Valorant Premier's main goal is to provide a higher level of competition than ranked matches. Following successful beta sessions by Riot earlier this year, patch 7.04 brought Stage 1 of this mode, allowing players to compete beyond the Radiant rank.
Valorant Premier is eventually connected to the VCT pro scene, and participating in this mode can be more complex than you might think. Here's a useful guide on how to play Valorant Premier, create your team, and compete.
Valorant Premier Stage 1 Schedule
Valorant Premier Stage 1 will run for slightly over seven weeks or 54 days, commencing on August 29 and concluding on October 22, 2023. This duration consists of three segments:
- Enrollment Period: August 29 to September 7.
- Weekly Matches: September 7 to October 21.
- Playoff Tournament: October 22.
Where to Find Valorant Premier
You can access Valorant Premier by selecting it from the Homepage, right below the Play option. If you're visiting the Premier Hub for the first time, an explanation modal will guide you through any uncertainties.
How to Register for Valorant Premier Stage 1
To enroll in Valorant Premier Stage 1, you must register your team during the Enrollment period. Each team can have a maximum of seven players, and you can either create your own team or join an existing one.
To play Valorant Premier Stage 1, you need to meet a couple of requirements:
- Verify your mobile number via SMS.
- Complete ranked placements at any time in your account's history.
After completing these steps and finalizing your roster, the team owner will enroll your team by selecting the Zone where you intend to play. The chosen Zone will determine the servers and match schedules.
Unlike the beta version with 20 divisions, the full release will have five distinct Divisions. Your team will be assigned to one based on the average MMR of its top five players.
Viewing Valorant Premier Team Standings
To check the team standings in Valorant Premier:
- Navigate to Premier in the menu.
- Select Standings.
The standings are categorized by teams that meet the qualification cut-off, and they are updated as Premier matches conclude. Teams are listed based on their scores, with tiebreakers determined by match W/L and then rounds W/L.
Valorant Premier Stage 1 Format
Your team will have two matches scheduled each week, and the Team Hub will provide all the necessary information, including the schedule, map rotation, and queue-up. All matches will involve a map pick and ban system, similar to VCT.
For each match played, your team earns points that contribute to the Premier Score. Your team's Premier Score will determine whether it qualifies for the Playoff Tournament. Winning more matches results in more points, but no points are awarded if your team doesn't play a match.
- Earn 100 points for each weekly match win.
- Lose 25 points for each weekly match loss.
- Tournament matches do not award points.
The Playoff Tournament is scheduled for the final day of Valorant Premier Stage 1.
That's the breakdown of how to play Valorant Premier Stage 1 and compete with your team to your heart's content.
