The start of the new year brought new beginnings for Valorant as well with their newest Episode, Reckoning. The start of a new Episode is an exciting time for Valorant players because it means tons of new content is about to be added after the scheduled maintenance. This is usually spread throughout three Acts per Episode. Our topic today discusses when Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 is coming out and what’s in store for players in it.
When Will Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 Be Released?
Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 was released on January 9, 2024, at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET. After a brief server maintenance that concluded Episode 7 Act 3, Riot Games updated the game to include all the new features from Valorant Episode 8 Act 1. This is scheduled server maintenance and is told to the player base beforehand to avoid any inconvenience. The Act is going to last for two months, up until March 5, 2024, after which Act 2 will commence.
If you’re confused about how the Act and Episode system in Valorant works, we’ll help you out. Instead of the normal 6-month seasons, Valorant introduces new Episodes every six months. These Episodes contain three Acts each, all of them lasting for two months. At the end of Act 3 of every Episode, they start the next Episode in line. That is why, as soon as Episode 7 Act 3 ended on January 9, 2024, Riot Games started Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 after a brief maintenance.
Each Act is accompanied by its very own Battle Pass. Alongside the new battle pass, you can also find new agents, maps, weapons, or even game modes at the start of the new Act. This allows players to easily try out these new features without feeling rushed. We’ll be discussing the new Battle Pass and weapons ahead of time, as well as some of the balance changes they added to the game.
Also Read: How to Unlock Agents in Valorant?
Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 New Content
There’s a ton of new content being added to Valorant’s latest Episode, primarily because this is a new Episode, not just another Act of the previous Episode. Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 brings a new double-barrelled sniper rifle, ranked ladder resets, and a fresh Battle Pass for players to grind.
You’ll also notice a map rotation in the competitive scene, some agent balance changes as part of Patch 8.0, and a small tweak to the Premier game mode that pits teams against each other. We’ll go over all of these changes in detail so you’re completely up to date on the newest Episode.
New Double-Barreled Sniper, the Outlaw
First things first, we’re talking about the newest addition to the game, which is the double-barrelled Sniper, Outlaw. There have only been two snipers in Valorant until now: The Marshal and the Operator. However, Outlaw, with its double-barrel attack power, will definitely change up the meta to take out opponents from far distances.
The reload speed for the gun will be somewhere between Marshal and Operator, so you’ll have to choose wisely. Regardless, how well Outlaw performs in Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 and how the meta shapes up around it can only be determined a few days into the update.
Also Read: Starfield Release Date: Is It Coming?
Competitive Map Rotation
There’s been a slight change to the map rotation in Competitive mode as well. Riot Games have put Icebox back into rotation while taking Haven out for this Act. Lotus has also seen some significant changes to it this season. The complete map pool for Competitive now consists of Ascent, Icebox, Lotus, Sunset, Bind, Breeze, and Split.
Patch 8.0 Balance Changes
The start of Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 coincided with Patch 8.0 coming out with some decent changes to Killjoy and Deadlock. Deadlock received a buff where players are able to recall her Sonic Sensors in between rounds, and the pickup distance has been increased to 27m from 12m previously.
On the other hand, Killjoy received a slight nerf. Now, her turret’s vision is only 100 degrees, while it was 180 degrees previously. Some might say it was a much-needed nerf, but Killjoy mains beg to differ.
Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 Battle Pass
Everyone knows that each new Act brings with it a fresh Battle Pass. Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 Battle Pass will feature a free version and a premium version, as always. The premium version can be bought for 1,000 Valorant Points and will obviously have better rewards than the free version.
The Battle Pass is packed with three new skin collections, including Tactiplay, Fiber Optic, and Guardrail collections. The collections will have a total of 13 skins and will also include a melee skin. Other than skin collections, you’ll have access to 15 different sprays if you can grind out all the tiers in the premium Battle Pass.
Finally, there are 9 gun buddies, 12 player cards, and 3 different titles up for grabs. Surprisingly, all three titles will be available in the free version of the Battle Pass.
Also Read: Mastering All 4 Roles in Valorant
The Takeaway
A new Act spells new opportunities for anyone who missed out on Episode 7 Act 3. With a fresh competitive ladder reset, you can easily reach new heights by winning consistently. The new sniper should also shake up the meta, fitting well with a few select agents. Keep an eye out for any future patches to understand the meta better and dominate the battlefield.
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