There’s a certain buzz in the Valorant community when the Valorant night rumors start… A whisper on Reddit, a chaotic tweet from a data miner. Then, finally, it appears. A small, glowing card icon in the corner of your screen, shimmering with possibility.
For the new player, the Night Market might seem like a simple discount store. But for the long-time Valorant players, they know it’s a calculated ritual, and a lottery where that one rare skin, the one that got away, might just reappear at a price that’s too good to pass up.
But how does this system of curated discounts actually function? What are the hidden rules, the patterns, and the strategies to make the most of it? In this guide, we’ll reveal it all, as we pull back the curtain on Valorant’s most anticipated shopping event.
Occurring roughly once per Act, this limited-time shop presents you with six unique weapon skins, each with a personalized discount. Your Night Market is yours alone; the six offers you receive are completely different from your duo partner’s, your ranked stacks, and everyone else’s on the server. This event lasts for two to three weeks, giving you a generous window to decide which pieces will drop into your collection.
When the Night Market goes live, the experience is all about the presentation.
Once you’ve revealed all six of your offers, your gallery is set. The lineup is locked in for the entire duration of the event. There are no rerolls, no second chances, and no swapping out that pistol skin you have three of for the Vandal you desperately want.
While the selection feels like pure chance, Riot Games has built-in systems to ensure the experience is both fair and exciting.
The offers you receive aren’t pulled from a hat completely at random. The system has a degree of intelligence. While Riot remains tight-lipped about the exact algorithm, it’s widely believed that the selection can be gently influenced by your history. The game knows what you look at, what you buy, and what’s popular. This doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get your wishlist items, but it does mean the offers feel tailored.
To prevent a truly disappointing draw, the Night Market has a few key protections in place:
These rules create a balanced experience, blending the thrill of the unknown with the assurance of a quality selection.
Not every skin in Valorant’s vast catalog is eligible for a Night Market appearance. The pool is carefully curated to maintain the value of new releases while giving players access to a rich back-catalog of classics.
The primary rule is that a skin must be from a collection released at least two Acts prior to the current one. This means you won’t find the latest, hottest bundle in your Night Market; you’ll have to wait.
Here’s a breakdown of what you will and will not find:
A huge variety of Select, Deluxe, and Premium tier weapon skins. This includes iconic lines like Reaver, Prime, Ion, Glitchpop, and Forsaken. It’s the perfect chance to complete a set or pick up a legendary Vandal or Phantom skin you missed.
Exclusive & Ultra Edition Skins: The most premium tiers are generally excluded to protect their rarity.
Battle Pass Skins: These cosmetics are exclusive to their respective Battle Pass and will never appear in the Night Market or the regular shop.
Agent Contract Cosmetics: Skins earned through character contracts are also off the table.
The main draw of the Night Market is, of course, the price reduction. The discounts are random but can be substantial, typically ranging from 10% to 49% off the original VP cost. Seeing a coveted Premium skin with a near 50% discount is the moment every player hopes for.
To put this in perspective, here’s a look at the standard tiers for weapon skins and their usual VP cost.
Skin Tier | Standard VP Cost | Common Night Market Vibe |
---|---|---|
Select Edition | 875 VP | The stylish entry point. Clean, simple designs. |
Deluxe Edition | 1,275 VP | More intricate designs, often with unique model changes. |
Premium Edition | 1,775 VP | The sweet spot. Custom animations, finishers, and sound effects. |
Melee Weapons | 1,750 - 5,350 VP | Varies wildly, from simple knives to elaborate axes and swords. |
Finding a Premium skin, normally 1,775 VP, for under 1,000 VP is a huge win and a core part of the Night Market’s appeal.
Luck favors the prepared. While you can’t control the cards you’re dealt, you can control how you react.
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