VALORANT has announced multiple changes to Premier in Episode 9 Act 1. Now there will be better MMR scaling and different eligibility criteria for Immortal 3 players.

New Changes to Premier in VALORANT Episode 9 ACT 1

Since its launch in VALORANT, Premier has been quite successful as a game mode within the game. The mode acts as a medium for players to test their luck and skills in a professional environment. Players can make teams with six other players and participate in weekly matches to help them qualify for the playoff stage of their rank.

We saw the first promotion and relegation event in April and May this year during the regional VALORANT Challengers leagues. The top 2 teams from the regional Premier contender ranks participated in these events. These teams played for a chance to be part of their respective VALORANT Challenger Leagues.

The first change within Valorant Premier is the launch of a new rank called Invite Division. Invite Division will be above the contender division within Premier. Teams that qualify to be a part of the Invite Division will earn an opportunity to qualify for their region’s VCL.

Qualifying to be part of a team in the Invite Division will require work for specific players. Players must also be eligible for the contender division to be part of a team within the division. Below are some more points for teams and player eligibility for the Contender Division in Premier:

• Play a weekly match in Contender or Invite.
• Play a playoff match in Elite 5.
• Play a Competitive match when ranked as Immortal 3 or higher.

Have the Premier Weekly matchmaking timings changed?

Following the release of VALORANT Episode 9 Act 1, there will be a slight change in the Contender and Invite Division weekly matches. There will be 2 match times on a weekly basis. Match-making queues will open 15 minutes before a given match starts. From Ep 9 ACT 1, there will be stricter rematch protection. Losses will reward teams with 0 points. If teams aren’t able to find a match, they can receive a bye.

Finally, teams on top of their respective divisions will qualify for their respective regional Premier playoffs. Each of the playoff finals will be a best-of-series. Players must note that split two from various VALORANT Challenger Leagues is currently completed.

According to the calendar proposed by VALORANT Split 1, the 2025 season is slated to begin this year. The VALORANT schedule states that this split will start following the completion of the VALORANT off-season.

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