Is VALORANT Champions 2025 the most polarizing skin ever?

Bryan Francis Published September 1, 2025

Since the launch of VALORANT in 2020, one weapon skin series has become iconic: the VALORANT Champions skin series. Each year, before the event, VALORANT releases a limited-time skin in the game, themed around the most important VALORANT esports tournament of the year. Recently, VALORANT announced the VALORANT Champions 2025 skin, and the internet is split. Some love it, while others hate the skin.

Love it or hate it

VALORANT Champions skins are released annually for a limited period. This is because once the sin is removed from the store, it can no longer be purchased within the game. This gives each skin an extra amount of lore and rarity. The first VALORANT Champions skin was released in 2021. Many believe the Vandal skin to be the best in the series. In 2022 and 2024, it was a Phantom skin, while in 2023, it was a Vandal skin again.

The VALORANT Champions 2025 skin is for a Vandal, but it is aesthetically the most different from the prior skins. More gold outlines surround the skin, and it was released around the 5th anniversary of the game. On platforms like X and Reddit, the discourse about the skin has been quite extreme.

Multiple users requested that Riot Games remake the skin after the trailer was released. Others really liked the skin and appreciated its unique look. One Redditor, XeroCS2, pointed out that the equipment animation of this skin is quite similar to the EXO skin equipment animation.

Part of the discussion initiated by XeroCS2 on r/Valorant

The EXO Skin is currently the most popular VALORANT skin in China. Usually, fans are used to seeing unique animations for this skin. Fans expect this, as VALORANT Champions skins are traditionally among the most expensive in the game.

Another Redditor, Intrepid_Inspection8, expressed their sheer disappointment that VALORANT is using similar animations with the premium champion’s price tag of 6,620 VALORANT Points.

Valorant Champions skins: Fan favorites

Overall, fans appreciate the 2023 and 2021 Champions skins significantly more than the 2025 edition. Many fans have appreciated the butterfly knife but are unhappy that the skins bundle includes yet another butterfly knife and not another style of melee weapon. It does feel like Riot Games dropped the ball a little bit, with it being the 5 year anniversary of the game as well.

Featured image credit: Riot Games