Riot Games ensures that Valorant is different from the Counter-Strike series in multiple ways. These ways range from the inclusion of agent abilities to the more colorful maps. Still, the biggest thing has to be the number of updates that Valorant sees, with the most recent one bringing the Knockout mode. Here’s what the Knockout mode is in Valorant and how to play it.
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Is the Knockout mode in Valorant permanent?
Before anything, it makes sense that you may wonder whether the Knockout mode in Valorant is even permanent. Unfortunately for those who have been enjoying Knockout, it’s a featured mode. This means that players can only play it for a limited time. In a sense, it’s the same as the in-game stores that rotate their items, urging players to quickly buy Valorant Points from platforms such as LootBar.
However, there’s a good chance that Knockout may return when it does go away. It’ll probably depend on how much players enjoy the mode. For example, the 2v2 Skirmish mode should have gone away, but Riot kept it because of its popularity.
How does the Knockout mode work in Valorant?
Valorant’s Knockout mode is a best-of-four, five-vs-five elimination-style game mode. Like with other elimination-style modes, the goal is to ensure that every player on the enemy team is eliminated. However, there are a handful of twists that make this mode much more interesting than most players likely initially thought.
For starters, getting eliminated doesn’t mean that you can’t respawn. If a teammate is killed, then you can get a kill to revive the earliest teammate who had fallen. Because of this, rounds can last as long as three minutes, which is the maximum timer for every round.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that players can just continuously respawn however they want. There’s a respawn timer in place that starts at just one second. The timer keeps increasing by one second every fifteen seconds.
How does the line mechanic work in the Knockout mode?
Every map has a line that initially divides both parts of the map, dedicating one part to either team. If you cross over to the enemy’s side, then your minimap will get obstructed. Not only this, but the enemy will also get a notification telling them that an enemy player has gone behind enemy lines.
This mechanic is likely to ensure that players can’t just spawn camp reviving players, since knowing that someone’s near your spawn will make you more alert. This doesn’t mean that you can’t utilize this mechanic to give yourself an advantage.
Every map has a wall orb near the center of the map. Interacting with it does the following things:
Gives you a charge point toward your ultimate progress
Heals your health and restores your armor
Pushes the line toward the enemy’s territory, effectively expanding your team’s territory.
Because of this, seizing control of the map’s central area can result in your team getting a major advantage.
All Knockout mode maps
Knockout shares the same map pool as Valorant’s team deathmatch mode. This means that the following maps are included:
District
Kasbeh
Piazza
Drift
Glitch
All of these maps are smaller than the standard maps, which can ensure that matches are faster and that it’s tougher for players to just camp in corners. Of course, both sides of the map have spawn points for players, where they’re invincible until they walk out.
What weapons can you use in Valorant’s Knockout mode?
Knockout mode has the same loadouts as team deathmatch.
The first round is the sidearm phase, where players can choose from the following weapons:
Classic (with a Regen Shield)
Frenzy
Ghost
Bandit
After this, every round increases the stage, letting players choose from the unlocked stage’s weapons. The weapons and type of armor that players have are determined by what they choose.
The second stage has the following loadouts;
Stinger (with Heavy Armor)
Bucky
Sheriff (with Light Armor)
The third stage has the following:
Bulldog (with Heavy Armor)
Guardian (with Light Armor)
Spectre (with Heavy Armor)
Marshal (with Heavy Armor)
Finally, the fourth stage and beyond let players choose from a Vandal and a Phantom, both of which are paired with Heavy Armor. The final stage is where the stakes are raised, and nothing bumps up morale more than getting kills with an awesome cosmetic equipped for your primary. Of course, if you don’t have one, then you can always buy a Valorant top up or two and change that.
Conclusion
Valorant’s Knockout mode is perfect for those who crave something with a fast pace that doesn’t require you to sink close to half an hour into it. It’s fast, it’s fun, and you can play it with your friends while you wait for your last teammate to join you for a 5-stack competitive session.
