VALORANT may look like a single game, but it contains very different modes: some take 40 minutes, some end in eight, some affect your rank and some are just for fun. In this guide we collected the mode information from Riot Games' official wiki, rechecked on October 11, 2026. Because Riot offers some modes on a rotation, check the in-game mode screen to see which one is open right now.
Unrated and Competitive: The Standard 5v5
Unrated and Competitive are the main modes: 5v5, 12 rounds per half, under the rule that "the first to 13 rounds wins". If the score reaches 12-12, Unrated plays a single deciding round (Endgame); Competitive starts Overtime, which needs a two-round lead and lets players vote every two rounds to continue. Only Competitive affects your rank, and your account must be at least level 20 to enter it.
Short Modes: Swiftplay and Spike Rush
If you are short on time, these modes help:
- Swiftplay: a shortened version of Unrated rules; first to 5 rounds wins (a best-of-nine series).
- Spike Rush: first to 4 rounds wins (a best-of-seven series); every round everyone starts with the same random weapon and orbs on the map grant buffs or debuffs.
- Bot Match: a Swiftplay-rules mode played against bots, meant for new players.
These modes are good for trying the habits of the standard mode (planting the Spike, using abilities) in a short time; with a simpler economy and round plan, there is less stress at the start.
Practice and Weapon-Focused Modes
For aim and weapon mastery these modes are used:
- Deathmatch: a 12-player free-for-all; no abilities, you pick any weapon you like; it ends at 40 kills or after 9 minutes.
- Team Deathmatch: 5v5; the first team to reach 100 kills wins, and weapons change by stage.
- Escalation: teams advance through weapon and ability levels by getting kills; the first team to finish level 12 (or the furthest team after 10 minutes) wins.
Premier
Premier is the team mode that is played with Competitive rules but adds map pick/ban and a tournament structure. Overtime is capped at 5 extra rounds and the mode is PC-only. It is designed for organized play if you have a regular team.
Custom Games
In a custom game you can invite up to 10 players and 2 observers and set the rules as the host. These matches give no XP or daily mission progress and do not affect rank; they suit practice with friends or small tournaments.
Which Mode Should You Start With?
If you are just starting, learn the basic rules with Bot Match or Swiftplay first, warm up your aim in Deathmatch, and then move to Unrated. Once your account reaches level 20 you can open Competitive; not rushing is a real advantage here, because round decisions and the economy matter more in Competitive.
You can find out how Competitive works in our rank system article and the round economy in our economy guide.