Valorant Act 4 2026: Placements, Rank Reset & What’s New
Act 4 starts on June 24, and with it the next rank reset. Here is how far your rank drops, how the 5 placement matches work and how to start clean.
Verified sources: official Valorant season dates and the confirmed ranked reset mechanics. Act 4 content will be updated at release.
The short version
Valorant Act 4 2026 starts on June 24, right after Act 3. At the act rollover your rank gets a soft reset. You then play 5 placement matches that, together with your hidden MMR, decide your new starting rank.
No panic: you do not drop to the bottom. Most players land 1 to 2 tiers below their Act 3 peak, and your Act 3 rank stays in your profile as a badge.
Start June 24, 5 placements, soft reset of about 1 to 2 tiers. Immortal and Radiant drop more.
When does Act 4 2026 start?
Act 3 ends on June 24, 2026, and Act 4 begins right after. Riot has not confirmed an exact time yet, but the start usually happens during the patch day.
The act rollover brings three things together: the rank reset, a new battle pass and the five placement matches. Anyone playing right at the start runs into a mixed field, because everyone is being re-placed at the same time. That is both an opportunity and a risk.
How the rank reset works
Valorant resets ranked three times a year, once per act. Important: it is a soft reset, not a full one. Your visible RR drops, but your hidden MMR from the last act stays in the background and pulls you back up.
How far you fall depends on your peak. Rough guide:
| Act 3 peak | Typical Act 4 start |
|---|---|
| Iron to Diamond | about 1 to 2 tiers below |
| Ascendant | a bit further back |
| Immortal | noticeably lower, more RR reset |
| Radiant | the biggest drop |
The reason the top ranks drop more: Riot wants the high ranks earned fresh every act, instead of someone hitting Radiant once and sitting on it.
The 5 placement matches explained
After the reset you play 5 placement matches before you get a rank again. These games decide where you start in Act 4, and what matters is not only win or loss, but your hidden MMR.
Tips for good placements
You do not have to place on day one. If you are tired or tilted, wait rather than waste your 5 games.
Two stubborn myths
No. Your start is tied to hidden MMR. Five wins lift you, but not beyond your real level.
No. It is a soft reset. You land close to your peak, not back at Iron.
What Act 4 brings
Like every act rollover there is a new battle pass with exclusive skins and cosmetics. Riot also usually adjusts the map rotation at the act start, taking maps in or out of the pool.
A new agent has not been confirmed for Act 4 so far. The most recent agent was Miks in Act 2.
As of June 10 the exact Act 4 contents have not been revealed. We update this section as soon as Riot publishes the official patch notes for the act start.
Why a good account gives you a head start at the reset
The reset hits everyone, but it hits some harder. If you grind through the lower ranks again every act, that costs time and nerves before you even play at your level.
An account that is already placed at a higher level saves you exactly that grind. If you are thinking about it, look at the hidden MMR, the region, full access and the actual rank, not just the visible badge. That way you start Act 4 where you really belong.
Frequently asked questions
When does Valorant Act 4 2026 start?
Act 4 starts on June 24, 2026, right after Act 3 ends. Riot has not confirmed an exact time yet.
How many placement matches are there in Act 4?
You play 5 placement matches. Together with your hidden MMR they decide your starting rank for the new act.
How much does my rank drop at the act reset?
It is a soft reset. Most players land 1 to 2 tiers below their Act 3 peak. Immortal and Radiant drop more to encourage active climbing.
Do I get my Act 3 rank back?
Your Act 3 rank stays in your profile as a badge. Your RR resets, but your hidden MMR makes sure you start close to your real level.
Is there a new agent or battle pass in Act 4?
A new battle pass arrives like every act. A new agent has not been confirmed for Act 4 so far.
Ready for a clean Act 4 start?
Skip the grind through the lower ranks. Compare Valorant accounts by rank, region, access and skins instead of a single value.