VALORANT Offseason Guide for 2025: Ascension, Game Changers, and the VCT Partner Series

VALORANT Champions Paris will mark the end of an unforgettable 2025 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) season, but Riot Games is making it clear: the competition doesn’t stop once the trophy is lifted. Beginning in October, fans around the world will be treated to a packed calendar of events — every weekend filled with Ascension tournaments, Game Changers competitions, and other off season events.

This VALORANT offseason guide explores the robust slate of tournaments offers something for everyone: a chance for top squads to prove their dominance, for up-and-coming rosters to make a name, and for fans to stay connected with competitive VALORANT until the 2026 season begins.

Ascension 2025 — A Fierce Fight for International VCT League Spots

Immediately after Champions Paris, the spotlight turns to Ascension 2025, running October 11–26. In these tournaments, each region’s top Challengers teams will face off against Ascended squads defending their place in the International Leagues. The stakes are enormous: win, and you secure your organization’s future in Tier 1 competition. Lose, and you stay in Tier 2 for at least another year.

• VCT Ascension CN: October 11–19
• VCT Ascension Pacific: October 14–26
• VCT Ascension Americas: October 17–26
• VCT Ascension EMEA: October 18–26

With four major regions holding their own Ascension events, October will be filled with intense matches that will determine the International League lineups for 2026.

VALORANT Game Changers Championship Heads to Seoul

VALORANT’s Game Changers Championship will take center stage at LoL Park in Seoul, South Korea, from November 20–30. It’s the first time the global Game Changers final heads to Seoul, and fans are eager to see the world’s top women’s and marginalized-gender teams compete on such an iconic stage.

This year’s path to the Championship includes a brand-new Americas LCQ, giving one more team a shot at qualification. Here’s how the qualifiers and playoffs break down:

• Pacific GC: October 6–12
• BR GC: October 11
• LATAM GC: October 11
• NA GC: October 12
• CN GC: October 26
• Americas GC LCQ: November 1–2
• EMEA GC Playoffs: November 2
• Game Changers Championship: November 20–30

With more regions represented than ever before, and Seoul serving as host, the 2025 edition promises to be the most competitive Game Changers yet.

VCT Partner Series — Offseason Events With Global Flavor

Earlier in the year, Riot introduced the VCT Partner Series, a banner reserved for the biggest tournaments outside of the official VCT season. These events are designed to bring fresh competition, mixed rosters, and international matchups that keep the scene vibrant. Several new Partner Series events have been confirmed for the end of 2025.

Spotlight Series Pacific x GES Asia

• Date: October 30 – November 2
• Location: Gwangju E-sports Arena, Korea
• Four mixed roster teams (Game Changers and pro players combined) will compete in a four-day LAN showcase.

TEN 2025 VALORANT Global Invitational

• Date: November 8–9
• Location: Asan, Korea
• Features the Top 4 VALORANT teams worldwide: two from VCT Pacific, one from VCT Americas or EMEA, and one from VCT CN.

Red Bull Home Ground World Final

• Date: November 13–16
• Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City
• The fifth edition of Home Ground brings together the world’s top teams in a unique format that tests map dominance.

Ludwig x Tarik Invitational

• Date: November 22–23
• Format: Hosted by creators Ludwig and Tarik, this event mixes high-level pros with experimental formats for one of the most entertaining offseason competitions.

SOOP VALORANT League Pacific (SVL)

• Date: December 2–7
• Region: APAC
• A premier Partner Series LAN that gathers top SEA, China, and Pacific teams just after the roster shuffle period, serving as a preview for the 2026 season.

Project Blender + Blender Spotlight (EMEA)

• Dates:
  • Phase I Open Qualifier: October 11–12
  • Blender Spotlight: November 3–4 (mixed gender teams, €10,000 prize pool)
  • Phase II: November 7–9, November 14–16
  • Phase III: December 3–9
  • Phase IV Finals: December 13–14
• Region: EMEA
• Open to up to 1,024 teams across all levels, making it one of the most ambitious grassroots-to-pro tournaments in VALORANT.

Americas Spotlight Series

• Date: December 12–14
• Format: Four mixed roster teams battle in a three-day LAN for a $25,000 prize pool, showcasing both Game Changers talent and established pros.

VALORANT Offseason Guide – Complete Events Table

With Ascension, Game Changers, and Partner Series events lined up back-to-back, the competitive VALORANT calendar after Champions 2025 is the most ambitious yet. From grassroots tournaments like Project Blender to high-profile showcases such as Red Bull Home Ground and the TEN Global Invitational, Riot is ensuring there’s no lull for fans or players.

For teams, the stakes couldn’t be higher: promotion, survival, or establishing dominance ahead of 2026. For fans, it means nonstop VALORANT action across every weekend until the year’s end.