VALORANT Leaks Reveal New Gun the Warden: Full Guide, Price, Release Date

It’s been a while since a fresh weapon came to the shop, but Riot has now confirmed another addition. The new VALORANT gun is reportedly called ‘the Warden’, and it’s competitive with the Vandal and Phantom. Here’s everything we know so far.

VALORANT Leaks Just Revealed a New Gun: The Warden

On September 13, 2026, some of the most interesting VALORANT news in a while began popping up on the internet. VALORANT leaks from Telegram claimed the game is adding a new gun. It’s reportedly a rifle called the Warden.

VALORANT Confirms the Warden: New Gun

On September 18, VALORANT confirmed the Warden is real and will be releasing in the next few Patches. Riot also released a quick explainer about the weapon and its advantages.

Key Warden Info

Let’s get down to business about the Warden’s weapon specifics. It has a scope, so you can target enemies at range. It’s also a full-auto weapon.

• Weapon Type: Full-auto Rifle.
• Has a Scope
• Magazine Size: 18/90
• Fire Rate: 16.55 RPS
• Reload Time: 2.5 Seconds
• Wall Penetration: Medium

How is the Warden Different from the Phantom and Vandal?

According to Riot, the Warden has several key differences from the Phantom and Vandal:

• The Warden has a 2x scope, so it’s better at longer ranges.
• The Warden has the best first-shot accuracy out of the three rifles.
• The Warden has a slower fire rate than the Vandal.

Wingman explains the new rifle pic.twitter.com/dDaHQtNx4x

— VALORANT (@VALORANT) September 18, 2026

VALORANT Warden Release Date

The Warden will release on September 22, 2026, with VALORANT Patch 13.06. This also means it’ll head into the game as the VCT season transitions into Champions 2026.

How Much Does the Warden Cost in VALORANT?

The Warden costs 2,900 in-game credits. This means it has a similar price range to the Phantom and Vandal, the game’s two most competitive Rifle options. It’ll probably become a popular pick, since so few high-tier Rifles exist in the pool and it doesn’t outprice other offerings. Plus, most of VALORANT’s newer maps are very large and feature many long-range angles.

Stay tuned for more VALORANT news. We regularly cover new VALORANT skins, VALORANT leaks, and more esports content. Check out our TenZ sensitivity and settings guide to get your gameplay ready for when the new weapon comes out. Also, here’s a full guide on how to use every current VALORANT weapon.