Riot Games, the developers behind the tactical FPS VALORANT, are tackling instalocking head-on. A credible leak from Twitter account @ValorLeaks reveals "Cascade Picking," a system inspired by Riot's League of Legends, set to roll out in future acts.
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In Cascade Picking, the first player gets 15-20 seconds to select their agent, followed sequentially by teammates. This mechanic discourages instant locks, forcing players to consider team composition upfront.
While promising on paper—promoting communication, synergy, and balanced teams like avoiding five Duelists—opinions in the VALORANT community are divided. Proponents argue it fosters better plays; critics fear it enables toxicity, such as players holding teams "hostage" with threats like "I'll feed if I can't play my pick."
With only the concept leaked so far, it's unknown if Riot will implement safeguards against abuse. Instalockers will need to adapt once it launches with Episode 4. Tune into the Episode 4 dev stream for confirmation—Neon, the new duelist, arrives alongside it.
Also read: New Valorant Battlepass Leak for Act 1 Episode 4: Item Showcase
