Riot introduce overtime system to Valorant ranked matches

It wasn't announced initially in the patch notes for v1.03 but Riot have confirmed the addition of a new overtime mechanic to Ranked or Competitive playlists matches.

(Picture: Riot Games)

In an amendment to the patch notes Riot laid out how overtime will work in Valorant, which will see teams tasked with winning two straight rounds, alternatively, there will be the option to call a draw.

Initially, a draw will need six players across both sides, but as the match gets longer, the percentage of players needed to force a draw will decrease.

The current system in a match that ends 12-12 is to see just another round play, with no switching of attacking and defending sides giving those that defend in the second half of a map a clear advantage.

• Read more: Valorant Patch Notes v1.03: Guardian buff, Twin Hunter orb, more

The new overtime feature is expected to be implemented in Valorant v1.03, which, at the time of writing, has no scheduled release date.

How does Valorant's overtime work?

Valorant's overtime feature only comes into play in Ranked or Competitive playlists, and of course, only comes into play when a match goes 12-12.

• Competitive matches have a new win-by-two overtime format with automated votes on whether the game should continue or end in a draw.
  • Instead of playing a single sudden death round, teams will alternate playing rounds on attack and defence until a team claims victory by being up by 2 rounds.
  • Each round will have a full reset, setting all players at 5000 credits and 4 points short of their ultimate.
  • After every two rounds of overtime, an automated vote will trigger to determine if the match should continue or end in a draw
    • The threshold for continuing the match will become stricter as more rounds have been played:
      • First vote: 6 players needed to end match in a draw
      • Second vote: 3 players needed to end match in a draw
      • Third vote and on: 1 player needed to end match in a draw
    • If the vote fails, the match will end in a draw.
    • Players might gain rank off a draw but will never lose rank