VALORANT has overhauled its Ranked demotion protection system, introducing a new system called Ranked Shields. This change aims to combat chance and prevent players from demoting after one bad game.
In Patch 10.01, Ranked Shields will vary depending on the player’s skill tier and are non-replenishable. Only players in ranks below Radiant (Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Ascendant, and Immortal) can utilize them.
Here’s how Ranked Shields work: every player is granted two shields at the beginning of each new full rank. These shields will apply to every tier of each competitive rank. For example, if a player is ranked within the three Gold tiers (Gold I, Gold II, and Gold III), their Ranked Shield protection will apply to every level of Gold as long as charges remain.
However, Ranked Shields are expendable and cannot be replenished. After using up your two Ranked Shields at the base of your overall rank’s first tier, you will no longer have demotion protection. At that point, losing a game and dropping your RR below zero will immediately demote you to the previous overall rank.
Key points about Ranked Shields include:
– They do not recharge after use.
– Players obtain new shields after moving into Tier I of any rank from the previous rank.
– Ranked Shields apply to every rank below Radiant.
– Losing a game at 0 RR consumes one shield, leaving the player with one remaining. Losing again at 0 RR consumes the second shield, leaving zero shields remaining.
The new Ranked Shields system aims to promote fairer competition and reduce the impact of chance on player progression. However, it may require players to adapt their strategies and playstyles to succeed in the game’s competitive environment.
Source: https://www.si.com/esports/valorant/patch-10-01-new-ranked-shields-explained