With VALORANT’s current Act wrapping up quickly, players are already looking ahead to see what Riot Games has in store for the next major update. Thanks to recent leaks from prominent data miner Valhabzi, we now have confirmed details regarding exactly how much time you will have to grind the next Battlepass – and a very exciting detail about the final melee reward.
If you are currently rushing to finish your Act 2 Battlepass, you are not alone. But Act 3 is bringing a much more comfortable timeline and a high-value cosmetic incentive. Here is everything we know.
The Act 3 Timeline: The “Goldilocks” Duration
To understand why the Act 3 duration is a big deal, we have to look at how Riot has scheduled 2026 so far. Act lengths can heavily impact player burnout and the Battlepass grind.
- Act 1: Ran for a massive 70 days (January 7 – March 18). Many players felt this dragged on for too long.
- Act 2 (Current): Running for only 42 days (March 18 – April 29). This roughly 6-week window has left many casual players scrambling to unlock their final tiers.
According to Valhabzi – who initially speculated a 45-day window before correcting the leak – Act 3 will last for exactly 55 days. Starting on April 29th, a 55-day duration places the end of the Act right around late June. For the community, this is the perfect “Goldilocks” zone. It provides plenty of time to casually complete the Battlepass without the season feeling like it is overstaying its welcome.
The Battlepass Melee: 4 Variants Confirmed
The most exciting piece of the leak revolves around the Act 3 Battlepass melee weapon. Valhabzi has confirmed that the upcoming melee will feature four different color variants.
Historically, Battlepass melee weapons have been locked to a single default colorway, meaning what you see is what you get. Offering four variants for a BP melee is a massive value boost, allowing players to customize their loadouts and match their knives to their favorite player cards or weapon skins without spending extra premium VALORANT Points (VP).
What kind of weapon is it? Currently, the exact weapon type remains a mystery. The leaks do not specify if we are getting a knife, a sword, a bat, or something completely out of the box. However, the confirmation of Radianite-upgradeable variants alone makes this one of the most highly anticipated Battlepass completions in recent memory.
FAQ: VALORANT Act 3
When does VALORANT Act 3 start? Act 3 is officially scheduled to go live on April 29, 2026.
How long do I have to finish the current Act 2 Battlepass? Act 2 ends on April 29th, meaning you only have until then to finish your 42-day grind. If you are behind, it is time to start knocking out those weekly challenges!
Will the Act 3 melee have custom animations? While the melee is confirmed to have four color variants, Battlepass melees typically do not feature unique VFX or custom equip animations. We will have to wait for the official showcase to know for sure.
