantly expressed formlaa as follows:
XP to complete a specific tier = (Tier number × 750) + 500
Therefore, to complete Chapter 1-10, players require 980,000 XP. However, when it comes to Epilogue tiers, the rules differ. Each Epilogue tier commands 36,500 XP, setting them apart from the regular tier progression. In total, the VALORANT battle passes carefully designed system mandates the accumulation of 1,162,500 XP to successfully complete the entire Battle Pass.
Related: VALORANT battle pass skins
What do I get in the Battle pass?
Each battle pass contains a varying number of weapon skins, accessories including player cards, gunbuddies, sprays, player titles. Apart from the cosmetic accessories, the battle pass in VALORANT also rewards coveted Radianite points which can be used to upgrade owned weapon skins with new VFX, audio, animations, finishers and variants of the skins, if the selected skin has these upgrades available. For example, the new VALORANT battle pass offers:
- 18 sets of 10 Radianite Points (6 in free track)
- 10 Gun Buddies (4 in free track)
- 13 Player Cards (4 in free track)
- 3 Player Titles (All in the free track)
- 15 Sprays (2 in free track)
- 13 Gun Skins (1 in free track)
Can I buy VALORANT battle pass items after the act?
Once a Battle Pass from a previous act concludes, the ability to purchase that specific Battle Pass and earn its rewards directly is typically no longer available. You can't buy or unlock items from an old Battle Pass using the regular in-game progression system. However, certain accessories from older Battle Passes may occasionally reappear in your weekly Offers at the Accessory Store. In this case, you can use Kingdom Credits to purchase those specific items.
When does the next VALORANT battle pass come out?
The new VALORANT battle pass went live on 29th August with Episode 7 Act 2 introducing a set of new skins, items, and other cosmetics along with the new content drop.
As for the next VALORANT battle pass, it is set to release with the launch of Valorant Episode 7 Act 3 approximately on October 31, as per the countdown in the battle pass section. Per convention, it will cost 1000 VP and will feature an entirely new set of rewards, which Riot has yet to release information about.
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What is the game pass in VALORANT?
Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service offered by Microsoft for its Xbox gaming platform, including Xbox consoles and Windows PC. It allows subscribers to access a vast library of games for a monthly fee. Since VALORANT is a free-to-play game but still included as part of the game pass, Riot Games has collaborated with Microsoft to award XBOX game pass owners the following in-game benefits:
- All current Agents
- Access to every new Agent as soon as they’re released
- 20% Match XP Boost given to Battle Pass, Event Pass, and active Agent Contract progress