Riot Games will release Valorant Patch 13.06 on September 22, 2026, two days before the start of Champions in Shanghai.
One of the main updates will be Warden, an automatic rifle costing 2900 credits with a 2x scope, an 18-round magazine, and 50 body damage at any distance.
In addition to the new weapon, the patch will add the experimental mode Gauntlet: Glitched, the Agent Mastery system, ranked profile updates, and the ability to enter the Practice Range while searching for a match. In this article, we will analyze how Patch 13.06 will affect Valorant Champions 2026.
Valorant Patch 13.06 Brings A New Rifle And Major Features
Patch 13.06 is quite global. The new update will simultaneously add new weapons, a separate mode, a new agent progression system, and changes for ranked matches to the game. You can read the full Patch Notes on the EGW video game news source, but here we will also highlight all the main points.
The central change will be the Warden. The rifle will cost 2,900 credits and will join the Phantom and Vandal as another automatic rifle in Valorant.
The Warden has an 18-round magazine, a reserve of 36 additional bullets, and a fire rate of 6.5 shots per second.
Reloading takes 2.5 seconds, and the wall penetration level is defined as Medium. The most notable characteristic of the weapon is the 2x increase when aiming down sights (ADS).
Damage also distinguishes the Warden from standard automatic rifles. A headshot deals 200 damage, a body shot 50, and leg shots 42. Moreover, the 50 body damage is maintained at all distances, meaning the Warden does not have the usual drop in body damage over distance.
At the same time, the 18-round magazine and lower fire rate create an obvious trade-off. The Warden does not appear to be a weapon meant to simply replace the Vandal or Phantom in every buy.
Its characteristics are more suited for holding long sightlines, where a player can use the 2x ADS and deal consistent damage at range.
Gauntlet: Glitched Adds A Different Way To Play
Patch 13.06 is not limited to weapons. In addition to the Warden rifle, the update will also add the Gauntlet: Glitched game mode.
This is an experimental mode in which eight teams of two players will compete in a round-robin tournament format. The main mechanic of the mode is built around creating your own Robo Agent.
At the beginning, players get the opportunity to create a character from a randomized set of abilities. This sets Gauntlet: Glitched apart from standard Valorant, where each Agent has a predefined set of skills.
Moreover, the system does not stop at random selection. Abilities can be upgraded during the match, and an additional factor is Glitches, which can modify abilities and create unconventional combinations.
The randomized pool of abilities will determine available options, and further upgrades will allow players to build their own combination for a specific match.
The new game mode will add to Valorant’s dynamism and excitement. Playing classic matches is usually fun, but 2v2 matches in competitive mode with random abilities are even more fun.
Agent Mastery And Competitive Updates
Another big part of Patch 13.06 will be Agent Mastery. Riot Games is replacing the Agent Gear system with a new progression model that takes into account the time spent playing a specific Agent, as well as the player’s results and performance. Agent Gear that has already been obtained will not disappear.
Agent Mastery will consist of four main elements:
- Act Levels
- Lifetime Levels
- Mastery Points
- Agent IDs
Together they create a separate progression system for each agent rather than one common profile level. Something similar can be seen in CS2, where each competitive map has its own rating.
Act Levels will operate within the current Act. Players will earn Mastery Points during matches, and the levels will allow improving the agent’s progress.
Lifetime Levels do not reset after the end of an Act and reflect the total time and progress on a specific Agent. Leveling them up can earn thematic rewards, such as Sprays, Voice Lines, Mastery Player Cards, and Mastery Poses.
Mastery Points are the foundation of both progression paths. Players earn MP for time spent in matches with the relevant Agent, and match results and personal performance can provide additional points. Thus, the system is not solely based on the number of rounds played.
Agent IDs will become a way to showcase this progress to other players. In the profile, players will be able to combine Stances, Backgrounds, Tracked Stats, Portraits, Icons, and Borders. Essentially, Riot is adding a separate set of customization elements tied to specific agents.
Why Warden Will Not Appear At Champions Shanghai?
At first glance, the Patch 13.06 schedule may cause confusion. The update is released on September 22, while Champions Shanghai starts on September 24.
However, Warden will not be used in Champions matches. The tournament will take place on version 13.05, which means that teams will not have to rebuild their preparation around a new rifle immediately before the start of the competition.
Valorant Champions 2026 Shanghai will be held from September 24 to October 18 and will gather 16 teams. The tournament will have a prize pool of $2,250,000 USD, which is the largest for Valorant this year.
Champions Shanghai will take place under the stable conditions of Patch 13.05, and regular players will receive Warden and other innovations of 13.06 only shortly before the start of the tournament.
Conclusion
In this text, you have learned everything about Valorant Patch 13.06. In the new update, the game will add the Warden assault rifle, a new Gauntlet: Glitched mode, and Agent Mastery with Act Levels, Lifetime Levels, Mastery Points, and Agent IDs.
The practical part of the update is also noticeable: the Practice Range will become available during the matchmaking queue, and the Home Screen will receive changes. The next Agent is planned after Champions Shanghai.
The most interesting point of Patch 13.06 is related to the calendar. Warden is released only two days before Champions Shanghai, but the tournament itself will take place on Patch 13.05 without the new features.
