The VALORANT Warden rifle buff arrived in Patch 13.09 on 27 October 2026. Riot smoothed the Warden’s opening recoil and lowered its spread on the second and third bullets. The rifle still costs 2,900 Credits, but controlled bursts now feel easier to handle.
Warden originally joined VALORANT in September as another premium automatic rifle alongside the Vandal and Phantom. Its 2x scope, high damage and smaller magazine still favour careful shots at distance. Here are the exact new spread values and how they affect your buy-round choices.
VALORANT Warden Rifle price and release date
The Warden costs 2,900 Credits, exactly the same price as the Vandal and Phantom. It originally launched on September 22 with Patch 13.06, and its handling was improved in Patch 13.09 on October 27. The 13.09 handling buff does not change its price or underlying weapon class.
At 2,900 Credits, the Warden costs as much as the Vandal or Phantom. You’re choosing it for its long-range accuracy, not because it saves money on a full buy.
Warden price, damage and original stats
| Stat | Warden |
|---|---|
| Price | 2,900 Credits |
| Head damage | 200 at all ranges |
| Body damage | 50 at all ranges |
| Leg damage | 42 at all ranges |
| Magazine | 18 rounds |
| Reserve ammo | 36 rounds |
| Fire rate | 6.5 rounds per second |
| Scope | 2x ADS |
| Reload | 2.5 seconds |
| Wall penetration | Medium |
| First-shot spread | 0.15 hip-fire / 0.04 ADS |
The Warden still deals 50 body damage, 200 head damage and 42 leg damage at every range. That’s enough for three body shots to eliminate an opponent with 150 total HP, or two body shots against 100 HP. Its 18-round magazine and slower firing rate are the trade-offs.
VALORANT Warden rifle buff: exact Patch 13.09 changes
The VALORANT Warden rifle buff arrived in the October 27 update without changing its 2,900 Credit price, damage or magazine size. The first few shots now have smoother pitch recoil, while spread error on the second and third bullets is lower. That matters most in a controlled burst: your follow-up bullets should be more predictable after landing the opening shot.
| Handling stat | Before 13.09 | After 13.09 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening vertical recoil | Less smooth | Smoothed |
| Second-bullet error | 0.25 | 0.20 |
| Third-bullet error | 0.60 | 0.50 |
The VALORANT Warden rifle buff makes two- and three-shot bursts easier to control. It hasn’t increased damage or fire rate, and the magazine still holds 18 rounds. Start with a deliberate opening shot and use short follow-ups rather than spraying an entire magazine down a long lane.
Riot confirmed both spread reductions in Patch 13.09. Our full patch guide covers the rest of the update. See our Hush abilities guide for the Agent arriving in the same update, or the Map Rating guide for Competitive changes.
How the VALORANT Warden rifle buff affects rifle choices
The Warden is still slower than the Vandal and Phantom, so it isn’t built for close-range spraying. Its advantage is the first shot: the scope and accuracy suit long sightlines where you can take time lining up the opening bullet.
The Vandal still offers the familiar one-tap headshot with a faster rate of fire and larger magazine. The Phantom remains better suited to close-range spraying, smoke fights and sustained pressure. The Warden instead rewards players who know they are about to take a deliberate long-range duel.
Is the Warden basically an automatic Guardian?
There is some obvious overlap, but the VALORANT Warden Rifle is not simply a Guardian with full-auto switched on. The Guardian is cheaper and rewards single-shot discipline, while the Warden sits in the premium rifle tier and can continue firing automatically when a fight becomes messy.
The 2x scope also changes how it feels to hold an angle. It sits between the normal rifle ADS view and a true sniper optic, so players can challenge distance without giving up the flexibility of an automatic weapon.
Who benefits from the VALORANT Warden rifle buff?
The adjusted recoil makes the Warden attractive for players anchoring sites and holding long lanes. It’s less forgiving when several opponents swing at close range, because its 18-round magazine and slower firing rate leave less room for missed shots.
Entry players may still prefer the faster rifles when they expect several opponents at close range. Eighteen rounds disappear quickly, and a missed opening shot is more punishing when the weapon cycles at 6.5 rounds per second.
How the VALORANT Warden rifle buff affects your buy rounds
The Warden launched in September alongside Gauntlet: Glitched and Agent Mastery. The VALORANT Warden rifle buff followed in October, making its first shots easier to control in Patch 13.09. Our VALORANT Patch 13.06 guide covers the whole update, while our Gauntlet: Glitched guide explains the new ability-draft mode.
Our September launch coverage explains how the rifle entered the game. After the October adjustment, choosing the Warden over a Vandal or Phantom is still about whether you want long-range precision or a faster, more forgiving spray.
The practical question is what sort of fight you expect next. A long defensive angle favours the Warden’s precision and 2x scope. A cramped retake or repeated close-range duel makes the faster Vandal or Phantom more comfortable for many players. All three cost the same 2,900 Credits.
Related Guides
Official source: Riot Games’ Patch 13.09 notes.
