Valorant Is Getting a New Game Mode Called “Escalation” in Next Patch

It appears that there’s a new 5v5 game mode called Escalation coming to Valorant as part of the game’s next patch (2.03).

The news comes by way of Valorant’s Arabic website (spotted by @ValorLeaks), which appears to have accidentally published the news ahead of schedule. A translated version of the article breaks down the rules as follows:

• 5v5 gameplay
• 12 Escalation Levels (each level has a specific weapon or ability)
  • The win goes to the team that finishes the 12 levels, or who reach the highest level in 10 minutes.
  • The team as a whole must earn 7 points in each level to move to the next level
    • Killing in the current level earns 1 point
    • Killing in a previous level earns 0.5 points
• Each player has an individual weapon level that they work to complete
  • You will have to achieve at least 1 kill using each weapon to unlock the next weapon level
  • Your squad will still be able to advance on Escalation Levels even if you are within an older weapon level
  • Example: Your team can be at Level 4, with the possibility of you remaining being “stuck” at Weapon Level 1 (let’s say it’s a Vandal Weapon), until you achieve 1 kills with that weapon. You will then advance to Weapon Level 2, not directly to Level 4.
• Matches are 7-9 minutes long
• Operator abilities that are based on your character’s choice cannot be used. Rather, only basic abilities can be used by all players during the match (see Gear section below)

Escalation Gear

• Level 1: Always either the Raze’s Rocket Launcher Capability or Vandal / Phantom Weapon
• Level 2: Always either Vandal or Phantom.
• Levels 3-11: A variety of weapons and abilities.
• Level 12: Possibly shorty, classic, knife, stun arrow … or even a snowball thrower
• Health: A health bag is dropped upon death and expires in 10 seconds

Players will receive 800 XP for a game of Escalation, with a 200 XP bonus for winning.

For the time being, Escalation is a limited-time game mode. Presumably, Riot will assess the community’s response before making a decision as to whether it should become a permanent feature.

Also part of patch 2.03 is a nerf for both the Frenzy and Stinger, which will surely come as a relief to the community.

Elsewhere in Valorant news today, Riot Games is putting its foot down with tougher penalties for those who spoil games with away-from-keyboard (AFK) behavior, as well as commit chat-based offenses such as discrimination or harassment.

It will also introduce small RR penalties to combat pre-game dodging. You can read more on the changes over on Valorant’s website in an article that breaks down a bunch of new changes likely coming in Patch 2.04.