Riot Games has released the Skirmish mode in VALORANT and players are going through a wide range of feelings…Actually, it is better to put it this way because the reactions are so diverse that they include everything from rage quits to bringing up dying Discord servers. The game has taken a very unexpected turn that has amazed the community in ways that no one guessed.
What exactly is Skirmish? It is basically a new game mode that allows a player to participate in 1v1 skirmishes. These skirmishes are perfect not only for warming up but also for just having a good time with friends. The official VALORANT account on Twitter had a question for the players and replies started coming in really fast, as if it was a Jett dash.
At least, the response has not been clear-cut. A segment of players is having a great time or, to be more precise, the player hasn’t, as one could expect. A player, Averno, said along the lines of “It was pure laughter with my friends, 10 out of 10!” while Nighthawk said it was “the best thing” mentioning that 4 and 6-stack matches are great fun. Kazuhna dubbed a new mode “the mode!” and turned to it for warm-ups and 1v1 practices.
However, on the flip side there is the other side of the issue. Valorant told about the 1v1 participant who rage quit which, again, seems to be a reason to think of such behavior in their player’s competitive gaming context. TheFxdedFox tweeted, “I’ve been getting clowned on in 1v1s,” and who would not feel the same in such a situation! On the contrary, VictoriaDracul was completely unaffected and merely said, “I tried it once and I am not going back. Really not my interest.”
Tell me the truth? Some players didn’t even know that Skirmish was there. Vortex came out with the confession, “Lowkey forgot this was a thing” while Manny_827 announced quite firmly, “Didn’t even know it was a thing.” ChrisXava’s answer was simply, “The new what?” which I find to be very accurate; sometimes updates are so quiet that people just miss them.
Now it gets very interesting – ViperYet pointed out something that made me go wait what? The tweet of the user said, “You guys are already playing 1v1 with your friends on custom since the launch of the game right,” which…okay that’s a fair point. But it seems that Skirmish has an attraction different enough that players are getting it.
The social component is also considerable with this mode. Faevryy said that it “revived the discord for like a week” which is, honestly, the real win here – anything that gets people actually talking and playing instead of just queuing solo is a W in my book.
Then there’s the sad truth of gaming – nobody to play with. Rowan973 gave us the “Need friends to try it 0/10” while qwrtz07 communicated to us the real sad tale: “Have over a hundred people in my friend list but still got no homie to try it with. All I did was hop around the map as neon.” Ouch. That one hurt.
Bella from Australia too had some strange views, labeling Skirmish as “perfect for the age warming up” and praising the “vine-covered map” but then out of the blue asking about buying VALORANT cards without bank charges? Such a wild transition in the conversation but then again, that’s Twitter for you.
It becomes quite evident that Riot is really doing everything possible to allow players to enjoy VALORANT through different means other than the normal rated and unranked matches. Skirmish has turned out to be the ideal place for players who like quick, low-stakes action without the pressure of a full match.
The mode has captured the attention of social groups looking for something to do together. RuMouR_13 mentioned that while playing they were unexpectedly their higher-ranked friends, which is always a delightful moment when you are playing someone who is supposed to be better than you and you outplay him.
MarcelaGamer988 had a very practical viewpoint – “Tried it twice. Not a big benefit/change for me, just used it to kill time” which is quite reasonable; not every new feature has to be game-changing. Sometimes all you require is a way to pass the time until the next match.
Fazeiceman412 offered the viewpoint of a console user stating that he plays on PS5 and that VALORANT is “the best game ever” for them but they are wondering if Skirmish is only for PC. That is actually a relevant question – with VALORANT going cross-platform, it will be fascinating to see how modes like this one adapt to different platforms.
The community’s response suggests that although not everyone is thrilled about Skirmish, it is still a harshly contested market. The fast-paced 1v1 type of players and those who want to warm-up in a more organized environment are the main supporters. Meanwhile, the fans of the traditional 5v5 format might find it lacking in attraction.
Moreover, this case is similar to Riot’s strategy with VALORANT updates – they are always ready to experiment with new modes and evaluate their impact. Sometimes, you discover a goldmine like Skirmish that not only brings new and old friends together but also creates an unforgettable community, and at times, you get features that nobody even remembers a week later.
Only time can tell whether Skirmish will become a permanent feature or just one of those modes that get tried once and then forgotten. The gamers’ feedback who have played it among friends is generally positive and thus it is likely that Skirmish has done some legs after all.
Whatever the situation, the new content that brings in players and makes them enjoy their time is always nice. Whether it is for warming up, settling scores with friends or just goofing around during a break between ranked games, Skirmish is one more tool in VALORANT’s ever-expanding arsenal of ways to play.
If by any chance you haven’t tried it yet, you may want to gather your friends and make that leap. Who knows – you could even bring back your Discord server or get that long-desired 1v1 revenge. Just try not to rage quit too often.
