A new map with old stone and new steel: Corrode changes how you fight, where you hold, and what you risk when the salt starts to settle.
Riot Games have officially unveiled Corrode, the newest VALORANT map set to arrive with Season 2025 Act IV on 25 June 2025. Set on the climate-ravaged world of Omega Earth, Corrode transforms a once-medieval French castle town into a Radianite salt mining facility, offering players a striking new battlefield with layered gameplay depth.
Corrode is a 5v5 map focused on tactical defence
Featuring two Spike Sites and a three-lane layout, Corrode places a strong emphasis on layered defences and fall-back positions. Riot designed the map in response to community feedback about utility-heavy gameplay, aiming to prioritise gunplay and strategic positioning.
“With Corrode we wanted to solidify everything we've learned so far while also taking on new challenges that our players are facing – like overwhelming Agent utility,” said Joey Simas, Lead Map Designer on VALORANT.
Simas explained that the map layout allows Defenders more tools to fight on-site and resist post-plant ability spam.
“This focus gives Defenders more opportunities to play on-site and weather the barrage of utility attackers throw their way, while also limiting post-plant play from off-site,” he added. “Our hope is that Corrode relieves some of VALORANT’s utility pressure while rewarding careful planning and well-executed strategy.”
The map's Mid is kept intentionally simple, offering strong rotation potential to balance out the complexity of the two sites.
Corrode’s map design highlights Omega Earth's lore
Corrode expands the VALORANT universe by becoming the third map set on Omega Earth, a parallel version of the main world impacted by the First Light event. Following the cataclysm, nearby waters evaporated, leaving vast salt flats and exposing the region to radianite-powered supercell storms. These extreme conditions shape Corrode’s visuals and gameplay backdrop.
“Players will spot moving trucks, trains, an ATLAS carrier in the distance, and an active supercell storm on the horizon,” shared Daniel McGowan, Senior Manager for Art Direction on VALORANT.
The map combines French castle architecture on one side with traditional village structures on the other, creating a unique contrast between historic stonework and modern industrial equipment. Salt crystallisation coats parts of the environment, giving Corrode a distinctive look in VALORANT’s current map rotation.
Corrode enters VALORANT competitive queue on day one with reduced RR penalty
To encourage players to explore Corrode early, Riot is launching it directly into the VALORANT Competitive map pool on 25 June. For the first two weeks, players will lose 50% less Ranked Rating (RR) for losses on Corrode, while still earning 100% RR for wins.
“We think this will help players get in and learn the map in a competitive setting without the fear of deranking,” said Armand Asdourian, Game Product Manager on VALORANT.
From 25 to 30 June, Corrode will also have a dedicated Swiftplay queue, allowing players to experience shorter matches and experiment with tactics before jumping into ranked play.
Phaseguard Skinline and new VALORANT battlepass coming with Act IV
Launching alongside Corrode is the futuristic Phaseguard Collection, available from 26 June. The skinline includes designs for the Vandal, Outlaw, Ghost, Bulldog, and a new high-tech melee weapon called Splitter.
The VALORANT Season 2025 Act IV Battlepass will also go live, offering exclusive rewards such as the 5 Years: Kill All Radiants card, the Bonsai Gun Buddy, and the ATLAS // CMD Vandal.
