VALORANT Reveals New Warden Rifle With 2x Scope and 50 Damage
VALORANT is getting a new 2,900-credit automatic rifle on 22 September 2026, with Riot Games adding the Warden alongside the Vandal and Phantom. The Warden is built for longer-range fights, combining a 2x scope with 50 body damage at every distance, but giving up magazine capacity and fire rate in return.
Its arrival gives players another full-buy rifle without creating a cheaper alternative to the game’s existing favourites. Since all three cost the same 2,900 credits, choosing the Warden will come down to whether its scoped accuracy and heavier individual shots are worth the compromises elsewhere.
VALORANT Warden Rifle Stats
The Warden is fully automatic and carries just 18 rounds per magazine, backed by another 36 rounds in reserve. Its fire rate sits at 6.5 rounds per second, while reload time is 2.5 seconds and wall penetration is rated Medium.
- Weapon class: Rifle
- Price: 2,900 credits
- Scope: 2x magnification
- Magazine: 18 rounds
- Reserve ammunition: 36 rounds
- Body damage: 50 at all ranges
- Head damage: 200
- Leg damage: 42
- Fire rate: 6.5 rounds per second
- Reload time: 2.5 seconds
- Wall penetration: Medium
The 50-damage body shot is the number that most clearly defines the Warden. Three body hits add up to 150 damage, and that output does not fall off as the target gets further away. Riot is pairing that damage profile with what it describes as best-in-class first-shot accuracy when players use aim down sights.
LEAK: A NEW VALORANT RIFLE CALLED THE WARDEN HAS LEAKED
— ValorIntel (@ValorINTEL) September 14, 2026
A new rifle could be coming to VALORANT, and it reportedly comes with a 2x scope.
The Warden is said to cost 2,900 credits, the same as the Vandal and Phantom, but fires slower with an 18-round magazine.
Would you buy the… pic.twitter.com/2TKKMbebJF
How the Warden Compares With the Vandal and Phantom
The Warden’s biggest drawback is capacity. Its 18-round magazine is considerably smaller than the Vandal’s 25 rounds and Phantom’s 30, giving players less room for extended sprays or several fights without reloading.
It also fires more slowly. The Warden’s 6.5 fire rate trails the Vandal at 9.75 and the Phantom at 11, reinforcing its role as the more deliberate option of the three rather than another rifle built around sustained close-range spraying.
Per shot, however, the Warden hits harder. Its 50 body damage is above the Vandal’s 40, while the Phantom starts at 39 before its damage decreases over longer distances. The Warden therefore has a fairly clear identity: hold a longer sightline, use the scope and make the first few bullets count.
Riot said it still likes the existing choice between VALORANT’s two established rifles, but saw room for another style of full-buy weapon.
“While we love the ongoing Phantom vs. Vandal debate on full buy rounds, we thought there was room to satisfy more playstyles and provide more optionality.”
That same price point is important. The Warden does not tempt players with an economic advantage over a Vandal or Phantom. A player choosing it is directly trading faster fire and additional ammunition for the Warden’s scope, heavier shots and long-range accuracy.
The Warden Arrives With VALORANT Patch 13.06
The Warden launches on 22 September as part of VALORANT Patch 13.06. The update will also introduce Gauntlet: Glitched, an experimental 16-player mode where eight teams of two build hybrid Robo-Agents from randomly offered abilities that can change and upgrade during a match.
Patch 13.06 also brings Agent Mastery, which replaces the existing Agent Gear progression system. Previously unlocked Agent Gear rewards will be retained, while the new system adds seasonal Act Levels, lifetime progression and customisable Agent IDs. Competitive presentation and other quality-of-life changes are also included in the update.
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