VALORANT Patch 10.01: Rank Shields Debut and Tejo Bug Fixes

TLDR

New Rank Shield system prevents instant demotions
Two shields granted in Tier 1 of each rank
Multiple bug fixes for agent Tejo
Updates for PC Premier mode and Console UI
Patch goes live January 21, 2025

Riot Games has unveiled VALORANT Patch 10.01, introducing a significant change to the competitive ranking system with the new Rank Shield feature, alongside various bug fixes for the recently released agent Tejo.

Rank Shield System

The new Rank Shield system provides additional protection against demotions:

Feature	Details
Shield Count	2 shields per Tier 1
Applicable Ranks	All ranks except Radiant
Activation	Automatically at 0 RR
Replenishment	Only upon promotion/demotion to Tier 1
Win Impact	Winning at 0 RR doesn’t restore shields

How Shields Work

First loss at 0 RR consumes one shield
Second loss consumes remaining shield
Third loss results in demotion
Shields only active in Tier 1 (e.g., Gold 1, not Gold 2 or 3)

Tejo Bug Fixes

Major fixes for the newest agent include:

Bug Type	Fix Description
Combat Report	Fixed Armageddon blast zone displacement tracking
Ability Interactions	Resolved Guided Salvo collision with Sage’s wall
Visual Effects	Improved smoke trail and damage zone indicators
Gameplay Mechanics	Fixed elevation damage warnings and drone behavior

Platform-Specific Updates

PC Updates

Premier mode improvements: – Fixed inconsistent font sizes – Added match history tooltips – Improved ineligibility warnings

Console Updates

Fixed queue timer overlap on Leaderboard page

Additional Changes

Category	Update
Maps	Fixed Bind teleporter room collision
UI	Improved tooltip visibility
Performance	Various stability improvements

The patch demonstrates Riot’s commitment to improving both competitive integrity and technical stability as VALORANT enters 2025. The Rank Shield system particularly addresses community concerns about rapid demotions, while the extensive Tejo fixes ensure the newest agent performs as intended.