How does the Regen Shield work in Valorant?

A Valorant fans know well, the only types of armor you can purchase were Light and Heavy Armor. Now, with Patch 9.10 out and available to the public, players have access to a new type of Shield called the Regen Shield.

With any new weapon or mechanic in Valorant, fans will rightfully be a little confused about how it works and if it’s even worth purchasing during a match. We’ll explain what the Regen Shield does, how much it costs, and any other details that will help you decide whether it’s a good addition to Valorant.

What is the Regen Shield in Valorant?

Valorant’s new Regen Shield grants you the same amount of armor as the Light Armor, but it has 50 points in the regeneration pool. It’ll absorb all of the damage you take until your 25 armor runs out. After that, the 50 points will slowly pool back into your armor to regenerate it, giving you a total of 75 armor if you use it in its entirety.

• Cost: 650 Creds
• Damage Reduction: Full
• Damage Absorbed: 100%
• Regeneration Pool: 50

While Light Armor costs 400 Creds and Heavy Armor costs 1,000 Creds, Regen Shields take the middle ground with a cost of 650 Creds. This can make Regen Shields a good purchase if you want to save some money, but want a bit of extra protection that’s better than Light Armor.

You’ll notice your armor icon turn green when equipping Regen Shields, and you’ll also have a green bar to the left of it. Whenever your armor depletes, it’ll take only a second or two before it starts to regenerate, siphoning from the pool on the left.

Are Regen Shields worth it?

Regen Shields have a lot of advantages in Valorant, but it depends on the round you’re in. If you’re in an eco round and need to save some money, but you still have enough for the Regen Shield, it can be a worthwhile purchase. It does force you to duck and hide after having your shields depleted so you can regenerate them, which will make you less inclined to jump right into the fray and more inclined to be strategic with your approach.

Other than those few rounds where you need to save your money, Regen Shields aren’t a good purchase. It’s best to have Heavy Armor when you can afford it since you have all that armor from the get-go, whereas the Regen Shield makes you wait until it regenerates to gain extra protection. If you’re playing against an opponent with the Regen Shields, you’ll want to tackle combat more aggressively so the enemy player doesn’t hide from your sight to regenerate their armor.

Overall, be cautious of when you decide to buy Regen Shields, as they’re best used for eco rounds where you’re looking to save some Creds. They’re fine for any character to wear, and their best benefit is being able to absorb 100% of the incoming damage.