Snowball Fight Deathmatch brings holiday spirit to Valorant

TL;DR

  • Limited-time 5v5 snowball battle running December 15-29 with 50-kill win condition
  • Unique projectile-based snowball launcher requiring leading shots and trajectory prediction
  • Five strategic power-ups that dramatically alter gameplay dynamics and tactics
  • Progressive map availability starting with festive Icebox then expanding to all maps
  • Optimize 900 XP per win with advanced positioning and power-up management strategies

“Ready to have a Snowball Fight with your friends (and likely your foes)?”

The holiday season consistently brings festive limited-time modes to competitive shooters, and Valorant joins this tradition with its inaugural winter celebration. Riot Games introduces Snowball Fight Team Deathmatch as a seasonal twist on traditional gameplay, blending chaotic fun with strategic depth that differs significantly from standard tactical rounds.

This exclusive game mode becomes available from December 15 through December 29, launching alongside Valorant’s 1.14 update. Unlike permanent game additions, this temporary experience emphasizes quick-paced action and seasonal cheer while maintaining the core competitive spirit Valorant players expect.

What is Snowball Fight Team Deathmatch?

Snowball Fight Team Deathmatch pits two five-agent squads against each other in a race to achieve 50 eliminations. The respawn system ensures continuous action, allowing players to immediately rejoin battles without the lengthy round-based structure of standard matches.

Every combatant begins equipped with a specialized snowball launcher. According to official patch documentation, Killjoy ingeniously modified Brimstone’s Molotov launcher to create this unique seasonal weapon. Developers emphasize the importance of projectile leading since the unlimited snowballs follow ballistic trajectories rather than instant hit-scan mechanics.

Icebox Valorant

Advanced Tip: Master leading moving targets by aiming approximately one character model ahead of enemies at medium range. The snowball travel time creates unique prediction requirements that differ dramatically from standard weapon handling.

Snowball Fight Team Deathmatch Features Strategic Power-Ups

The power-up system introduces dynamic gameplay elements through gift packages that spawn across battlefields. Occasionally, portals materialize to shower the arena with multiple presents simultaneously. Each gift container requires precise snowball impact to unveil its contents, and players maintain capacity for only one of each power-up type simultaneously. Eliminated agents relinquish their collected enhancements, creating strategic opportunities for team coordination and denial tactics.

Communications specialist Jeff Landa detailed five distinct power-ups that agents can acquire:

Rapid Fire: Enables significantly increased snowball firing rate, perfect for suppressing enemies and controlling areas. Pro tip: Combine with high ground positioning for maximum effectiveness.

Growball: Causes snowballs to expand during flight, effectively creating larger hitboxes that improve accuracy against evasive targets.

Ricochet: Permits snowballs to rebound from surfaces, enabling creative angle attacks and unexpected trajectories that bypass conventional cover.

Skates: Enhances mobility through increased movement speed and jump height, facilitating rapid repositioning and evasion.

Common Mistake: Avoid hoarding multiple identical power-ups since you cannot stack effects. Instead, coordinate with teammates to ensure diverse capability distribution across your squad.

Snowball Fight Team Deathmatch initially deploys exclusively on Icebox during the first week, with the map receiving visual enhancements to amplify holiday atmosphere. Week two expands accessibility to include all available Valorant maps, providing varied tactical environments and sightline considerations.

The transition from single-map to full rotation creates evolving meta-strategies as players adapt to different terrain layouts and engagement distances. Icebox’s verticality and long sightlines favor precise projectile prediction, while tighter maps may benefit more from Ricochet and Rapid Fire combinations.

Participation in any Snowball Fight Team Deathmatch match rewards players with 750 experience points, while victorious squads earn an additional 150 XP bonus. This efficient XP farming opportunity allows players to accelerate battle pass progression while enjoying seasonal content.

Optimization Strategy: Focus on consistent participation rather than extended sessions. The 900 XP per victory provides approximately 25-30% of a typical level requirement, making it one of the most time-efficient methods for advancement during the event window.

Time Management: Average match duration ranges from 5-8 minutes, translating to roughly 7,000-10,000 XP per hour during winning streaks. Balance power-up collection with elimination focus to maximize both performance and enjoyment.

For comprehensive strategies on optimizing your overall Valorant progression, consult our Complete Guide for detailed battle pass and ranking insights.

Action Checklist

  • Practice leading moving targets in custom matches before the event
  • Master power-up spawn locations on Icebox during week one
  • Coordinate power-up distribution with teammates to avoid duplication
  • Develop map-specific strategies for week two expansion
  • Optimize session timing for maximum XP efficiency

No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Snowball Fight Deathmatch brings holiday spirit to Valorant Master Valorant's festive Snowball Fight mode with advanced strategies, power-up tactics, and XP optimization techniques