Valorant is Prepping a Massive 13.06 Update: New Gauntlet: Glitched Mode, the Warden Rifle, and Agent Mastery System

After the first leaks and rumors from dataminers about the upcoming update, Riot Games held a dev update revealing details on one of the biggest patches of 2026 for Valorant – 13.06. As it turns out, players can expect a new experimental mode, a third assault rifle, and a completely overhauled agent progression system.

New Mode: Gauntlet: Glitched

Riot has officially confirmed the name and details of the new experimental mode, Gauntlet: Glitched. In format, it most closely resembles Ability Draft from Dota 2, but with its own twist in the form of unpredictable "glitches."

The essence of the mode lies in building your own hybrid fighter. Instead of playing a familiar agent with a fixed set of abilities, players draft abilities from a randomized pool, assembling their own "Robo-Agent" practically from scratch. This means no two builds in the game will be identical: the same ability can end up in a completely different context depending on what else comes up in the draft.

The competitive format is tournament-based. Gauntlet: Glitched features eight teams of two, all facing off against each other in a round-robin system, meaning every pair meets every other pair until a single winner is determined. This makes the mode longer and more competitive than Valorant's usual arcade modes, since what matters here isn't one lucky round but consistency throughout the entire tournament.

Another distinctive feature is in-match progression. Players don't just pick their abilities once at the start they also upgrade them as the tournament goes on, adjusting their build to fit their own playstyle and the opponents they'll face next. So an approach that worked in one round won't necessarily be optimal in the next.

The most unpredictable part of the name, "Glitched," comes from random glitches that can significantly transform familiar agent abilities. An ability players are used to using one specific way can suddenly start working completely differently under a glitch's influence, unlocking unexpected combos and encouraging even the most experienced players to experiment.

Gauntlet: Glitched will launch alongside Patch 13.06, right before the start of VALORANT Champions, so Riot is clearly hoping the new mode will serve as a fun distraction for the community during the season's biggest tournament.

New Weapon: the Warden Rifle

The assault rifle lineup is getting a third model, the Warden, joining the Vandal and Phantom. The first leaks and info about the weapon surfaced a few days ago, but they were unconfirmed. Now the official specs are known:

Thanks to its 2x scope, the Warden occupies a middle ground between classic assault rifles and the sniper class (Marshal, Outlaw, Operator), giving players more flexibility when holding long-range angles.

Agent Mastery System Replaces Agent Gear

Riot is fully replacing the Agent Gear system with the new Agent Mastery System – it rewards players for the time and effort they put into their favorite agents. The system consists of four elements:

• Act Levels — a seasonal progression layer that resets every act. Grants temporary Portrait Upgrades, visual UI markers showing investment in an agent, including at-a-glance on the agent select screen.
• Lifetime Levels — a persistent progression layer reflecting long-term investment in an agent, unlocking a dedicated rewards track.
• Mastery Points (MP) — a new progression currency earned based on time spent in matches, with bonuses for performance and match outcomes.
• Agent ID — a new customization space where players can equip earned modules: stances, backgrounds, and tracked stats.

The system launches on September 22, 2026. All previously earned Agent Gear rewards will carry over and transition into the new Agent Mastery track, so you won't lose anything. Riot is also adding new rewards for every agent right at the system's launch.

Separately, updates to the competitive mode have been announced, aimed at "better celebrating player achievement." The launch of a new Competitive Flex format in early 2027 has also been confirmed, though details are not yet available.

According to preliminary information, Patch 13.06 will arrive around September 22–23, 2026, depending on region, just ahead of the start of Champions Shanghai.