The space-cowboy aesthetic has officially returned to VALORANT. Neo Frontier 2.0 (and the accompanying Mega Bundle) is live, bringing the highly anticipated sci-fi western theme to the Vandal, Shorty, and a brand-new melee type.
While the animations and designs remain some of the best Riot Games has ever produced, the community is left wondering: is that really it?
The Neo Frontier Vandal: Clean and Satisfying
There is something incredibly satisfying about a simple, sleek weapon model that has clearly received a massive amount of love in the animation and sound design departments.
For players who appreciate the raw, rustic feel of the Infantry or Black Market skin lines, simply leaving the Neo Frontier Vandal at Level 2 (the un-upgraded Western style) is going to be a popular choice. The gun feels slim, and the heavy, mechanical firing audio is punchy without being distracting.
Of course, upgrading to Level 4 brings the full cybernetic treatment. The futuristic variant features a flashy spinning reload where the magazine simply drops out of the weapon. The unique inspect animation—where your agent pops a bullet out of the chamber and catches it—is a fantastic touch. (Though it would be hilarious if it actually cost you a bullet in-game).
The Shorty and the Lasso Melee
The Shorty is an excellent addition to the bundle. The classic Neo Frontier equip animation translates perfectly to the sidearm, and the spinning reload makes it one of the best Shorty skins available in the game, rivaling premium options like the Araxys.
However, the real star of the show is the Lasso Melee. We have never seen a weapon quite like this in VALORANT. It feels entirely distinct from the chain-type melees (like the Kuronami). The fluid swinging animations, combined with the distinct stretching of the rope when it returns to your hand, make it incredibly satisfying to use. Similar to the guns, many players in the community actually prefer the un-upgraded, rustic rope style over the glowing, futuristic “garden hose” variant.
The Problem: A Missed Opportunity
Despite how beautiful the skins are, the Neo Frontier 2.0 bundle has a massive problem: it only includes two guns.
Neo Frontier is widely considered one of the best thematic skin lines Riot has ever developed. Reducing this highly anticipated sequel to just a Vandal and a Shorty feels like a massive disservice to the theme.
There were so many perfect candidates for this aesthetic. A lever-action Neo Frontier Outlaw? A rustic, pump-action Bucky? A heavy, sci-fi Operator? All of these would have fit the bounty-hunter theme flawlessly. Releasing only two firearms feels like a severely missed opportunity to expand one of VALORANT’s most beloved collections.
Pricing and the Mega Bundle
Because the bundle only contains two gun skins and a melee, the standard Neo Frontier 2.0 bundle is priced at 6,700 VP, which is cheaper than a standard Exclusive-tier collection.
For those who missed the original release, Riot is also offering the Neo Frontier Run It Back (Mega) Bundle, which includes the new items alongside the original Phantom, Sheriff, and Marshal. If you own none of the previous skins, this massive collection will set you back 9,310 VP.
