Valorant Premier Mode: How to Qualify for Challengers

Valorant's Premier mode offers players a path to becoming professionals through grassroots competition. Here's how to qualify for Challengers.

Overview

Riot Games, the developer of the famous hero shooter game Valorant, has promised that Premier, the game's competitive mode, will be a gateway for teams who aspire to qualify for Challengers and the VCT (Valorant Champions Tour).

The Premier system in Valorant is very important because it will give players the opportunity to become professional players through a grassroots competition. This competition can be used to discover new talent.

At a glance:

• Starting with Episode 8 in January, Premier will begin to qualify players for the VALORANT Champions Tour.
• Episode 8 is a transitional phase: Premier teams will require a ranked requirement of Immortal 3 or higher, alongside qualifying for Contender—the highest tier of Premier.
• Specifics on the path to Challengers may vary by region.

What is Premier in Valorant?

Premier is Valorant's in-game competitive tournament system, providing players with an opportunity to test their skills in a competitive arena.

Also read:

Valorant 'Premier' Mode: All Your Questions Answered

How do I qualify for Challengers via Premier?

To qualify for Challengers, you must first qualify for the Contender Division, which is the highest tier of Premier. Achieving Contender status signifies your readiness to compete at the highest levels of VALORANT.

Here's what you need to reach Contender status:

• Immortal 3 Rank: To be eligible for the Contender tier of Premier, you must currently have a rank of Immortal 3 or higher. Your rank should also be recent, so make sure to play ranked matches regularly.
• Form the Best Team: Assembling a powerful team is crucial to your success. Look for players with high rankings and ensure that their rankings have been recently earned. With a strong team, your chances of qualifying for Contender Premier will increase significantly.

Other requirements are as follows:

• Make sure that all players on your team meet the age requirement of 16 years or above to stay eligible for the promotion tournament in May 2024, as per the rules of the Challenger League.
• Current Pros are not allowed to compete within Premier. According to Riot Games, Pros are players who are currently on an active Challenger or International League roster. Game Changers competitors are eligible to participate in Premier. Anyone caught violating the policies of Premier by competing in it will face penalties.
• Premier participants are required to use only a single account. No account sharing or smurfing. Riot will closely monitor for any instances of cheating, including ringers, substitutes, and cross-region play. Teams found to be in violation of these rules will face severe consequences.

Riot Games reiterated that they would closely monitor players participating in multiple regions, smurfs, ringers, and situations where roster changes create challenges. Riot's ultimate goal is to learn from these situations and implement necessary measures to address them at a larger scale in future seasons.

Timing and Competition

Keeping track of timing is crucial on your journey to becoming a Challenger. Here are the general dates and checkpoints to keep in mind:

• In order to ensure that you are eligible as a Contender, you will need to have achieved a competitive ranking of Immortal 3 or higher by the time Episode 8 Act 1 commences on January 10, 2024.
• Between January 8 and 17, 2024, create a Premier team entirely comprised of players who are eligible for the Contender category.
• Make sure to sign up for the Challengers Open Qualifier with your Contender Division Roster. Regional Channels will provide you with more details on the Challenger League sign-ups in the upcoming weeks.
• Compete in Challenger Open Qualifiers throughout January 2024 for promotion into Challengers.

Teams that do not qualify for Challengers during the Open Qualifiers will still get a chance to compete in Premier Contender, which is the highest level of in-game competition in VALORANT. Between January and the end of April 2024, Riot Games will run two stages of competition. The Premier Contender Play-Offs of the second stage will qualify teams for the Challengers Promotion and Relegation tournament. Make sure you keep an eye on the calendar to plan your schedule accordingly.

Your progression from Premier to Challengers is a true testament to your unwavering dedication, impressive skill set, and fervent passion for VALORANT. This journey is filled with both obstacles and chances to rise above, and Riot is committed to being there for you at every step. Keep in mind that this is just the beginning. Be on the lookout for further updates regarding Premier, Challengers, and the 2024 VCT Season.