Valorant Tournament Tiers: What S, A, B, C and D Mean
Quick guide
| Tier | What it is | Valorant examples |
|---|---|---|
| S | international VCT events and the biggest tournaments | Champions, Masters, Esports World Cup |
| A | top regional VCT events and major third-party events | Kickoff, VCT Cups, regional qualifiers for big events |
| B | strong second-level competition | Game Changers Championship, smaller VCT side events |
| C | regional leagues and cups by independent organizers | national leagues, academy competitions |
| D | small online events and open qualifiers | open qualifiers, regional Game Changers events, community cups |
The examples show where events usually land. The exact tier of each event is set by our data provider and shown on its page.
How VCT fits the tiers
The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) is Riot's official circuit. In 2027 it has five levels, which line up with the tiers like this:
| VCT level | Typical tier |
|---|---|
| Champions | S |
| Masters (Seoul, València) | S |
| VCT Cups | A |
| Kickoff | A |
| Open Qualifiers | C to D |
See VCT 2027 Explained for how teams move between these levels.
Who decides the tier?
There is no official tier list. Riot runs VCT, but tier letters come from data providers and wikis.
- R1GG uses the tiers from our data provider, PandaScore. It looks mainly at the organizer, the level of the teams and the prize pool, and sets the tier for each tournament separately.
- Wikis and other stat sites keep their own systems, so the same event can be one tier apart on different sites.
Tier 1, tier 2, tier 3
Fans rarely say "A tier". They say tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3:
| Community term | What it means in Valorant | Letter tiers |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | VCT partner teams and international VCT events | S and A |
| Tier 2 | teams just below the top | B, some A |
| Tier 3 | regional and amateur teams | C and D |
Until 2026, tier 2 meant the Challengers circuit, where non-partner teams played for promotion. From 2027, open teams climb through the open qualifiers straight into Kickoff and the VCT Cups, so the line between tier 1 and tier 2 is less fixed than before.
Events outside VCT
Some of the biggest Valorant events are not part of VCT. The Esports World Cup is the best known: 100 Thieves won its 2026 Valorant tournament, beating NRG in the final. Events like this have top teams and big prize pools, so they sit at the top of the tiers (the 2026 Esports World Cup is S tier on R1GG), but they do not decide VCT qualification.
Why the tier matters when you watch
- Quality. S and A tier matches have the best teams and the best broadcasts.
- Predictability. Lower tiers have more upsets and more roster changes.
- Rankings. Results at bigger events count more in team rankings. See Valorant Team Rankings Explained.
Tiers on R1GG
The tournaments page lists every Valorant event with its tier, and the match schedule shows the tier of each match's tournament, so you can tell a Masters playoff from an open qualifier at a glance.
FAQ
What is tier 1 in Valorant?
The top level of the scene: VCT partner teams and the biggest VCT events, such as Masters and Champions. On R1GG these are mostly S and A tier tournaments.
What is tier 2 Valorant?
Teams and events just below the top. Until 2026 this was the Challengers circuit. From 2027, open teams climb through Open Qualifiers into Kickoff and the VCT Cups.
Is there an official tier list for Valorant tournaments?
No. Riot organizes VCT, but tier letters come from data providers and wikis. R1GG uses the tiers from its data provider, PandaScore.
Are third-party Valorant events tier 1?
Some are. Big events outside VCT with top teams, such as the Esports World Cup, are usually high tier, but they do not count toward VCT qualification.
Related guides
VCT 2027 Explained: How the New Valorant Season WorksHow VCT 2027 works: Open Qualifiers, Kickoff, two Masters, two VCT Cups and Champions in Austin. Dates, partner and open teams, and how a team qualifies.
Valorant Team Rankings Explained: Riot's GPR, VLR and the R1GG RatingWhy a Valorant team has a different rank on every list. How Riot's Global Power Rankings, VLR.gg and the R1GG rating work, and what decides VCT spots.
Valorant Rules Explained: How a Pro Match WorksHow Valorant works: 5v5, first to 13 rounds, Attackers plant the Spike, Defenders stop it, overtime until a 2-round lead. Economy and agents explained.
Related terms
Partner teamA VCT partner team is an organization with a long-term agreement with Riot that gets a fixed spot in its region.
Open qualifierOpen qualifiers in Valorant are tournaments any eligible team can enter.
Sources
Reviewed by the R1GG team
