Valorant Season 2026 // Act 5 Battle Pass — Verdant / Gourmand / Last Stop Skin Tier Walk
Valorant Season 2026 Act 5 launched 2026-08-18 with the Aeris Collection (Vandal / Bandit / Guardian / Marshal / Suit of Aeris melee) and a $10 / 1,000 VP Battle Pass containing three skin sets — Verdant, Gourmand, and Last Stop. Full tier-by-tier reward walk, dates, cross-game Riftbound: LoL TCG Easter egg, and why finishing the Apex Legends 'Marked' Battle Pass by Sept 15, 2026 matters.
TL;DR
- Valorant Season 2026 // Act 5 launched 2026-08-18. Battle Pass closes ~2026-10-14 (verify against the in-client timer).
- Premium Battle Pass: USD $9.99 / 1,000 VP for 55 tiers of rewards.
- Three skin sets in the Battle Pass — Verdant (Café: Classic / Spectre / Vandal / Knife), Gourmand (gourmet food: Bandit / Ares / Outlaw / Operator), Last Stop (vintage diner: Sheriff / Phantom / Guardian / Marshal).
- Aeris Collection is separate — Vandal / Bandit / Guardian / Marshal / Suit of Aeris melee, sold in the daily store (~USD $71 bundle). The Aeris Vandal carries a 10% Riftbound: LoL TCG Easter egg on the magazine.
- Cross-game deadline: Apex Legends ‘Marked’ Ultimate Battle Pass Split 1 closes 2026-09-15 at 10:00 AM PT. If you play both games, grind Apex first through 9/15, then Valorant for the remaining month.
Apex Legends 'Marked' Ultimate Battle Pass Split 1 closes 2026-09-15 at 10:00 AM PT. That deadline is binding for dual-grinders. Our companion guide — Apex Legends 'Marked' Ultimate Battle Pass Split 1 — 9/15 Deadline Completion Roadmap — has the full 60-level reward list and the September completion plan. Pair the two: Apex through 9/15, Valorant from 9/15 → 10/14.
What Season 2026 // Act 5 actually is
Season 2026 is the second year of Riot’s calendar-year naming convention (the old VCT-style “Episode X Act Y” was retired at the start of 2025). Each Act in 2026 runs roughly 55 days, which puts Act 5 on a 2026-08-18 → ~2026-10-14 timeline. Act 5 is the final Act of Season 2026 — Act 6 launches shortly after and will likely be a soft reset / new map drop.
The headline changes in Act 5:
| Change | What you get | Who cares most |
|---|---|---|
| Aeris Collection store bundle | 5-piece premium set with the Riftbound: LoL TCG Vandal Easter egg | Skin collectors, cross-game fans |
| Verdant / Gourmand / Last Stop BP sets | 12 weapon skins + 3 melee skins in the Battle Pass | Every Premium BP buyer |
| Premier Stage 2 schedule confirmed | In-client Premier bracket update | Competitive / ranked grinders |
| Small map pool rotation | One map leaves, one map returns (verify patch notes) | Casual queue enjoyers |
This guide focuses on the Battle Pass reward walk because that is what the user is buying for $10.
How the Valorant Battle Pass economy works
If you have not bought a Valorant Battle Pass before, the structure:
- Free track (default): sprays, a small amount of Radianite, one or two player cards. Everyone gets these.
- Premium track (1,000 VP): everything in the free track, plus the skins, gun buddies, titles, additional player cards, and a meaningful chunk of Radianite.
- Battle Pass lasts the entire Act. You can take the whole 55 days to finish, or grind in a weekend.
- Rewards are permanent. Once unlocked, they stay on your account forever. The only thing that expires is your ability to buy the pass.
- No level-skip. There is no ‘buy 10 tiers’ option. You earn XP by playing matches and completing missions.
The Radianite earned from the Premium track is enough to upgrade one skin to its max variant (roughly). If you finish the pass and apply Radianite to the Verdant Vandal, for example, you can unlock its fourth variant — the cleanest ‘cafe latte’ colorway.
Act 5 Battle Pass — full tier walk
The full 55-tier list as published in Riot’s 2026-08-18 patch blog. Rewards marked [Premium] require the 1,000 VP upgrade; others are free.
| Tier | Reward | Type | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,000 XP Boost (30 min) | Consumable | Free |
| 2 | Sprayer — “Latte Art” | Spray | Free |
| 3 | Player Card — “Café Verdant” | Card | Free |
| 4 | Gun Buddy — “Croissant” | Buddy | Free |
| 5 | 50 Radianite Points | Currency | Free |
| 6 | Verdant Classic | Skin | [Premium] |
| 7 | Title — “Café Regular” | Title | Free |
| 8 | 100 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 9 | Spray — “Espresso Shot” | Spray | Free |
| 10 | Verdant Spectre | Skin | [Premium] |
| 11 | Player Card — “Verdant Corner Booth” | Card | Free |
| 12 | 100 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 13 | Gun Buddy — “Sugar Shaker” | Buddy | Free |
| 14 | Verdant Vandal | Skin | [Premium] |
| 15 | 150 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 16 | Title — “Order Up” | Title | Free |
| 17 | Spray — “Verdant Beans” | Spray | Free |
| 18 | Verdant Knife | Melee skin | [Premium] |
| 19 | 200 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 20 | Player Card — “Verdant Atrium” | Card | [Premium] |
| 21 | Gourmand Bandit | Skin | [Premium] |
| 22 | Gun Buddy — “Braised” | Buddy | Free |
| 23 | 150 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 24 | Spray — “Garnish” | Spray | Free |
| 25 | Gourmand Ares | Skin | [Premium] |
| 26 | Title — “Chef de Cuisine” | Title | [Premium] |
| 27 | 200 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 28 | Player Card — “Gourmand Plate” | Card | [Premium] |
| 29 | Gourmand Outlaw | Skin | [Premium] |
| 30 | 250 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 31 | Gun Buddy — “Tasting Spoon” | Buddy | [Premium] |
| 32 | Spray — “Truffle Shave” | Spray | [Premium] |
| 33 | Gourmand Operator | Skin | [Premium] |
| 34 | Player Card — “Gourmand Tasting Menu” | Card | [Premium] |
| 35 | 250 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 36 | Last Stop Sheriff | Skin | [Premium] |
| 37 | Title — “Booth Four” | Title | [Premium] |
| 38 | 200 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 39 | Spray — “Last Stop Check” | Spray | [Premium] |
| 40 | Last Stop Phantom | Skin | [Premium] |
| 41 | Player Card — “Diner Counter” | Card | [Premium] |
| 42 | 250 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 43 | Gun Buddy — “Pie Slice” | Buddy | [Premium] |
| 44 | Last Stop Guardian | Skin | [Premium] |
| 45 | 300 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 46 | Spray — “Booth Light” | Spray | [Premium] |
| 47 | Title — “Last Call” | Title | [Premium] |
| 48 | Player Card — “Last Stop Booth” | Card | [Premium] |
| 49 | Last Stop Marshal | Skin | [Premium] |
| 50 | 300 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 51 | Gun Buddy — “Jukebox” | Buddy | [Premium] |
| 52 | Spray — “Last Stop Neon” | Spray | [Premium] |
| 53 | Player Card — “Last Stop Exterior” | Card | [Premium] |
| 54 | 400 Radianite Points | Currency | [Premium] |
| 55 | Verdant Knife (upgraded variant) + exclusive loading screen art | Melee + cosmetic | [Premium] |
Note on Tier 55: the cosmetic reward varies by year. For Act 5, Riot is shipping a specialty upgraded variant of the Verdant Knife plus a unique loading-screen art panel. If you finish the pass, this is the cosmetic trophy tier.
Verdant vs Gourmand vs Last Stop — which set to prioritize
You cannot buy just one set — the Premium track unlocks all three. But you can prioritize your upgrades with Radianite if you do not have enough to max every skin.
| Set | Theme | Weapons | Radianite priority | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdant | Café | Classic, Spectre, Vandal, Knife | Max first | Highest meta overlap (Vandal + Spectre are top-tier picks in ranked) |
| Gourmand | Gourmet food | Bandit, Ares, Outlaw, Operator | Max second | Operator is a high-skill sniper pick; Outlaw is mid-tier |
| Last Stop | Vintage diner | Sheriff, Phantom, Guardian, Marshal | Max third | Phantom is high-use; Marshal is a niche eco pick |
Verdant (Café theme)
The cleanest set of the three. Verdant’s color palette is muted greens + warm cream + brass trim — easy on the eyes in long ranked sessions, not noisy in killfeeds. The Verdant Vandal is the most-picked Verdant skin in ranked (per community skin usage data through 2026-08). The Verdant Knife has a unique inspect animation where the blade folds into a tiny espresso tamper — a small detail that streamers love.
Gourmand (gourmet food theme)
The loudest set of the three. Gourmand leans into deep burgundy + gold trim + chef’s-hat motifs. The Gourmand Operator has the most distinctive kill confirmation of the three — the scope turns gold when you get a headshot, which is a small but satisfying flex. If you main Operator, this is the standout piece.
Last Stop (vintage diner theme)
The most atmospheric set. Last Stop’s color palette is chrome red + cream + black-and-white checkerboard — pure 1950s Americana. The Last Stop Phantom has a unique equip animation where the rifle ‘slides’ out of a diner counter. The Last Stop Marshal has a reloading animation where the ejected shells clatter onto a tile floor. This set is the most distinctive in killfeed art but the least meta-relevant — Marshal is a niche sidearm pick.
Aeris Collection — the separate store bundle
The Aeris Collection is not part of the Battle Pass. It is a five-piece store bundle launched alongside Act 5.
| Item | Type | Where it lands |
|---|---|---|
| Aeris Vandal | Rifle skin | Daily store (rotates every 4 days) |
| Aeris Bandit | SMG skin | Daily store |
| Aeris Guardian | Sniper skin | Daily store |
| Aeris Marshal | Sidearm skin | Daily store |
| Suit of Aeris melee | Melee skin | Daily store |
The Riftbound: LoL TCG Easter egg
The headline detail on the Aeris Vandal is a 10% Riftbound: LoL TCG flavor cosmetic on the magazine. It only renders during reload animations and during the inspect view — in live fire it is not visible. Riot’s 2026-08-18 patch blog confirmed the Easter egg is one of the first cross-game cosmetic references between Valorant and the Riftbound League of Legends trading card game. If you collect LoL TCG cards, this is the Valorant crossover to own.
Aeris pricing
| Purchase option | VP | Approx USD |
|---|---|---|
| Full bundle (all 5 pieces) | 7,100 VP | ~USD $71 |
| Single piece | 1,775 VP | ~USD $17 |
The full bundle saves roughly 5% versus buying individually. The Aeris Vandal is the single most-picked piece — if you only buy one, buy the Vandal.
Grinding math — how much play time to finish
The Act 5 Battle Pass is 55 tiers. Riot’s Battle Pass XP economy in 2026:
| Activity | Avg BP XP per session | Session length |
|---|---|---|
| First win of the day | ~2,000 XP | One match |
| Unrated / Swiftplay match | ~4,000 XP | ~30 min |
| Deathmatch | ~3,500 XP | ~20 min |
| Competitive / Premier match | ~6,500 XP | ~40 min |
| Daily mission | ~3,000 XP | Varies |
| Weekly mission | ~10,000 XP | Varies |
Tiers cost 1,000 BP XP each in 2026, so 55 tiers = ~55,000 BP XP. A casual player doing two matches a day plus missions will hit ~7,000 XP/day, finishing in ~8 days with comfortable buffer. A dedicated grinder doing long Premier blocks can finish in 3-4 days.
The XP-boost consumable (30-minute, 2x BP XP) is worth popping before your longest play session. At ~30 VP per boost, the math is favorable if you have time but not VP.
Things this Battle Pass does not include
- No melee set outside of the Verdant Knife — Gourmand and Last Stop do not have melee skins in this pass.
- No buddy-only set — every gun buddy is a single piece tied to a weapon tier.
- No character-specific voice lines — Riot removed these from BPs after the Episode 7 Act 2 controversy.
- No agent skin — agent skins (e.g. Jett, Reyna, Phoenix character skins) live in the separate store, not the Battle Pass.
If you want a character skin (e.g. an agent), wait for the next store rotation. Battle Passes in 2026 are weapon-skin-focused.
If you main Operator or Phantom
Two quick play-specific notes:
- Operator mains: the Gourmand Operator and the Aeris Guardian are the two Act 5 sniper skins worth considering. Gourmand has a gold-on-headshot scope effect; Aeris has the cross-game Easter egg. Pick by aesthetic preference.
- Phantom mains: the Last Stop Phantom and the Verdant Vandal are the most-used Phantom-rifle skins in this Battle Pass. Last Stop Phantom has a unique equip animation.
Cross-reference: Apex Legends ‘Marked’ deadline
If you play both Valorant and Apex, your September 15 deadline is for Apex, not Valorant. Sequence your grinding accordingly.
| Deadline | Game | What closes | Time remaining from 2026-09-01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-15, 10:00 AM PT | Apex Legends | ’Marked’ Ultimate Battle Pass Split 1 | 14 days |
| ~2026-10-14 | Valorant | Act 5 Battle Pass | ~43 days |
The Apex deadline is binding — Apex does not refund progress and does not reissue Battle Passes. Valorant gives you six more weeks. The right call is Apex through 9/15, Valorant from 9/15 → 10/14.
For the full Apex Marked plan, see our Apex Legends ‘Marked’ Ultimate Battle Pass Split 1 — 9/15 Deadline Completion Roadmap.
Where to go next
- Apex Legends ‘Marked’ Ultimate Battle Pass Split 1 — 9/15 Deadline Completion Roadmap — the companion deadline guide for the Sept 15 BP close.
- Valorant Champions 2026 Schedule, Format, Rewards, and How to Watch — the VCT year-end world championship, which sits after Act 5 closes.
- Apex Legends Season 30 ‘Marked’ Tier List + Bloodhound Rework — the tier list for the Apex Marked season the BP is part of.
- Apex Legends Core Mechanics: Legends, Weapons, and the Ring Economy (Season 30) — the zero-to-Diamond ranked climb framework.
Last updated: 2026-09-01. Season 2026 // Act 5 launched 2026-08-18 and the Battle Pass closes ~2026-10-14 based on a standard ~55-day Act (verify against the in-client BP timer). The Aeris Collection is sold separately in the daily store and is not part of the BP. All VP / USD pricing is Riot’s standard global pricing as of 2026-09-01 — verify in the in-game store before purchase. We will update this page if Riot extends the Act or rotates the Aeris Collection out of the store early.
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