You’ve made new friends across the globe, moved to a different country, or discovered your account is stuck in the wrong region. Now you’re facing Valorant’s strict region-lock system that seems designed to keep players apart rather than bring them together.
This guide reveals exactly how Valorant’s region system works and provides the precise steps for every scenario, whether you’re permanently relocating or just want to play with international friends.
Valorant’s 3-Tier Region System Explained
Valorant’s Region Lock System
Valorant’s region system isn’t just about server selection – it’s a complex three-tier architecture designed to maintain competitive integrity and minimize lag.
Your Region of Residence (RoR) is the master setting that controls everything else. Set when you create your account based on your location, it determines your legal agreements, store currency, and most importantly, which Game Shard you’re locked to. This is what the official region change process modifies.
The Game Shard is your competitive ecosystem. Players on different shards (like NA and EU) exist in completely separate universes – they can’t see each other, queue together, or interact in any way. This hard separation ensures low ping for everyone but makes international play impossible without changing regions.
Global Game Shards & Server Locations
Click any region to see its server locations
• N. California
• Texas
• Illinois
• N. Virginia
• Georgia
• Paris
• London
• Stockholm
• Istanbul
• Warsaw
• Madrid
• Bahrain
• Hong Kong
• Tokyo
• Sydney
• Mumbai
• Mexico City
• Miami
How to Check Your Current Region
Before changing anything, you need to verify your current region. There are three ways to check this, each revealing different information:
Official Account Website
Visit account.riotgames.com and log in. Your Region of Residence appears under Personal Information. This is the definitive source.
Most AccurateIn-Game Server Menu
Click the signal icon above your player card on the Play screen. The header shows your Game Shard (e.g., “EU Servers”).
Quick CheckSettings About Tab
Open Valorant Settings (gear icon) and go to the About tab. Your Game Shard is listed explicitly here.
Alternative MethodTwo Methods to Change Regions: Choose Your Path
There are only two ways to change your Valorant region, and they serve completely different purposes. Choose the wrong method and you’ll either lose years of progress or lock yourself out of your home region for three months.
Official Transfer
For permanent relocation
Advantages
- Keep your main account and all skins
- Maintain your MMR and account level
- Official support from Riot
- Proper currency and payment methods
Disadvantages
- Lose ALL competitive rank and history
- 90-day cooldown before next change
- Match history completely erased
- Purchase history deleted
VPN + New Account
For playing with international friends
Advantages
- Main account stays untouched
- No cooldown periods
- Can switch between accounts freely
- Play on multiple regions
Disadvantages
- Start from zero (no skins, agents)
- High ping disadvantage
- VPN required for account creation
- Potential connection issues
Method 1: Official Region Transfer (Step-by-Step)
The official transfer is designed for players who have permanently moved to a new country. This process changes your Region of Residence and moves your entire account to a new Game Shard.
Try the Automated Tool First
Visit https://support-valorant.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/360047379834 and log in. The system detects your location and may offer instant transfer if you’re eligible.
2-5 minutesSubmit Manual Ticket (If Needed)
If automation fails, go to Valorant Support > Submit Ticket > Account Management > “Need help changing Region of Residence”
3-7 days responseProvide Required Information
Include: Username, Riot ID#Tag, Email, Current region, New region, and clear explanation of permanent relocation.
Be specificWait for Verification
Riot may require you to log in from your new location for 2+ weeks or provide proof of residency before approving.
Up to 2 weeksWhat Happens to Your Account Data
Standard transfers (excludes Americas-to-Americas)
| Account Data | Status After Transfer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Skins & Cosmetics | ✓ Kept | All weapon skins, cards, buddies, sprays transfer |
| Unlocked Agents | ✓ Kept | All agents and contract progress preserved |
| VP & Radianite | ✓ Kept | Currency balances transfer completely |
| Account Level | ✓ Kept | Your overall account progression maintained |
| Hidden MMR | ✓ Kept | Skill rating preserved for accurate placement |
| Battle Pass | ✓ Kept | Current progress transfers |
| Competitive Rank | ✗ Reset | Must play new placement matches |
| Match History | ✗ Deleted | All previous games erased permanently |
| Purchase History | ✗ Deleted | Store transaction records wiped |
| Act Rank Rewards | ⚠️ Special | Based on rank in NEW region at act end |
Method 2: VPN + New Account (For Cross-Region Play)
This community-accepted workaround lets you play with friends in other regions without touching your main account. You’ll create a fresh account locked to your desired region, but this can introduce stutters or FPS drops in Valorant if your VPN of choice is bad.
Choose a Gaming VPN
Select a reputable VPN service. Gaming-optimized VPNs work best as they’re less likely to be blocked by Riot.
Research carefullyConnect to Target Region
Open VPN and connect to a server in your desired region (e.g., connect to Germany for EU account).
Verify connectionCreate New Riot Account
Open incognito/private browser. Go to Riot signup page. The site should auto-detect the VPN location.
5 minutesVerify Region Selection
During signup, ensure the country dropdown shows your target region. This locks the account permanently.
Critical stepDownload and Play
Log into Valorant with new account. VPN only needed for creation – you can play without it (but expect high ping).
Ready to playQuick Decision Guide: Which Method Should You Use?
Your situation determines the best approach. Here’s a clear breakdown of which method to use based on your specific needs:
Find Your Scenario
Permanently Moved Countries
Use Official Transfer
You’ve relocated for work, school, or family. The data loss is worth having your main account in the correct region with low ping.
Playing with International Friends
Create New Account via VPN
Keep your main account safe. Create a secondary account for cross-region play. Accept the high ping as the cost of international friendship.
Account in Wrong Region
Use Official Transfer ASAP
If your account was created in the wrong region by mistake, transfer immediately before investing time or money.
Temporary Travel/Vacation
Do Nothing
Just play on your home servers with higher ping. It’s not worth transferring or creating new accounts for short trips.
Competitive in Multiple Regions
Multiple VPN Accounts
Serious players maintain separate accounts for each region. This preserves competitive integrity while allowing global play.
Regional Pricing Differences
Don’t Risk It
Using VPNs to exploit regional pricing violates Terms of Service and risks permanent bans. Not worth saving a few dollars.
Special Cases and Restrictions
Some region transfers have unique rules due to publishing agreements and local regulations:
Regional Transfer Restrictions
| Transfer Type | Status | Special Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Within Americas (NA ↔ LATAM ↔ BR) | ✓ Full Data Preserved | No rank reset, keep all history |
| South Korea → Japan | ✗ Not Permitted | Publishing restrictions prevent this transfer |
| Any Region → Vietnam | ⚠️ Requires Proof | Must provide permanent residency documentation |
| Any Region → China | ✗ Not Available | Separate ecosystem, requires new account |
| All Other Transfers | ⚠️ Standard Rules | Rank/history reset, 90-day cooldown |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Region changes don’t always go smoothly. Here are solutions to the most common problems:
Automated Tool Not Working
Turn off VPN completely, clear browser cookies, try different browser. If still failing, submit manual ticket with clear explanation.
Transfer Taking Too Long
Riot may need 2+ weeks of consistent logins from new location. Keep playing from your new country. Contact support after 14 days.
VPN Blocked/Not Working
Try different VPN servers or providers. Gaming-specific VPNs less likely blocked. Some report success with mobile hotspot + VPN combo.
Lost More Data Than Expected
Unfortunately irreversible. Only Americas transfers preserve all data. Always screenshot stats/ranks before transferring as memories.
Conclusion
Valorant’s region system prioritizes competitive integrity over flexibility. This creates two distinct paths: official transfers for permanent moves (with significant data loss), and VPN workarounds for social play (starting fresh with high ping).
If you’ve genuinely relocated countries, bite the bullet and use the official transfer. The rank reset hurts, but you’ll quickly climb back with your preserved MMR while enjoying low ping on your new home servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Valorant server region without losing data?
Only if transferring between Americas regions (NA, LATAM, BR). All other transfers reset your competitive rank, match history, and purchase history. Your skins, agents, and currencies are always preserved.
How long does a Valorant region transfer take?
The automated tool works instantly if eligible. Manual support tickets take 3-7 days for initial response. Riot may require 2+ weeks of logins from your new location before approving. Total process can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 weeks.
Is using a VPN for Valorant bannable?
VPN use itself isn’t explicitly banned, but Riot blocks high-traffic VPN services that cause server issues. The risk is connection problems, not account bans, unless you’re using VPNs for exploits or ban evasion. Creating accounts via VPN for legitimate cross-region play is widely practiced.
Can I play Valorant in a different region while traveling?
Yes, you can play on your home region servers from anywhere. You’ll experience higher ping but your account remains unchanged. Don’t transfer regions for temporary travel – the 90-day cooldown and data loss aren’t worth it for short trips.
What happens to my skins when I change regions?
All skins, weapon buddies, player cards, sprays, and other cosmetics transfer with your account during an official region change. You never lose purchased content. Only competitive data (rank, match history) is reset.
Can I change back to my original region after transferring?
Yes, but you must wait 90 days after your last transfer. You’ll face the same data resets (rank, history) when transferring back. This cooldown prevents region hopping and is why you shouldn’t transfer unless permanently moving.
Why can’t I select servers from other regions?
The server selection menu only shows servers within your Game Shard. An EU player can choose between Frankfurt, Paris, London etc., but cannot access NA servers. Game Shards are completely separated – you need a region transfer or new account to access other shards.
Do I need to keep using a VPN after creating a new account?
No, VPN is only required during account creation to set your region. After that, you can play without VPN, though some players report more stable connections with VPN active. The account remains permanently locked to the region selected during creation.
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