Valorant Act 4 Update Guide: New Map 'Summit', 3v3 'Retake' Mode, and Blackspyre Skins

Riot Games has officially unveiled the roadmap for Valorant Season 2026 // Act 4, highlighted by a massive content drop arriving on Wednesday, June 24. Revealed just before the Grand Finals at VCT Masters London 2026, the update introduces the highly anticipated 13th map, Summit, alongside a brand-new 3v3 game mode called Retake, and the sci-fi-meets-mystical Blacks pyre skin line.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of everything changing in Valorant and how to adapt your gameplay for the new meta.

Exploring 'Summit': Valorant’s 13th Map

The newest 5v5 battleground, Summit, transports players to a hidden Radiant training academy located high in the mountains of China. Rich with lore, this monastery serves as the former training ground where Agent Sage honed her abilities before joining the Valorant Protocol. Visually, the map features meditation gardens and training halls heavily defined by curved environmental structures, which is a rare design choice in tactical shooters that typically rely on sharp corners.

Summit Layout and Mechanics Summit feature a traditional three-lane layout with two Spike sites (A and B), but it introduces a map-altering mechanic that forces teams to make rapid strategic adjustments. The map features three massive, droppable walls located on A site, B site, and Mid.

Activation: Players trigger these walls by shooting nearby environmental switches.
Permanent Impact: Once a wall drops, it remains permanently closed for the remainder of the round.
Tactical Disruption: Dropped walls immediately cut off primary sightlines and essential rotation paths, forcing players to rethink their movement mid-round. For example, locking down Mid can divide the opposing team, while attackers can drop walls post-plant to completely seal off defusal routes.
Lethal Hazard: Players caught underneath a wall when it activates will be instantly killed.

Because these walls physically block routes and cannot be reopened, the agent meta will likely shift to favor Controllers and Sentinels who can capitalize on permanently altered map geometry.

Ranked Play and RR Protection Riot is integrating Summit directly into the Competitive queue at launch. To help players learn the complex new layout without ruining their rank, an RR (Rank Rating) protection system will be active for the first two weeks. During this period, players will lose 50% less RR for defeats on Summit, while continuing to gain 100% RR for victories. Additionally, players who want to practice without pressure can utilize a dedicated Summit-only Swiftplay queue available for the first seven days.

Fast-Paced Action in the 3v3 'Retake' Mode

Accompanying the new map is Retake, a fast-paced 3v3 Limited Time Mode (LTM) designed to simulate intense post-plant scenarios. This round-based mode skips the early game and drops players straight into the action with the Spike already planted as soon as the barrier drops.

Rules of Engagement: One team defends the planted Spike while the opposing team attempts to execute a retake and defuse. Teams swap sides every round, and the first squad to reach five round wins secures the match.
Map Pool: The mode takes place on single bomb sites pulled from a curated selection of existing Valorant maps.
Randomized Loadouts: Economy management is removed. Instead, players select two randomized loadout cards at the start of each round—one dictating weapons and armor, and the other providing ability charges. These loadout options escalate in power as the match progresses.

This mode serves as the perfect post-plant simulator, helping players practice clutch situations and map retakes in a high-intensity environment.

Act 4 Battle pass and the Blacks pyre Collection

Season 2026 // Act 4 also brings a fresh Battle pass packed with new cosmetics, highlighted by the Blacks pyre Collection. Blending futuristic sci-fi elements with mystical influences, the Blackspyre skinline features variants for the Phantom, Sheriff, Spectre, Ares, and a brand-new melee weapon known as the Divide.

The Act 4 Battle pass will cost 1,000 Valorant Points (VP) and includes a variety of rewards across two tracks:

Free Track Highlights:

Sky Reaper Ghost
Heal Up Squad Card (expanding on game lore)
Binding Thread Buddy
On Your Feet Spray

Paid Track Highlights:

Sky Reaper Sword (Melee)
Tacti-Guild Phantom
Intertwine Guardian
Player Cards like Unstoppable // Iso and Soft and Deadly
Various sprays and gun buddies, including the Blep Spray and Prooooowler Buddy

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Contents

Valorant Act 4 Update Guide: New Map 'Summit', 3v3 'Retake' Mode, and Blackspyre Skins