There is a little more magic in the air around VALORANT today, as Riot Games kicks off Season 2026 // Act 5 with a brand-new skinline built around cardistry. The Aeris Collection arrives alongside a fresh Battlepass, giving players another reason to jump back into the tactical shooter and, if nothing else, show off some rather fancy weaponry.
The new Act begins today, August 18th, across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with Aeris providing the headline attraction for those looking to spend some VP.
At A Glance
- Game: VALORANT
- Update: Season 2026 // Act 5
- Aeris Collection: 9,500 VP
- Battlepass: 1,000 VP
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Meet The Aeris Collection
Aeris takes the idea of magical fantasy and gives it a decidedly modern twist. Rather than traditional spellcasting, its fictional mages have turned to enchanted cards, with the collection bringing that theme directly into the weapons and animations.
The bundle contains the Vandal, Bandit, Guardian and Marshal, alongside the Suit of Aeris melee weapon. The latter is arguably the star of the show, transforming between different forms depending on the attack being performed. The Suit of Aeris starts life as a dagger, can become a sword and eventually turns into a greatsword as different attacks are used. Each transformation is accompanied by its own animation before the weapon ultimately becomes a magical card.
The card theme carries across the rest of the collection too, with custom reload, equip and inspection animations giving the weapons a more elaborate presentation than a simple coat of paint.
The finisher goes even further. Magical cards surround the defeated opponent before striking them, with the environment darkening before an explosion and pillar of energy complete the sequence.
There Is A Deck Of Cards Too
Aeris also introduces a new Flex item in the shape of a magical deck. Players can shuffle and draw cards using interactive animations, with a particularly neat little surprise hidden inside. There is a 10% chance that the normal deck will be replaced by cards from the Riftbound: League of Legends Trading Card Game, with six possible Riftbound card variations appearing as part of the Easter egg.
The complete Aeris Collection costs 9,500 VP and includes the four weapons, Suit of Aeris melee, Flex, card, gun buddy and other associated content.
A New Battlepass Joins The Act
Aeris isn’t the only new content arriving with Act 5. Players can also work through a fresh Battlepass priced at 1,000 VP, with a mixture of free and paid rewards available along the way.
Among the highlights are the Verdant Cafe Classic, Hot Hot Hot Spray, Too Many Cooks Card and Toasted Buddy on the free track. The paid side adds items including the Verdant Cafe Chef’s Knife, Verdant Cafe Vandal, Last Stop Phantom, Gourmand Operator and Nuggetman Buddy.
There are plenty of additional sprays, cards, buddies and cosmetics to collect as players progress through the pass.
Another Reason To Return To VALORANT
Season 2026 // Act 5 follows the recent Summit-focused Act, which brought its own changes and additions to VALORANT. Now the attention turns towards something rather more magical, with Aeris giving the game’s familiar arsenal a suitably theatrical makeover.
We gave VALORANT 4.5/5 in our review, praising the depth that comes with mastering its Agents, weapons and maps while noting just how demanding its competitive gunplay can be. That remains very much the appeal – there’s always another skill to learn, another Agent to master and another round to get right.
With the Aeris Collection, a new Battlepass and another Act now underway, there is certainly no shortage of reasons for VALORANT players to get back into the fight. Whether you’re interested in the cosmetics or simply want another excuse to test your aim, Season 2026 // Act 5 is ready to deal you in.
You will find VALORANT on the usual storefronts. For Xbox Series X|S players, it’s the Xbox Store which awaits, with Game Pass power behind it.
