Riot Games has launched the Valorant 13.04 update, marking the official start of Season 2026 Act 5. This release focuses on refining existing gameplay through targeted agent bug fixes and a refresh of the active map pool for competitive play.
Quick Facts
- Map Rotation: Abyss is now available in Competitive and Deathmatch; Breeze has been removed.
- Agent Fixes: Addressed visual bugs for Deadlock’s GravNet, Cypher’s Spycam icon, and Viper’s Snake Bite animation.
- Premier Stage V26A5: Matches begin August 18, with playoffs scheduled for September 19–20.
- Stability: Resolved a game-freezing issue triggered by switching between Clove’s Meddle and Ruse abilities.
Agent and Stability Fixes
The 13.04 patch resolves several technical issues affecting agent utility. Players who experienced disappearing visual effects with Deadlock's GravNet after reconnecting to a match should find this resolved. Additionally, Cypher players will no longer see the Spycam icon rotate incorrectly on the minimap, and Viper’s Snake Bite animation now displays correctly for enemies.
For PC players, a stability issue that caused some users to freeze or disconnect when rapidly cycling between Clove’s Meddle and Ruse abilities has been corrected.
Premier Updates
Stage V26A5 of Premier officially opens on August 18. This shortened season will run for five weeks. Teams aiming for the playoffs must secure a Premier Score of at least 450 by September 20 to qualify. For Contender and Invite divisions, the playoff structure has been condensed into a two-day event, with the first round on September 19 and the finals on September 20.
New Cosmetics
Alongside the gameplay adjustments, the update introduces the AERIS skin bundle. This set features new designs for the Vandal, Bandit, Guardian, and Marshal, as well as the Suit of Aeris melee weapon. Players using the new interactive flex have a 10% chance to reveal specific cards from the Riftbound collection.