Riot Games has released Valorant patch 13.06, an update that Korean gaming outlet 게임톡 describes as a top-to-bottom refresh of the game. The patch introduces a new weapon called the Warden, adds a new game mode, and tightens penalties against malicious players, according to the same report.
The Warden's arrival raises a question the Korean outlet 더게임스 has already put to readers: whether the new gun can push aside the Vandal and Phantom, long the standard picks for rifles in the tactical shooter. That framing comes from 더게임스, not from Riot.
Alongside the weapon and mode, the update expands measures against disruptive players. Riot published its own patch notes for 13.06 and a separate page titled "Respectful Play," both listed in the source material, though their contents were not available. 플레이포럼, another Korean outlet, characterized the patch as a generous spread of changes and reported that it has drawn positive reactions from players.
The patch notes and the Respectful Play page appear on VALORANT's official channels, while the reception coverage comes from Korean media. No player numbers, penalty specifics, or mode details were included in the available material.
What to watch next: whether the Warden shifts weapon pick rates away from the Vandal and Phantom, and how players respond once the new mode and conduct rules see wider use.
