Valorant 12.03 Patch Notes: Gekko Buff and New Game Mode Released

Patch 12.03 for Valorant has arrived, introducing substantial changes, particularly to the character Gekko, alongside an expanded rollout of multi-factor authentication (MFA).Let’s delve into the key components included in this update.

The conclusion of 2026 marked a significant period for Valorant, with notable agent-wide adjustments, a comprehensive rework of Harbor, and the introduction of a new gifting feature for Valorant Points (VP).Additionally, there was increased action against smurfing, coinciding with enhanced MFA protocols.

Riot Games has not eased its development pace as 2026 begins, rolling out yet another overhaul for Harbor and debuting a new pistol known as the Bandit. Continuing this trend, the 12.03 patch emerged on February 17, featuring a rework for Gekko, the addition of Skirmish as a 2v2 mode, and a broader implementation of MFA.

Key Changes in Gekko’s Abilities

One of the primary highlights of this update is the modification to Gekko. Riot aims to provide him with “a slight power buff” to improve his gameplay dynamics.

This buff includes making Gekko’s Mosh Pit reclaimable, but with the caveat that the recall time for his Globules has been extended from 15 seconds to 20 seconds. Riot stated, “These changes aim to standardize the ruleset for Gekko’s abilities, allowing him greater flexibility in reclaiming his Globules.”

Gekko Splash art in Valorant — Riot Games

Additionally, Skirmish has now been introduced as a limited-time 2v2 mode that emphasizes gunplay over abilities. Riot has described it as “compact maps, no abilities—gunplay only, ” offering players a chance to refine their shooting skills in a more confined setting.

For competitive players in the APAC region ranked Ascendant and above, the introduction of multi-factor authentication is now mandatory to enter competitive queues, bringing parity in security measures between various global regions including EU, NA, LATAM, BR, and KR.

Full Patch Notes for Valorant 12.03

UNIVERSAL UPDATES

AGENT ADJUSTMENTS

New voice lines have been added for Viper, featuring interactions with Omen and Vyse.

Gekko Updates

Since patch 11.08, feedback indicated that Gekko has been relatively less powerful compared to other Initiators. This update aims to enhance his claim flexibility and provide an overall slight power increase.
Globules: Recall timer adjusted from 15 seconds to 20 seconds.
Mosh Pit: Now reclaimable.

GENERAL ENHANCEMENTS

Audio occlusion improvements introduced, responding to interactions with map doors.
Replay mode now includes a feature to skip dead player spectation.

COMPETITIVE UPDATES

All Ascendant+ players in APAC must enable Riot Mobile multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access the competitive queue. Other game modes are unaffected.

ESPORTS INTEGRATIONS

Masters Santiago Pick’Ems

Pick’Ems make their return for Masters Santiago on February 19 (PT), allowing players to make predictions for the Swiss Stage both in-client and online.
During the Swiss Stage, participants will forecast which teams will advance from the 8-Team Swiss Groups. Bonus points are awarded for accurately predicting a flawless 2-0 record by a team.
Exclusive titles are available just for participating, with additional prizes based on player performance compared to others.

VCT Player Stats

Check your standings and compare with fellow players.

NEW MODES AND FEATURES

Limited Time Mode – Skirmish: 2v2

Skirmish: 2v2 offers a limited-time matchmaking experience focusing solely on gunplay. Players can team up or solo-queue, striving for the first to reach 10 rounds.

Mode Details:

2v2 matchmaking queue available.
Players can queue solo or with a partner.
First team to win 10 rounds secures victory.

Gameplay Features:

All abilities are disabled.
Full weapon selection in each round (economy not in play).
No agent selection, facilitating quick matches.

Available Maps:

Skirmish A, Skirmish B, and Skirmish C will be randomly selected each match.

ALL RANDOM ONE SITE

Loadout Adjustments:

Improvements have been made to stages and loadouts to better align with the chaotic nature of All Random One Site. New weapons have been added, and some less common options have been enhanced—discover what’s new!

BUG FIXES AND KNOWN ISSUES

Modes
All Random One Site
Addressed a bug that allowed Vyse to place infinite Razorvines during the buy phase.

KNOWN ISSUES

Battlepass:

Pressing ESC mistakenly causes Battlepass UI elements to toggle visibility instead of returning a page. A fix is scheduled for patch 12.04.
The scroll wheel function currently does not work when navigating the Battlepass tiers; this will be rectified soon.

Store:

The accessories store background is currently absent but will be resolved in the next patch.
The Reaver Bandit is incorrectly marked as a limited edition; this designation will be corrected promptly.

PC EXCLUSIVES

PROGRESSION ENHANCEMENTS

The Event Pass and Battlepass layouts have been refreshed for better navigation. Users can utilize mouse or arrow keys to move through tiers.

Source & Images