New Valorant update brings ranked to Skirmish, and introduces the Kuronami 2.0 collection for skin aficionados

Valorant developer Riot Games has lifted the lid on everything it has in store for us when Season 2026 Act 3 begins this Wednesday. The popular Skirmish mode is finally getting a ranked queue, and it has a few new modifiers to keep us on our toes. Meanwhile, there's a stunning continuation of the Kuronami skinline on the way, and, of course, we'll have a new battlepass full of cosmetic goodness to blast through.

Valorant's close-quarters Skirmish mode has quickly become a player-favorite in the FPS game. Initially launched as a limited-time experience in February, before becoming a permanent fixture in March, Skirmish drops you into an intense, fast-paced 1v1 or 2v2 arena where you won't have a full squad to bail you out if you whiff your shots. It's a cracking way to warm up before attempting to climb the Valorant ranks, and has really helped me get used to the sorts of high-pressure scenarios where my watch would typically start warning me I need medical assistance. Unsurprisingly, it's been a huge hit - Valorant is ultra-competitive, after all. Since becoming a full-time feature, players have been jonesing for a ranked queue.

Well, now our prayers have been answered. Skirmish: Ascension offers big ol' leaderboards, courtesy of Riot challenge platform FTW, which you can climb whether you're flying solo or playing with your duo. To really push your decision making to its limits, Riot's introduced a suite of restrictions. First and foremost, Ascension has a limited roster of agents, each of which only has one ability available to them. They are as follows:

On top of this, we'll only have access to two different weapons per stage. Ascension matches follow a snappy, ten-round format. The first four rounds are pistol rounds, granting the choice of either the Bandit or Sheriff. Rounds five to eight offer up the Bulldog and Guardian. It's only in the final two rounds that you'll be able to snap up a Phantom or Vandal, depending on your preference. If you're an Operator or Odin savant, well, it's time to get good, I suppose.

To play Ascension, you'll not only need a Riot account, but also an FTW one, which makes sense. Ascension's ranked system is points based, taking into account your win:loss ratio, as well as the skill level of your opponents. Should you take to the leaderboards, whether solo or duo, then you'll be rewarded for your efforts. Clearing three placement matches returns the 'Combat Ready' player card, while the 'Trade Me' card is unlocked after completing 15 matches. This won't take long considering how quick the games are.

On top of that, if you clamber up the ranks, you'll gain a new title. Finishing the challenge period anywhere from Gold to Platinum will dub thee the 'Skirmish Competitor.' If you reach Diamond to Immortal, you're a 'Skirmish Expert.' Finally, if you're the crème de la crème of the ladder, then you're 'Skirmish Radiant.' As a heads up, you won't receive your player cards via Valorant itself. Instead, you'll have a code delivered via FTW's rewards tab, so keep that in mind.

Elsewhere in Valorant Season 2026 Act 3, Riot's tapping back into 2024's Kuronami thematic to deliver Kuronami 2.0. Featuring some slick new looks for the Ghost, Guardian, Operator, and Phantom, as well as a melee option that transforms between a kunai and katana, these could be some of my favorite Valorant skins yet. The Xenohunter knife reigns supreme, of course, but I love seeing knives with multiple forms. If you're after a new Vandal skin, you haven't been forgotten. This season's battlepass features the Keys to Elysium Vandal, as well as a melee weapon of the same theme if you're looking for some consistency, so be sure to check those out.