Valorant adds a new flagship rifle on September 22, 2026: the Warden, hitting the queue under patch 13.06 for 2,900 credits.
Core Specs and Firepower
Warden is fully automatic with 6.5 rounds per second, a 2× scope and 200 head‑shot damage that mirrors the Vandal’s one‑tap potency. Its body damage remains steady at 50, dropping no fall‑off across distance, and leg damage at 42. The rifle’s magazine holds 18 rounds, and the reserve supplies an additional 18 for a pair of magazines.
Its cost aligns with existing top‑tier weapons, matching the Phantom and Vandal. Wall penetration is marked as medium; the reload clock is 2.5 seconds.
Magazine Size and Rate of Fire
18 rounds per clip is significantly smaller than the Phantom’s 30 and the Vandal’s 25, meaning each trigger pull must count, especially during buy rounds. The fire rate of 6.5 rounds per second is lower than the Vandal’s 7.3, producing a slower feel that hampers close‑quarters spray. The 2× zoom amplifies long‑range effectiveness, compensating for the tighter ammo pool.
Strategic Timing and Meta Potential
The Warden shines when agents rely on holding angles with ADS, such as Chamber, who can exploit the rifle’s high headshot output on mid‑to‑long range. Early rounds will see teams weigh the trade‑off between magazine size and sheer damage per hit. While the weapon’s attributes position it as an over‑performing choice versus existing rifles, its debut requires players to adapt to its tighter magazine and slower follow‑up.
Players pivoting around mid‑range encounters will appreciate the Warden’s razor‑sharp headshot presence, yet those favoring open‑squads must be mindful of the clipped fire pattern.
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