New Agent Mastery in VALORANT Explained for 2026: Understand the grasp system and agent strategies

Valorant just dropped patch 13.06 on September 22nd, and it’s set to be one of the biggest updates of the year, maybe of the last few years. There are new maps, weapons, and even a redesigned lobby.

But the change we keep coming back to is the Agent Mastery, because it finally rewards the loyalty you show to your favorite agents. The progression system is based on Mastery Points (MP), and the higher you climb through the ranks, the better the rewards. Yup, exclusive Portrait Accents (cosmetic upgrades) are waiting! This guide shows you how.

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What is the new Agent Mastery update in Valorant?

Think of Agent Mastery as a leveling system, but progression is specific to each Agent. Play Jett, and you’ll level Jett; play Sova, and you’ll level Sova. Importantly, each agent has two progression paths: Act Levels and Lifetime Levels. Both are powered by Mastery Points (MP).

How do Act Levels work?

The update just launched, and every player is starting on an even playing field. This means every Agent starts at Act Level 1, and players can gradually increase their Agent’s Act Level to 10 by collecting Mastery Points. You’ll hold onto this level for the duration of the Act, but progress will reset at the start of a new Act.

Every time you play Valorant matches, you’ll get Mastery Points for the specific Agent you’re using. You can also get bonus points for wins and strong individual performances.

How do Lifetime Levels work?

Every time you increase your Act Level, you’ll also increase your Lifetime Level by the same amount. So what’s the difference? The key thing here is that Lifetime Levels never reset. They stay with your Agent forever and carry over into new Acts.

What rewards can you get from Agent Mastery?

We’re sure you’re eager to hear what rewards are up for grabs with this latest update. Let’s jump straight into it:

Grab three Portrait Accents through Act Levels

As you move from Act Level 1 to 10 with each character, you’ll have the chance to unlock Portrait Accents. These are exclusive cosmetics that you can use to upgrade your Agent’s style. And they’re not just about looking cool; these cosmetics are a way to show off your dedication to specific Agents.

Here’s when each Portrait Accent unlocks:

• Act Level 4: Unlocks the first Portrait Accent upgrade.
• Act Level 7: Unlocks the second Portrait Accent upgrade.
• Act Level 10: Unlocks the final main Portrait Accent upgrade.

It wouldn’t surprise us if Valorant betting sites opened up markets on which Agent will have the most popular Portrait Accent. This is looking like the most hyped feature of the update.

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Lifetime rewards

Lifetime levels show long-term commitment. That makes them a great way to boast to your friends, especially if you’ve been loyal to Agents over multiple Acts. You’ll also find that Lifetime progression unlocks access to rewards on each Agent’s Reward Track.

This Track lets you spend Kingdom Credits to unlock the rewards you actually want. It also includes rewards from the previous Agent Gear system, plus a few new additions. Oh, and don’t worry, any historical Agent Gear rewards you’ve already unlocked will stay on your account permanently.

The benefit of the new Agent IDs feature

The patch also sees the introduction of Agent IDs. Think of this as a hub for your agents. It lets you boast about the progression you’ve made with your favorite agents, as well as providing another way to unlock, customize, and equip different components from the reward tracker.

Final verdict: What this means for Valorant players

You don’t need to look further than this latest Valorant update to see why this is one of the most played games on the planet. Agent Mastery is shaking things up by giving you a progression system for each agent. For the players who take it seriously, there are tangible rewards on the line. Act Levels hand out up to three cosmetic upgrades per agent, per act. Lifetime rewards have their own benefits, including access to new gear. There’s even a new Agent IDs feature, which gives you even more visibility.

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