Valorant 7.0 brings new Sentinel Deadlock, Team Deathmatch mode, and revamped progression system with Kingdom Credits
Introduction to Episode 7 Act 1
Valorant’s massive 7.0 update launches Episode 7 Act 1 with transformative changes to gameplay, progression, and agent roster that will redefine competitive strategies.
This landmark patch introduces the Norwegian Sentinel Deadlock alongside a fast-paced Team Deathmatch mode and completely overhauls how players unlock content through the new Kingdom Credits system. The Neo Frontier skinline and fresh battlepass provide additional cosmetic options, while numerous technical fixes address longstanding community concerns.
For competitive players, understanding these systemic changes is crucial for adapting to the evolving meta. The progression overhaul particularly benefits newer players by providing more accessible paths to agent acquisition.
Deadlock: The New Sentinel Agent
Hailing from Norway, Deadlock emerges as Valorant’s fifth Sentinel with a kit designed for area denial and strategic disruption. Her abilities have already generated significant community discussion, with some players expressing concerns about potentially game-changing mechanics that could shift site defense dynamics.
Pro Tip: Master Deadlock’s ability timing to create choke points that punish aggressive pushes. Her toolkit excels at breaking enemy momentum and forcing opponents into unfavorable engagements.
Common mistake: Overextending with Deadlock’s utility. Unlike other Sentinels, she requires precise positioning to maximize effectiveness without leaving yourself vulnerable to flanking maneuvers.
- Learn about her abilities on our Agents page.
- Watch our latest Sentinel take on a mysterious creature below.
Team Deathmatch Mode
The new Team Deathmatch format divides 10 players into two squads for fast-paced combat with unlimited respawns and full agent ability usage. Matches conclude when one team reaches the kill limit within the time constraint, creating intense practice environments perfect for refining mechanical skills.
Advanced Strategy: Use TDM to practice specific agent matchups and ability interactions without the pressure of ranked consequences. This mode allows you to experiment with unconventional ability usage that could translate to competitive advantages.
Optimization tip: Focus on mastering crosshair placement and movement during TDM sessions. The constant combat provides ideal conditions for developing muscle memory that directly improves ranked performance.
New Progression System
Kingdom Credits revolutionize Valorant’s economy as a free currency earned through daily engagement. The Checkpoint Track rewards consistent play with both XP and Kingdom Credits across all modes except Deathmatch, creating sustainable progression paths for dedicated players.
- This new feature recognizes your engagement in the game with daily rewards. Every day that you play matches, you’ll earn progress on a Checkpoint Track. Each checkpoint on the track yields quantities of XP and our new in-game currency, Kingdom Credits. All game modes provide progress towards Daily Rewards except for Deathmatch.
- Kingdom Credits can be spent on accessories, Agents, and Agent Gear.
- Use your Kingdom Credits to purchase accessories from previous Battlepasses, including:
- Player Cards
- Sprays
- Titles
- Gun Buddies
- The Agent Store streamlines the Agent acquisition process. As always, you can use VP or Recruitment Tokens to unlock an Agent, and now you have a third option: unlocking them with Kingdom Credits.
- Each new Agent will have their own Agent Recruitment Event when they are launched. During these events, you’ll earn XP towards the new Agent automatically. As well, you won’t be able to unlock the new Agent with Kingdom Credits or Recruitment Tokens, but you can still use VP if you like.
- If you don’t earn enough XP during a Recruitment Event to unlock an Agent, that Agent becomes available for purchase normally, after the Recruitment Event, in the Agent Store.
- All of your favorite Agent-themed gear is available for Kingdom Credits. For every Agent, there are now 10 Levels of Agent Gear instead of 10 Levels of Agent Contract. To get an Agent’s gear, you must first own the Agent, then unlock each Level of Agent Gear.
- Level 5 used to unlock Agents. However, since we moved Agents into the Agent Store, Level 5 will now grant you a flat amount of Kingdom Credits. If you already have the Agent, however, you won’t get any Kingdom Credits at Level 5.
Resource Management: Prioritize spending Kingdom Credits on agents that complement your playstyle before investing in cosmetics. The new system allows strategic planning of your agent roster development.
Bug Fixes and Technical Improvements
Significant technical improvements address various gameplay inconsistencies and performance issues. Teleportation abilities now properly interact with suppression effects, while map-specific bugs and ability placement problems have been resolved.
These fixes create more consistent gameplay experiences, particularly for agents relying on teleportation mechanics. The suppression interaction changes add strategic depth to ability counterplay.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Valorant update 7.0 patch notes: Deadlock, TDM, new Progression System, more Valorant 7.0 brings new Sentinel Deadlock, Team Deathmatch mode, and revamped progression system with Kingdom Credits