Riot Games is rounding out the new VALORANT Act with a sharp contrast to its upbeat new agent. While Miks brings high-energy vibes to the agent roster, the Blackthorn bundle takes the store in a much darker direction, arriving alongside Patch 12.05 with thorns, roses, and four distinct color variants across five weapon skins.
Release Date and Timing
The Blackthorn bundle is expected to hit the VALORANT store on March 18 or 19, coinciding with the end of the current SilkLeaf bundle rotation on March 18. That timing lines up with how Riot has handled previous bundle transitions, making a same-day or next-day switchover the most likely scenario.
What's Included in the Blackthorn Bundle
The Blackthorn collection is a packed drop. Here's every item confirmed in the bundle:
- Vandal
- Guardian
- Marshal
- Classic
- Blackthorn Blades (Melee)
- Buddy
- Card
- Blackthorn Rose Flex
Five weapon skins, a melee, a buddy, a card, and a Flex make this one of the fuller bundle releases VALORANT has seen recently.
Expected Pricing
Riot has not officially confirmed VP costs for the Blackthorn bundle, but based on comparable Exclusive rarity collections like Araxys and ChronoVoid, here's what players can reasonably expect:
The Blackthorn Rose Flex is expected to land at the lower 975 VP tier given its lack of elaborate special animations, according to Dot Esports.
Blackthorn four color variants
Design Details Worth Knowing
Here's the thing: the Blackthorn collection isn't just a palette swap. The aesthetic leans into dark thorns and roses with four distinct color variants across every skin:
- Black and red (default)
- Black and gold
- White and green
- Silver and purple
What most players will notice immediately is how distinct the Classic skin is. It's noticeably thinner and sharper than most Classic variants, with a static barrel design and a rose detail at the rear, making it one of the more unique pistol skins in recent memory.
The Vandal's pullout animation carries a faint resemblance to the EX.O collection, and some of the other skins appear to draw visual inspiration from the Kuronami line.
As for the Blackthorn Blades melee, it shares its base model with the Kuronami no Yaiba melee but features entirely different animations. The inspect animation splits the weapon into two thorn-shaped knives that the agent flips, while the heavy attack sends out a vine to strike opponents.
If you're on the fence about the melee, the heavy attack animation is a standout detail that makes it feel distinct despite sharing the Kuronami no Yaiba base model.
Where Blackthorn Fits in the Store
The Blackthorn bundle lands at a moment when VALORANT is actively expanding its content slate. Patch 12.05 also introduces agent Miks to the roster, meaning players are getting both a new character and a new cosmetic collection at the same time. For players who prefer darker aesthetics over the more vibrant bundles that have dominated recent rotations, Blackthorn offers a welcome shift in tone.
Source: Dotesports
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When does the VALORANT Blackthorn bundle release?
The Blackthorn bundle is expected to arrive on March 18 or 19, timed with the end of the SilkLeaf bundle and the launch of Patch 12.05.
How much does the Blackthorn bundle cost in VALORANT?
No official price has been confirmed, but based on comparable Exclusive rarity bundles, individual weapon skins are expected to cost around 2,175 VP each, with the melee ranging from 4,350 to 5,350 VP and the Flex at approximately 975 VP.
Will Blackthorn skins appear in the Night Market?
No. Exclusive rarity collections like Blackthorn are not eligible for Night Market discounts. Players must purchase them directly from the store at full price.
What weapons are included in the Blackthorn bundle?
The bundle includes skins for the Vandal, Guardian, Marshal, and Classic, plus the Blackthorn Blades melee, a buddy, a card, and the Blackthorn Rose Flex.
