VALORANT is kicking off Season 2025 // Act IV with a major new addition: Corrode, a tactical map set in a crumbling French fortress turned industrial Radianite salt mine. Dropping with Patch 11.00 on June 25, Corrode represents the culmination of Riot’s learnings from five years of map design—and it’s clearly aiming to shake things up.
A Three-Lane Fortress with a Salty Twist
Corrode is set on Omega Earth, the alternate world in VALORANT’s lore, where First Light catastrophically altered the environment. This time, a historic French castle town sits atop a climate-ravaged salt flat, transformed into a facility mining crystallized Radianite. Expect the clash of two visual extremes: medieval streets and looming towers on one side, hard industrial machinery on the other.
But this isn’t just another pretty map. The real draw is how it plays. Corrode features:
- 2 Spike Sites
- 3-lane layout
- Layered defenses and fall-back positions
- A design that softens oppressive ability spam
According to Lead Map Designer Joey Simas, the team’s goal was to create a space where defenders can hold their ground more effectively without being overwhelmed by utility dumps. “We wanted to relieve some of VALORANT’s utility pressure while rewarding careful planning and well-executed strategy,” Simas said. That means complex sites but a simplified mid, making map control feel both important and manageable.
A Striking, Story-Driven Backdrop
Riot also went all-in on the visuals. Corrode is the third Omega Earth map and highlights the world’s environmental collapse post-First Light. Expect dynamic salt crystal growth, salt storms whipping through the skies, and moving elements like trains and trucks in the distance. Senior Art Director Daniel McGowan shared that the design was heavily inspired by French castle architecture and traditional European villages—creating a stark contrast between the two spike sites.
You’ll even see an ATLAS carrier in the background and a massive supercell storm brewing on the horizon. This is Riot flexing both their narrative and environmental storytelling.
Learning Without the Rank Anxiety
Riot is making it easier to learn Corrode without the usual stress of losing RR. For the first two weeks after launch, you’ll only lose 50% of your RR for losses on Corrode—but still gain 100% for wins. This soft landing is meant to encourage more people to try the map without worrying about tanking their rank.
Plus, from June 25 to June 30, a dedicated Swiftplay queue for Corrode will also be live, so you can grind it faster in shorter matches.
New Skins and Battlepass Content Also Dropping
It’s not just the map launching with Act IV. Riot is also releasing the Phaseguard Collection, a new skinline with a clean tactical aesthetic. It includes:
- Vandal
- Outlaw
- Ghost
- Bulldog
- Splitter (melee)
The new Battlepass adds even more unlockables, such as the 5 Years: Kill All Radiants Card, Bonsai Gun Buddy, and ATLAS // CMD Vandal. These will be available starting June 26.
If you’re diving into VALORANT this season, Corrode isn’t just another map to memorize—it’s a statement on where the game is headed: smarter, bolder, and more tactical than ever.
Read More:
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Riftbound is Riot’s Next Big Power Play and It’s Aimed Right at the Heart of the TCG World – VRSUS
