The new system introduced by Riot Games is a positive change to the circuit, as it rewards and values consistent performance throughout the entire league season, rather than just achieving a one-time qualification in Ascension.
The VALORANT Champions Tour will introduce massive changes to the Ascension system starting in 2025.
The International League will set a hard cap of 12 teams beginning in 2025, deviating from the initial roadmap plans announced two years ago, which aimed for a maximum of 14 teams by 2027. Furthermore, a new performance-based system will allow Ascension teams to extend or defend their slot, rather than being automatically relegated after their promotion term ends.
In the initial two years of Ascension (2023 & 2024), teams will earn a two-year promotion before returning to their Challengers League. However, in 2025, the promotion term will be reduced to one year by default. However, teams will have the opportunity to extend their stay if they meet certain performance-based criteria.
- Extend: If an Ascension team makes it to VALORANT Champions (top 4 in IL), they will extend their term for another year. If both Ascension teams make it to Champions, the team with the best performance at the tournament will stay while the other team will have the option to compete at Ascension for their spot.
- Fight: If an Ascension team finishes top 8 in the IL, they will earn a chance to defend their spot. They will need to play in Ascension against the upcoming Challengers teams to see if they can re-earn their spot in the International League or fall back to Challengers.
- Relegate: If a team fails to make it to Stage 2 Playoffs (bottom 4 in IL), they will relegate back down to their respective Challenger League. If both Ascension teams are relegated, we will bring up two new teams to give them a shot at dethroning the best teams.
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The new system introduced by Riot Games is a positive change to the circuit, as it rewards and values consistent performance throughout the entire league season, rather than just achieving a one-time qualification in Ascension.
For instance, consider Team A: The team made it to the International League after winning their Ascension competition. However, they underwent major roster changes afterward, selling their star players and bringing in replacements who didn’t meet expectations. This led to a decline in their performance during the league season, causing them to miss out on the Stage 2 Playoffs. Under the new system, such a performance would mean automatic relegation to the Challengers League the next season.
On the other hand, Team B offers a different story: After moving up to the International League, they decided to stick with the same starting five who won the Ascension trophy together. Not only did they qualify for VALORANT Champions later on (Top 4 in the International League), but they also defended their slot in the league for the next season.
The two-team promotion each year will also be implemented one year earlier than initially planned, starting in 2025 instead of 2026. This change compensates for the reduction in term length to one year and ensures that at least one team is promoted each year.
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Cover photo courtesy of VCT Pacific
