With Act 2 of Season V26, Riot Games introduces yet another new game mode to VALORANT, Knockout. The new mode is an evolution of Team Deathmatch, with more focus on teamplay and trading teammates.
Here’s everything you need to know about Knockout game mode in VALORANT.
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VALORANT Knockout mode format and features
Knockout is a 5v5 mode that takes place on the TDM maps: Piazza, Drift, District, Glitch, and Kasbah. In this mode, killing an enemy resurrects a fallen teammate, and the round ends when one team gets wiped out or wins in overtime. The first team to win four rounds wins the match.
Here are the key features of the Knockout mode in VALORANT:
- Kills resurrect fallen teammates: Eliminating an enemy brings back a fallen teammate.
- Buy phase: Select a preset loadout during the buy phase, which includes a weapon and a shield.
- Territory control: Capture orbs to shift the wall toward the enemy, expanding your territory and compressing theirs.
Throughout the match, the teams fight over territory control, with a wall dividing the map. Entering enemy territory covers your minimap and alerts the other team of an invader, preventing mindless running and gunning into opponents’ faces.
The wall doesn’t stand in one place, as you can push it by capturing orbs on the map, creating a form of tug-of-war and pressuring the opponents. This makes the mode all about coordinated pushes and trading teammates.
Buy stages is another feature Knockout takes from TDM, with preset loadouts that improve with every stage. So far, the weapons featured in the mode include Classic, Frenzy, Ghost, Bandit, Stinger, Bucky, Sheriff, Bulldog, Guardian, Marshal, Spectre, Vandal, and Phantom.
When it comes to Agent abilities, all basic abilities have a cooldown instead of a regular charge, and every Ultimate only requires four points, allowing for more interesting team compositions compared to what you might encounter in regular matches.
VALORANT Knockout mode release date
Knockout is coming to VALORANT with Season V26, Act 2 on March 18. This also marks the release of the new Controller, Miks. Miks is a more supportive Controller who can boost teammates and even heal them while cutting off sightlines. There’s also the new battle pass, new skin bundle, balancing changes, and more usual seasonal stuff.
