VALORANT patch 13.05 adds Champions Pick'Ems

VALORANT patch 13.05 is now live. It delivers quality-of-life tweaks and esports features ahead of the Champions Shanghai tournament. The update also brings audio adjustments for sprays. It includes a warning about imminent changes to the Agent Gear progression system.

Pick'Ems return for Champions Shanghai

Pick'Ems are back for the VALORANT Champions Shanghai event. Starting September 10, players can submit their bracket picks for the tournament's Group Stage. They can do this in the game client or on the official web platform. Participants earn points for correct selections. They can secure bonus points for accurately predicting exact team placements.

All picks must be finalized before the Group Stage begins on September 24. The system offers rewards for participation. This ensures players receive something even if their bracket is not perfect.

Agent Gear changes and audio tweaks

Riot Games has issued a warning. The Agent Gear progression system will be overhauled in the next update, Patch 13.06, scheduled for September 22. After this change, progression for each piece of gear will be directly tied to how much a player uses that specific agent. All previously unlocked gear will be kept. Kingdom Credits will remain the system's currency.

Separately, the developer has adjusted audio sprays based on player feedback. The sounds from these sprays will now only play when enemy players are nearby. Riot stated this change aims to reduce audio clutter. It should also improve the clarity of team communications during matches. This new audio attenuation standard will also apply to all future audio sprays released in the game.

Penalties for integrity violations

The patch has enabled penalties for players caught using tools that compromise competitive integrity. Riot has begun enforcing bans against those using stream sniping and instalock tools. Penalties start with temporary game bans. They can escalate to permanent bans for repeat offenders. The company says this action is necessary. It maintains competitive integrity and reduces toxic behavior, particularly in ranked play.

Agent bug fixes

Patch 13.05 includes a comprehensive list of bug fixes targeting various agents. The fixes address performance issues, visual glitches, and ability interactions that were not working as intended.

For more detailed information, players are directed to Riot Games' official blog post.