Valorant Patch 13.06 is one of the game’s biggest updates of the year. Riot Games is introducing a new rifle, a new experimental game mode, a revamped progression system and multiple competitive changes. The update lands September 22, two days before Champions begins in Shanghai. Riot is deliberately keeping the Warden out of the tournament, avoiding a brand-new rifle entering pro play days before its biggest event. It will also bring quality-of-life changes such as Practice Range access while matchmaking. The Patch will introduce the Warden, a new automatic rifle designed for players who want better long-range options without moving all the way into sniper territory. Alongside it, Gauntlet: Glitched adds a 16-player experimental mode, while Agent mastery will replace the current Agent Gear system.
What Is Coming With Valorant Patch 13.06?
One of the biggest introductions in Patch 13.06 is the Warden, a new automatic rifle that sits in the same weapon category as the Phantom and Vandal. It costs 2,900 credits with an 18-round magazine, 36 reserve rounds and a 2x scope, making it the first automatic rifle in Valorant to ship with built-in magnification. It deals 50 body, 200 headshot and 42 leg damage at all ranges, with medium wall penetration and a 6.5 rounds-per-second fire rate. The rifle also has no damage falloff. The Warden is created around long-range engagement. Its stronger ADS and persistent aim make it useful when holding longer angles without necessitating players to purchase a sniper. However, its lower fire rate compared with the Phantom and Vandal gives the weapon a clear trade-off and is aimed to keep it from simply replacing Valorant’s current standard rifles.
Riot says the goal is to expand player choice rather than replace either existing rifle. Patch 13.06 will also introduce Gauntlet: Glitched, an experimental mode built around unusual combinations. The 16-player mode pits eight teams of two in a round-robin elimination format, with staged weapon progression pushing teams from pistols up to heavier guns as the field narrows.
Instead of selecting a normal agent and playing through a normal match, players build a hybrid Robo-Agent by drafting abilities from a randomised pool. Those abilities can then be upgraded during the match. Glitches reshape how abilities function mid-match. Yoru’s decoys can fire bullets, and Gekko’s Wingman grows larger. Matches take place across four “Stitched Simulation” arenas built from fused versions of familiar bomb sites. Another major change is Agent Mastery, which will replace Agent Gear. Existing Agent Gear cosmetics that players have already earned will remain unlocked.
VAL’s BIGGEST patch ever!
— Leo Faria (@lhfaria) September 14, 2026
– New ability draft mode
– New agent mastery system
– New ranked profile and rewards
– New 2900 rifle
– New home screen
– Queue from range
– Console in AUS & NZ
All live this Tuesday with patch 13.06.
And more newness at Champs! https://t.co/7A2CbHE3MN
The new system is built around multiple progression elements, including Act Levels, Lifetime Levels, Mastery Points, and customizable Agent IDs. Act Levels track progress with an Agent during the current Act and reset each Act. Lifetime Levels will instead represent long-term progression within an agent and can provide rewards such as sprays, voice lines, Mastery Play Cards, and Mastery Poses.
Mastery Points will be acquired through time spent playing the relevant Agent, with performance and match outcomes providing extra gains. Agent IDs will provide a tailored way to display Agent-related progression, including stances, backgrounds, tracked statistics, portraits, icons, borders and other Mastery cosmetics. The new system is designed to reward players based on how much they play an Agent as well as their performance.
What Other Changes Are Coming to Valorant?
Competitive progression is also getting a revamp. Riot is adding improvements to competitive profiles and progression tracking, giving players more ways to show their ranked accomplishments. The plans extend to 2027 with V27 Competitive Flex, which is created to evolve throughout the year, based on players’ achievements. The Competitive Flex system will receive upgrades during each Act, while the 2027 season will also introduce a new Valorant Ranked Awards.
Riot is planning a commemorative coin for Season 27 with visual changes and animation styles tied to competitive progress. Competitive profile improvements are set to begin with the coming changes, while the commemorative coin is planned for the 2027 season.
The update will also bring numerous smaller quality-of-life changes. Valorant is getting an updated home screen, while players will be able to access the Practice Range while matchmaking rather than having to wait in the line without access to the training area.
Console players will also see the game extend to Australia and New Zealand with the new update. These additions are distinct from the larger gameplay changes but are part of Riot’s wider Patch 13.06 update. Riot has indicated 13.06 will not include major Agent balance changes. The focus of the update is instead on the new Warden weapon, Gauntlet: Glitched, Agent progression, competitive systems, and quality of life improvements. A new Agent is planned to arrive after Champions, giving players another addition to look forward to beyond Patch 13.06.
With the update arriving shortly before Champions, Patch 13.06 is set to make changes across several parts of Valorant rather than focusing on a single balance adjustment. The Warden will add a new option for long-range rifle flights, Gauntlet: Glitched will introduce a highly randomized game mode, and Agent Mastery will give players a new way to build and showcase their investment in individual agents.
