When Does VALORANT Act 5 Start? Release Date, Battle Pass End and Ranked Reset

If you want to hit the ground running in Act 5 with a fresh Battle Pass and skins, a quick VALORANT top-up at Topuplist through the official Topuplist storefront gets you VP at discounted rates — so your wallet is ready when the new Act drops on August 19.

Introduction: The Act 4 Countdown Is Almost Over

There are fewer than 10 days left in VALORANT Season 2026 Act 4. The Act that brought the Summit map, the permanent Retake game mode, and the Blackspyre Collection skin line is about to conclude — and a new Battle Pass, a ranked reset, and fresh content are waiting on the other side.

Whether you are racing to finish your Battle Pass tiers, pushing for one last rank-up before the reset locks your Act Rank badge, or just wondering when the servers go down and come back up, this article covers every critical date and mechanic players need to know before Act 5 begins.

When Does VALORANT Act 5 Start?

VALORANT Season 2026 Act 5 starts on August 19, 2026. The transition happens immediately after Act 4 concludes, following a brief server maintenance period.

Riot Games confirmed the end date through the in-game Battle Pass timer and the official VALORANT Wiki patch notes. The maintenance window typically begins in the morning Pacific Time, with the patch rolling out in three global stages — Americas first (14:00–18:00 UTC), followed by APAC (21:00–23:00 UTC), and finally EMEA (02:00–05:00 UTC the following day).

Exact Date and Maintenance Window

According to SeasonTimer.live, which syncs to the official in-game timer, Act 4 runs exactly 56 days — consistent with the average Act duration of roughly 8 weeks seen across the Season model since 2025. Act 3 also ran 56 days (April 29 – June 24, 2026), while Act 2 was shorter at 42 days (March 18 – April 29).

Act 4 Battle Pass End Date: What You Must Claim Before It Expires

The Act 4 Battle Pass expires at the same moment the Act ends: August 19, 2026. There is no grace period. Any unclaimed tiers, unredeemed cosmetics, or unfinished rewards become permanently unavailable once the servers transition to Act 5. Riot does not offer VP refunds for incomplete Battle Pass progress.

Key Battle Pass Rewards in Act 4

The Act 4 Battle Pass costs 1,000 VP and includes 55 tiers with 70 total rewards. Three distinct skin lines were featured:

The Sky Reaper Sword melee at Tier 50 is the most valuable item in the pass. According to the ValorantBPC tracker, a standalone melee skin from a premium bundle typically costs around 3,550 VP, making the entire 1,000 VP Battle Pass a significantly better value if you want a coherent melee design. The free track also provides the Sky Reaper Ghost without requiring any purchase.

If you are still undecided about buying the Battle Pass, there is no penalty for purchasing late. Progress earned on the free track retroactively unlocks the corresponding premium tiers when you activate the pass. The 3% XP boost does not apply retroactively, but the tier rewards do — so waiting until the final week to decide, once you can see exactly how many premium rewards you would unlock, is a legitimate strategy.

If you need VP before the deadline, a VALORANT VP top-up at Topuplist delivers discounted pricing on all Valorant Point bundles available on Topuplist.

Act 4 Recap: What Launched in the Current Act

Act 4 was a substantial content drop. Here is what arrived on June 24, 2026, according to the official patch notes:

• Summit Map — A new three-lane map set at Sage's mountain training academy in China. It features two spike sites and three droppable walls that open and close pathways mid-match, dynamically reshaping sight-lines and creating unique tactical scenarios.

• Retake Game Mode — Now a permanent mode, Retake is a 3v3 format where the spike is pre-planted and both teams receive randomized loadouts every round. No economy, no buy phase, no plant pressure — every round is a retake scenario, making it an ideal practice tool for post-plant positioning.

• Blackspyre Collection — A premium skin line featuring the Phantom, Sheriff, Spectre, Ares, and the Divide melee. The design blends sci-fi and dark mystical aesthetics.

• Miks Agent — The new agent Miks was released in Act 2 (March 18, 2026) alongside the Knockout game mode. Act 3 (April 28) brought the Skirmish: Ascension competitive ladder and the Kuronami skin collection.

How the Ranked Reset Works in Act 5

The transition from Act 4 to Act 5 triggers a soft reset on your visible rank. Understanding what actually changes is important — many players panic about rank resets and misunderstand what the system does.

Soft Reset vs Hard Reset

VALORANT uses two levels of ranked reset under the Season model introduced in 2025:

Since Act 5 is a regular Act boundary — not a new Season or midseason — this is a soft reset. You need only one placement match to reveal your new rank, and your hidden MMR carries over almost entirely from Act 4.

How Much Will Your Rank Drop?

The soft reset applies a measured downward adjustment. Based on community data from previous Act transitions and analysis from ValoHub's reset guide, here is what players across ranks typically experience:

• Iron to Silver players: Drop roughly 1–2 division steps. A Silver 3 player typically places in Silver 1 after the reset.

• Gold to Platinum players: Drop approximately 2–3 division steps. A Gold 2 player usually sees Silver 2 or Silver 3.

• Diamond to Ascendant players: Drop approximately 3–4 division steps. A Diamond 1 player typically places in Platinum 1 or 2.

• Immortal and Radiant players: Experience the steepest drop — Immortal players are often demoted to Ascendant, and Radiant players see a significant RR cut (roughly 90% of their RR pool removed, requiring a full re-climb to re-enter Radiant).

The key takeaway: your hidden MMR does not reset, so you will climb back to your previous rank quickly if the system considers that rank an accurate reflection of your skill. The performance bonus system — which rewards above-average ACS (Average Combat Score) with additional RR per win — accelerates the climb for players who perform well in their first games after the reset.

What Content Could Act 5 Bring?

Riot has not officially announced the content lineup for Act 5 as of the time of writing. However, based on the seasonal pattern established across 2025 and 2026, each Act typically introduces at least one of the following:

• A new Agent — Acts 1, 2, and 4 each introduced a new agent in 2026 (Bandit in Act 1, Miks in Act 2). If the pattern holds, Act 5 could be an Act focused on systems, maps, or modes rather than a new agent — but this is not confirmed.

• Map rotation update — Every Act refreshes the competitive and unrated map pools. Maps may be added, removed, or rotated between pools.

• A new premium skin collection — Every Act launches alongside a premium bundle or collection, typically priced separately from the Battle Pass.

• Agent balance changes — Every Act patch includes buffs, nerfs, and adjustments. Patch v13.00 (Act 4) included changes to multiple agents and weapon balance.

• Premier updates — The competitive Premier system receives adjustments at Act transitions.

The most reliable place to watch for confirmed Act 5 content is the official VALORANT patch notes page on the Riot Games website, which publishes full patch notes on the morning of each Act launch.

How to Prepare for Act 5 Right Now

With less than two weeks until the transition, here is a practical checklist to close out Act 4:

• Finish your Battle Pass. The deadline is absolute — August 19, 2026. Unclaimed rewards are permanently lost. Focus on completing daily and weekly missions, which provide the most XP per time invested.

• Push for your peak rank. Your Act Rank badge and gun buddy reward are locked in based on the highest rank at which you won a match during Act 4. One last win at a higher tier before the reset permanently upgrades your Act Rank cosmetic.

• Save VP for the new Battle Pass and skins. If you plan to buy the Act 5 Battle Pass (expected at 1,000 VP) or the new premium skin collection, stocking VP now at discounted rates means you are ready on day one. A VALORANT Points recharge via Topuplist covers every VP tier with lower prices than the in-game store, letting you enter Act 5 with a full wallet on Topuplist.

• Warm up before your placement match. Since the soft reset requires only one placement match, that single game carries significant weight in determining your starting rank. Do not cold-queue it — play a deathmatch or two first, ideally solo or duo queue for the cleanest MMR read.

• Claim your Night Market purchases if open. Night Markets have historically appeared near the end of certain Acts. If one is active, any unpurchased discounted skins disappear when the Night Market closes.

Season 2026 Act Timeline at a Glance

Data sourced from the official VALORANT Wiki patch notes and cross-referenced with the ValorantBPC tracker.

Conclusion: Get Ready Before August 19

VALORANT Act 5 is days away. The Act 4 Battle Pass, the current ranked ladder, and the Summit map meta as you know them are about to transition into a new season of content. Claim every Battle Pass reward you have earned, lock in your best possible Act Rank badge, save your VP for Day 1 purchases, and warm up for that single placement match that sets your Act 5 starting rank.

For players looking to go into the new Act with a full VP balance for the Battle Pass and premium skins, Topuplist offers the full range of VALORANT top-up options with competitive pricing and fast delivery.

FAQ

When does VALORANT Act 5 start?

Act 5 starts on August 19, 2026, immediately after Act 4 concludes and a brief server maintenance period ends. The exact rollout time varies by region — Americas first, then APAC, then EMEA.

How many placement matches do I need in Act 5?

One placement match. Act 5 is an Act boundary, which triggers a soft reset (not a hard reset). Hard resets requiring 5 placement matches only occur at the Season start (Act 1) and midseason (Act 4).

How much will my rank drop in the Act 5 reset?

Most players drop approximately 2–3 division steps. Gold 2 players typically place around Silver 2. Higher ranks drop more — Immortal and Radiant players experience the steepest drop. Your hidden MMR carries over, so you climb back quickly.

What happens to my Act 4 Battle Pass when Act 5 starts?

The Battle Pass expires permanently on August 19. Unclaimed tiers and rewards are lost forever with no VP refund. Any unlocked but unclaimed rewards also become unavailable.

Will there be a new agent in Act 5?

Riot has not confirmed an agent for Act 5. The last agent release was Miks in Act 2 (March 2026). Act 5 could feature an agent, a new map or mode, or focus on system changes — watch the official patch notes for confirmation on launch day.

Does my hidden MMR reset in Act 5?

No. The soft reset only adjusts your visible rank downward; your hidden MMR carries over almost entirely from Act 4. Matchmaking continues using your MMR, which means you will be matched against players of similar skill even if your visible rank appears lower.

Can I still earn Act 4 ranked rewards after August 19?

No. Your Act Rank badge, triangle pattern, and gun buddy are permanently locked in based on the highest rank at which you won a match during Act 4. Any wins after the Act transition count toward Act 5 rewards.