On September 4, 2025, Riot Games officially released the VALORANT Champions 2025 Collection, the fifth installment in the annual Champions skin line. Since its debut in 2021, the Champions series has become one of the most anticipated releases each year, symbolizing the spirit of the global VCT competition. With a brand-new dark-gold design, enhanced weapon feel, and dazzling special effects, the 2025 bundle has already ignited heated discussions across the community.
▍Dark-Gold Vandal - Sharper Feedback, Stronger Presence
The centerpiece of this year’s collection is undoubtedly the Champions 2025 Vandal. Compared to previous versions, the new Vandal delivers a noticeably improved weapon feel. Earlier Champions skins were often criticized for sounding “muffled,” but this iteration introduces a much crisper and sharper firing feedback, paired with refreshed muzzle flash effects. Many players have praised the change, with one even commenting: “This Champions AK finally feels right—it’s snappy, innovative, and a big step up.”
Visually, the Vandal adopts a dark-gold aesthetic that looks sleek yet powerful. The weapon’s profile has been flattened for a sharper silhouette, while its side features a new kill counter, topped with five Champion cards, symbolizing the fifth Champions collection. This detail-rich design not only elevates its uniqueness but also commemorates the journey of VALORANT esports.
▍Dynamic Effects
Superhero Inspirations and Holy Light Finishers
The Champions 2025 Vandal retains hallmark features like the Champion’s Aura and Hot Streak mechanics. When a player tops the scoreboard, the gun glows with a red aura that turns golden with each kill. Multiple consecutive eliminations extend the effect, visually crowning the round’s MVP.
The finisher has also been completely redesigned. Upon activation, a beam of holy light erupts from the enemy before exploding. The defeated opponent is then shown raising a golden trophy, with characters floating above them to indicate the remaining rounds needed for victory. For the first time, this animation also incorporates interactive graffiti elements on the map, adding new layers of immersion.
That said, some players noted that the neutral effect feels less ambitious than before. Past Champions skins included secondary Easter eggs that could be triggered, but the 2025 edition omits such additions, leaving a small gap in creativity.
▍Butterfly Knife - Smooth Animations and Crisp Handling
Next to the Vandal, the second star of the bundle is the Champions 2025 Butterfly Knife, a long-awaited addition finally realized in the Champions lineup. Styled in the same dark-gold finish with flowing particle effects, the knife is praised for its crisp handling and tactile feedback—described by players as “smooth and glassy, almost like the top-tier Origin knife.”
The knife’s animation set is also completely new. Light and heavy swings feel distinct, with the heavy strike introducing a unique hand-switch flourish. The scissor-twist inspect animation is particularly polished, showcasing Riot’s attention to detail. The result is one of the most refined melee skins in the game to date.
▍Flex Trophy and the Prismatic Trophy Plate
The collection also includes the Flex Gun Buddy, directly inspired by the VALORANT Champions trophy. Inspecting the Flex triggers the 2025 Champions theme song, while simultaneously displaying the number of rounds needed to close out the match—a neat reminder of the stakes mid-game.
Additionally, Riot has introduced a new accessory: the Prismatic Trophy Plate. Originally appearing as a hidden Easter egg in the 2022 Champions skin line, the trophy plate is now a standalone collectible. It features glowing effects and borrows shimmering aesthetics from the 2024 Prism line. Unlike the old version, this plate no longer requires premium-tier upgrades to unlock, making it more accessible. However, some fans worry that breaking it out as a separate product gives Riot another excuse to raise prices. Still, most agree that its quality, finish, and added match countdown display make it one of the best accessories ever released.
▍Availability and Pricing
The Champions 2025 Collection went live globally on September 4 and will remain available until October 9, 2025, in line with the tournament’s schedule. The bundle includes the Vandal, Butterfly Knife, Flex Buddy, a player card, spray, and other cosmetic extras.
The price is set at 6,620 VP (around $70). As with past Champions bundles, a portion of the revenue directly supports VCT teams and the broader esports ecosystem—a tradition Riot has upheld for years.
▍Community Reactions
The Best Champions Bundle?
Reactions across Reddit have been enthusiastic. Many praised the crisper feel of the Vandal, noting it finally abandoned the “dull sound” of past Champions skins. Others were impressed by the Butterfly Knife’s smooth animations, calling it one of Riot’s most polished melees yet.
The new Prismatic Trophy Plate also earned applause as an innovative spin on past cosmetic Easter eggs. While some lamented the absence of more elaborate neutral effects, the overall sentiment is that Champions 2025 strikes the best balance yet between style, gameplay feedback, and commemorative value.
▍Conclusion
The Champions skin line has always been more than just cosmetics—it represents the fusion of in-game artistry and esports legacy. With the release of Champions 2025, Riot has once again proven its mastery at capturing competitive spirit in visual form. The dark-gold Vandal and Butterfly Knife stand as both iconic collectibles and proud emblems of VCT history.
For players, the collection offers not just flashy skins, but a piece of VALORANT’s evolving legacy. For Riot, it reaffirms the studio’s ability to tie gameplay, aesthetics, and esports into a single, cohesive narrative. As the VALORANT Champions 2025 tournament unfolds this fall, the new bundle is sure to remain one of the year’s most prized additions—both on the servers and on the grand stage.
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