VALORANT V26 Act 4: Release Date, Summit and Patch 13.00

When did VALORANT Act 4 2026 start?

Riot published Patch 13.00 and started V26 Act 4 on June 23, 2026. Players in time zones ahead of North America may see June 24 attached to the client rollout, but this is the same global patch window—not a separate Act.

This distinction matters because older preview pages still describe Act 4 as upcoming. It is already live, and the useful question now is what changed in the client and Competitive queue.

Every major Patch 13.00 change at a glance

Summit entered Competitive immediately

Summit is a two-site, three-lane map set in a Radiant training academy in the mountains of China. Droppable walls can change paths during a round, so teams need to confirm which lanes are open instead of relying on a single default route.

Riot placed Summit directly into Competitive at launch. During its first two weeks, losses on Summit reduced RR by 50 percent while wins still awarded full RR. That temporary launch protection does not mean the map is absent from Ranked; it was designed to let players learn it without carrying the full loss penalty.

For the wider pool, Sunset returned alongside Summit. Fracture and Pearl rotated out. If you are preparing a queue session, use the current VALORANT Ranked map pool rather than an older pre-patch list.

Sentinel buffs and shorter Initiator cooldowns

Patch 13.00 focused on giving strategic utility more room in late rounds. Cypher, Killjoy, Veto, Sage and Deadlock were included in the Sentinel update. Sage did not receive the rumored full kit replacement: Healing Orb self-heal-over-time increased from 50 to 100, while Barrier Orb, Slow Orb and Resurrection remained part of her kit.

Sova, Fade, Skye, Breach and KAY/O had their signature ability cooldowns reduced from 60 to 50 seconds. Gekko’s reclaimed-ability cooldowns were reduced from 20 to 15 seconds. The practical effect is more opportunity to earn a second information or initiation cycle in slower rounds.

For the full distinction between rumor and shipped change, read the focused Sage Patch 13.00 guide.

What changed in Ranked and RR?

Riot adjusted Ranked Rating calculations so consistent wins should feel less likely to leave a player stuck. On PC, matchmaking was also changed so the average rank of one team should more often sit within one sub-tier of the other team’s average.

These are system-level adjustments, not a promise that every visible player badge will match. Hidden factors, party composition and queue health can still produce individual differences. Judge the change over a meaningful sample of matches rather than a single post-game screen.

Retake mode explained

Retake is a 3v3 mode that starts with the Spike already planted. One team holds the site while the other coordinates the retake, and the sides swap each round. There is no standard buy phase: players choose from randomized weapon, armor and ability cards that escalate as the match progresses.

The first team to five rounds wins. At launch, the mode used sites from Ascent, Bind, Haven, Summit and Sunset. It is a compact place to practise timing, trade spacing and post-plant decision-making; the broader fundamentals are covered in the VALORANT post-plant guide.

Inbox and Premier V26A4

VALORANT Act 4 2026 FAQ

Is VALORANT V26 Act 4 live?

Yes. V26 Act 4 started with Patch 13.00 on June 23, 2026.

Which maps entered and left Competitive?

Summit and Sunset entered the Competitive and Deathmatch rotations. Fracture and Pearl left both rotations.

Was Sage fully reworked?

No. Riot confirmed a Healing Orb self-heal buff from 50 to 100, not a full replacement of Sage’s abilities.

What should returning players learn first?

Start with Summit’s lane-changing walls, review the current map pool, then test the Sentinel and Initiator timing changes. Those affect more real rounds than cosmetic or menu changes.