Valorant Game Modes Explained: Every Mode and Which to Play

Valorant's main game modes are Unrated and Competitive (full 5v5 Spike matches, first to 13 rounds), Swiftplay (a shorter Spike match, first to 5), Spike Rush (first to 4 with random weapons), Deathmatch (free-for-all, first to 40 kills), Team Deathmatch (5v5, first to 100 kills) and Premier (team play with weekly matches). Riot also rotates limited-time modes in and out. New players usually start in Swiftplay or Unrated, and Competitive unlocks at account level 20.

Last checked: November 9, 2026 (patch 13.09). Rules come from Riot's support articles, patch notes and the in-game mode descriptions. Limited-time modes change often, so check the mode select screen for what's live today.

Valorant game modes at a glance

Unrated

Unrated is the standard Valorant match without rank on the line. Two teams of five play attack and defense, switching sides after 12 rounds, and the first team to 13 round wins takes the match. If the score reaches 12-12, the match goes to overtime.

Every round, attackers try to plant the Spike and defend it until it detonates, while defenders try to stop the plant or defuse it. You buy weapons, armor and abilities in each buy phase, so the full economy matters here exactly as it does in ranked.

Unrated is the best place to learn agents and maps without worrying about RR.

Competitive

Competitive uses the same rules as Unrated, but wins and losses change your rank and Rank Rating (RR). You need account level 20 to queue. Competitive also has extra rules:

• Parties of four can't queue, and parties of two or three must be within set rank ranges.
• Surrendering takes a unanimous team vote, compared with 80% in Unrated.
• The map pool rotates during the Season. The current list is in the maps guide.

The ranks guide covers placements, RR and party limits in detail.

Swiftplay

Swiftplay keeps the Spike objective, agents and buying, but shortens everything. The in-game description calls it the same core rules with an accelerated economy, and the first team to win 5 rounds takes the match. Riot also gives agents some starting ultimate points in Swiftplay so ultimates come up within a half.

It's the quickest way to practice real Spike rounds, and a good first mode for new players. Riot has also used the Swiftplay format for temporary single-map queues, such as Corrode Only and Summit Only when those maps launched.

Spike Rush

Spike Rush is a fast, chaotic version of the standard mode:

• Every attacker carries a Spike.
• Everyone starts each round with the same random weapon.
• The match is best of 7, so the first team to 4 wins. Sides swap after 3 rounds.
• Power-up orbs appear on the map, with effects such as a full ultimate, bonus weapon damage or a speed boost.

Spike Rush is good for practicing abilities and having fun, but not for learning economy or careful round play.

Deathmatch

Deathmatch is a free-for-all warm-up mode for up to 14 players:

• You're assigned a random agent, and abilities are disabled.
• Weapons are free, and you can swap them at any time.
• The first player to 40 kills wins, or the leader when the 9-minute limit runs out.
• Every death drops a health pack that restores full health and armor for 10 seconds, and kills reload your gun instantly.

Deathmatch uses the same map pool as Competitive. It doesn't count toward your daily checkpoint rewards, and Riot built it so you can leave whenever you're warmed up, which makes it a good quick session before ranked.

Team Deathmatch

Team Deathmatch is a 5v5 respawn mode played on its own smaller maps, such as Piazza, District and Kasbah:

• The first team to 100 kills wins. If time runs out, the team in the lead wins, and a tied score ends in a draw.
• Matches run 9 minutes 30 seconds, split into four stages. Your weapon loadout upgrades automatically each stage, and there's no economy.
• You respawn quickly in a protected spawn room.
• Abilities recharge over time, and orbs around the map restore health or charge your ultimate.

Premier

Premier is Valorant's team mode for groups who want organized competition. You create or join a team, and your team is placed in a division. Teams play scheduled weekly matches to earn points, and enough points qualify you for a playoff tournament. The top divisions connect to Riot's pro pathway. Premier returned on PC with patch 12.08 in April 2026.

Escalation

Escalation is a 5v5 respawn mode where both teams race through a series of weapon and ability levels. Kills earn points that move your team up a level, and the first team to finish the last level wins. Riot has treated it as a rotating mode, so it's not always in the queue.

Limited-time modes in 2026

Riot adds a new limited-time mode every few months and removes older ones. In 2026 so far:

In Gauntlet: Glitched, sixteen players enter as eight teams of two. Each round your duo faces another duo, losing a round costs your team health, and teams at zero health are out. Between rounds you draft abilities from different agents and upgrade them, and some upgrades can "glitch" into stronger, stranger versions.

Custom games and The Range

• Custom games let you set up private matches with friends, including Standard and Swiftplay formats. Since patch 12.00, the party leader can choose to record a replay of a custom match.
• The Range is the practice area, with every agent and weapon available. Patch 13.06 added the option to warm up in the Range while you wait in queue for modes with agent select, though Riot temporarily disabled it in patch 13.08 while fixing a queue bug.

Which mode should you play?

• Brand new: Swiftplay, then Unrated. You learn real rounds without rank pressure.
• Warming up: Deathmatch for aim, then a game of Team Deathmatch if you want abilities too.
• Learning an agent: Unrated or Swiftplay, where mistakes don't cost RR. The beginner agent guide suggests easy picks for each role.
• Climbing: Competitive, once you reach level 20.
• Playing with a regular five-stack: Premier.

Kingdom Credits by mode

Every mode earns Kingdom Credits (KC), the free currency for unlocking agents and accessories:

Frequently asked questions

What game modes are in Valorant?

The main modes are Unrated, Competitive, Swiftplay, Spike Rush, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Premier. Riot also adds limited-time modes, such as Gauntlet: Glitched, which arrived in patch 13.06.

What is the difference between Unrated and Competitive in Valorant?

They use the same rules: 5v5, first to 13 rounds. Competitive changes your rank and RR, needs account level 20 and has stricter party and surrender rules, while Unrated has no rank on the line.

How long is a Valorant match?

A standard Unrated or Competitive match takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Swiftplay takes 10 to 15 minutes, Spike Rush about 8 to 12, and Deathmatch about 7 to 9.

What is Swiftplay in Valorant?

Swiftplay is a shorter version of the standard plant-and-defuse match. It keeps the same objectives and agents, speeds up the economy, and ends when one team wins 5 rounds.

When can you surrender in Valorant?

You can start a surrender vote from the start of the fourth round of each half. Unrated needs 80% of the team to agree, and Competitive needs a unanimous vote.

Does Deathmatch count toward daily rewards?

No. Deathmatch earns Kingdom Credits but gives no progress toward the daily checkpoint rewards, because Riot designed it as a warm-up mode players can leave whenever they like.