Valorant Patch 13.05 adds temporary bans that can escalate to permanent bans when Riot detects repeated use of stream-sniping or instalock tools. It also gives players until Patch 13.06 on September 22 to finish Agent Gear unlocks for Agents they do not normally play, while adding Champions Shanghai Pick’Ems, smoke and flash fixes, and new PC Range options.
Valorant Patch 13.05 at a glance
- Patch date: September 1, 2026, with all-platform changes plus two PC-only updates.
- Tool penalties: temporary game bans for detected stream-sniping or instalock tools, escalating to permanent bans after repeated use.
- Agent Gear deadline: September 22, when Patch 13.06 changes how future gear unlocks are tied to Agent playtime.
- Existing Agent Gear: everything already earned stays on the account, and Kingdom Credits remain part of future unlocks.
- Champions Pick’Ems: open September 10 in the client and on the web; Group Stage play begins September 24.
- PC Range: players can choose 10, five, or one practice bot, with five becoming the default.
How the new stream-sniping and instalock bans work
Riot says it has started rolling out penalties when its systems detect use of stream-sniping and instalock tools. A first detected offense can lead to a temporary game ban. Repeated use can escalate that penalty to a permanent ban.
The wording matters: Patch 13.05 targets detected tool use. The notes do not say that a single player report automatically produces a ban, and they do not publish the detection threshold, exact temporary-ban length, or a complete appeal process. Players should therefore avoid presenting any unofficial duration chart or detection claim as Riot policy.
Stream-sniping tools can provide information from a live broadcast that a normal opponent should not have. Instalock tools can automate or accelerate Agent selection outside the intended client flow. Riot groups both under player-behavior enforcement rather than treating them as balance changes.
What is the Agent Gear deadline?
Patch 13.06 arrives September 22 and changes the Agent Gear progression track. After that update, each future piece of gear will be tied directly to how much the player uses the associated Agent. Kingdom Credits will still be used, so the change adds an Agent-play requirement rather than removing the existing currency.
Anything earned before the change remains unlocked. The practical deadline applies to players who are currently spending credits on gear for an Agent they rarely select: Riot explicitly recommends finishing those off-Agent unlocks before September 22.
Riot has not published the complete 13.06 progression table yet. Patch 13.05 confirms the date, the keep-what-you-earned rule, continued Kingdom Credit use, and the link between future gear and associated-Agent playtime, but not the exact match count or time required for every item.
Champions Shanghai Pick’Ems dates and rewards
Champions Shanghai Pick’Ems become available September 10 in the Valorant client and on the web. Players predict which teams advance from the Group Stage, earn points for correct selections, and receive extra points for predicting the exact placement.
Riot also promises participation rewards, but the 13.05 notes do not name the items or thresholds. Picks need to be submitted before Group Stage competition begins September 24.
Smokes should stop blocking flashes at the correct moment
Patch 13.05 fixes a timing problem where a smoke could continue blocking flashes and other line-of-sight-dependent abilities while its visual effect was already disappearing. Riot adjusted the dissipation timing for Astra, Brimstone, Clove, Miks, and Omen.
The fix is not a duration buff or nerf to those Controllers. It is a consistency correction intended to make the visual end of a smoke match the moment it stops obstructing abilities.
Every Agent-specific fix in Patch 13.05
- Chamber: reduced a first-use performance drop when equipping, aiming, or firing Headhunter during a round.
- Cypher: fixed a Trapwire debuff that could remain indefinitely on a new target and stopped Cyber Cage from incorrectly blocking flashes, detection, and similar line-of-sight effects.
- Deadlock: removed unintended visual effects that could briefly appear when casting GravNet.
- Fade: restored the Seize danger indicator for enemies in certain Lotus locations.
- KAY/O: fixed client-side frame-rate drops that could occur with each NULL/cmd pulse.
- Omen: fixed Dark Cover continuing to obscure a player’s vision after the smoke disappeared.
- Sage: restored missing Healing Orb tooltips when the ability is equipped.
- Waylay: fixed three Saturate/Refract cases involving blocked application, lingering map-object snapshots, and Hinder affecting intangible Agents.
Two general Agent fixes also stop an enemy Ultimate voice line from continuing after the caster dies and prevent Combat Report from labeling some non-Blind effects as “Enemies Blinded.”
What changed in the PC Range?
PC players can now choose 10, five, or one bot in Range practice settings. The default is five. This provides a smaller, less cluttered target set for focused warm-ups without removing the 10-bot option.
Riot also fixed a PC issue where the close button could stop working after a Valorant Points purchase. Neither PC-only change alters console practice settings or matchmaking.
Sound Sprays are now local instead of map-wide
All sound sprays now use shorter audio attenuation, so their sound is heard only by players nearby. Riot says the rule protects team communication and will become the standard for future audio sprays.
What Patch 13.05 does not include
Patch 13.05 is a small update centered on enforcement, progression notice, esports features, and bug fixes. It does not introduce a new Agent, map, weapon, rank reset, broad balance pass, or complete Agent Gear redesign.
Riot describes Patch 13.06 as the larger update. The confirmed 13.06 date is September 22, but players should wait for those full notes before assuming any additional balance, map-pool, economy, or progression details.
What Valorant players should do next
- Avoid third-party tool use: the new enforcement can become permanent after repeated detections.
- Finish off-Agent gear: complete current unlocks for Agents you rarely play before September 22.
- Set a Pick’Ems reminder: predictions open September 10 and close before Groups start September 24.
- Check smoke interactions: Controllers and flash users should expect clearer timing as smoke effects disappear.
More Valorant help
The Valorant game page keeps the platform, developer, and related coverage together. New players can begin with the complete Valorant guide hub, while Competitive players can review how placement, RR, and hidden MMR work in the Valorant ranks guide.
