VCT is implementing significant modifications to the Challengers ecosystem in 2025, which will enable the top Valorant Ascension teams to remain in the major leagues for a longer period of time, provided they earn their spots.
On June 21, Riot Games announced their strategy for the Valorant Champions Tour Challengers division, outlining the path for the best Challengers teams to qualify for international tournaments.
The ultimate aim of Challengers has constantly been to secure one of the highly sought-after 12 positions, but Riot is not making it a simple task.
Starting in 2025, the elimination of automatic relegation will be the first major change to take effect. This change means that teams moving up from Challengers to the international leagues will no longer be immediately demoted back to Challengers, regardless of their performance.
Currently, a spot on the Ascension team is extended for an additional year if the team finishes in the top 4 at Champions. In the event that both Ascension teams place in the top 4, the team with the higher performance will secure the guaranteed spot.
How Ascension teams can keep their spots in VCT
An Ascension team that ranks among the top 8 in the international league is given the opportunity to defend their position by competing against Challengers teams in Ascension.
Meanwhile, teams that do not advance to the Valorant Stage 2 Playoffs will be demoted to their respective Challenger League. In the event that both Ascension teams are relegated, two new teams will be promoted to take their place in the competition.
Furthermore, a modification to the path to pro from Premier to Challengers will be introduced at the end of this year, in addition to the changes made to Ascension teams.
To ensure continuity between Ascension and the upcoming Challengers season, the Challenger Leagues will now operate continuously throughout the year.
In October, the third stint of Challengers will feature the top-performing teams from Premier for each Act of Episode 9, starting in July.
Despite being eligible to compete at Challengers, they will not be participating in the Ascension window in September.
These updates leave top teams like G2 Esports unsure of their status in the international leagues. It is currently unknown how Valorant will respond to these changes and their potential impact on these teams.
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