If you've ever spent hours scrolling through Valorant's store waiting for your dream skin to pop up at a discount, you already know how rare good deals on premium cosmetics can be. The regular Night Market comes around every few months, but it's the much rarer Black Market event that gets skin collectors truly excited. One of the most common questions we get from casual and competitive players alike is when is the next black market in valorant, and we've pulled together all the official data, historic patterns, and pro tips to help you prepare for its next drop.
When Is the Next Black Market in Valorant Expected to Drop?
Based on Riot Games' historic release cadence for the event, we expect the next Black Market to launch somewhere between 8 and 12 months after the most recent iteration. That puts the expected window somewhere in the second half of the current year, but Riot always adjusts its schedule based on other big in-game events like act launches and international competitive tournaments. If you're asking when is the next Black Market in Valorant, the first thing you should do is check if there's an active Night Market running first. Black Market never runs alongside the regular Night Market, so if a Night Market is live, you can rule out a Black Market drop for at least 4 weeks after the Night Market ends.
I've been tracking every Valorant cosmetic event since the first Black Market launched back in 2023, and Riot has never dropped the event without at least 10 days of public teasing first. You'll see hints on official Riot social media accounts, in-game login screens, and even small easter eggs in map updates in the weeks leading up to the launch. You don't have to refresh fan forums every day to catch the news, since Riot will send a notification to all registered players as soon as the event goes live.
How Does Valorant's Black Market Differ From the Night Market?
A lot of new players mix up these two discount events, but they have very different rules and offerings. The standard Night Market runs every 2 to 3 months, gives you 6 random discounted skins pulled from your personal view history in the regular store, and maxes out at 49% off. The Black Market is a far rarer event that only runs once or twice a year, with far better perks for skin collectors. Exclusive skins that have never been in the regular store or Night Market often pop up in Black Market offers, including old battle pass skins that are no longer available for direct purchase.
The key differences between the two events break down like this:
- Discount rates go up to 70% off, compared to the 49% maximum for Night Market skins
- Includes limited-edition skins that are no longer available for direct purchase in the Valorant store
- Offers 3 free re-rolls to refresh your skin picks if you don't like the initial selection
- Runs for 4 weeks instead of the standard 2 week window for Night Market events
There's also one important limit you need to keep in mind before you start planning your purchases. You can only purchase 5 skins total per Black Market event, so you don't want to waste your slots on low-tier blue or green skins you'll never use in competitive play. Take time to test out any skin you're considering in the practice range first, even if the discount seems too good to pass up.
Pro Tips to Prepare for the Next Black Market Drop
Now that you have a rough idea of the expected launch window, you can take a few simple steps to make sure you get the best possible value when the event goes live. First, go through your skin collection and make a list of the premium skins you've been wanting for months, so you don't get tempted to buy random low-value skins just because they're on sale. When you're prepping for when is the next Black Market in Valorant, the biggest mistake players make is spending all their VP on random store skins the week before the event drops.
Don't waste your VP on limited-time battle pass skins if you know a Black Market is coming soon – you'll get far more value from a 70% off premium Vandal or knife skin than you will from single battle pass cosmetics you might only use for a few weeks. You should also turn on in-game notifications for your Riot account, since Riot often sends early access reminders to players who have notifications enabled, letting you know about the event a full day before it goes live for the general player base.
Another small trick that works for most players is to click on the skins you want in the regular store a few times in the months leading up to the Black Market. Riot's algorithm prioritizes skins you've shown interest in before, so you're far more likely to get that Reaver Vandal or Champions knife you've been eyeing if you've clicked on its listing in the regular store a few times. I tested this trick ahead of the 2024 Black Market, and I got the Prime Vandal I'd been wanting for two years at 65% off, so it definitely works for most players.
Common Black Market Myths You Should Ignore
With any rare Valorant event, there are always tons of fake leaks and false claims spreading across TikTok, Reddit, and Discord servers that can lead to you wasting money or even losing your account. The first myth you should ignore is that you can get free skins from the Black Market. Every skin in the Black Market requires Valorant Points to purchase, and Riot never gives away free premium skins as part of the event, so any claim that you can get a free knife is a scam.
Another common myth is that higher rank players get better skin offers. Riot has confirmed multiple times that Black Market offers are completely random, and your rank, playtime, or past spending history doesn't impact which skins you get. A Silver 1 player is just as likely to get a 70% off Champions knife as a Radiant player, so don't fall for claims that you need to grind rank to get better offers.
Never click on links claiming to give you early access to Black Market skins – these are almost always phishing sites designed to steal your Riot account login details, and Riot never gives out early access to cosmetic events to random players. Re-rolling your offers doesn't increase your chance of getting a melee skin, so don't waste your three free re-rolls unless you hate all of your initial offers. There's also no way to manipulate the algorithm to get specific skins, so don't fall for paid services that claim they can get you your dream skin for a fee.
At the end of the day, the best way to stay updated on when is the next Black Market in Valorant is to follow official Riot Games channels, and keep an eye out for in-game teases in the weeks leading up to the expected drop window. Don't fall for fake leaks, save up your VP for the skins you actually want, and you'll be ready to grab your dream cosmetic at a steep discount when the event goes live. If you're not sure a skin is worth buying, test it out in a custom game first to make sure you like the sound effects and feel before you spend your hard-earned VP.
