VALORANT Adds New Game Mode "Gauntlet: Glitched" in Patch 13.06

Alongside the new rifle and the agent mastery system, Riot Games has also announced a new game mode that will be coming to VALORANT  in Patch 13.06. “Gauntlet: Glitched” drops on September 22, 2026, and it brings a completely new take on the tac-fps genre. 

Image Source: Riot Games

8-Duo Battle Royale

Gauntlet: Glitched is a 16-player, 8-duo battle royale designed for 8-to-15-minute bursts of pure adrenaline. Whether you queue solo or with a friend, you’ll face off in a tournament-style gauntlet of 2v2 duels. 

The rules are simple: win your round to stay healthy, or lose and watch your duo’s life bar evaporate. To keep the pressure mounting, the mode features staged weapon progression, forcing teams to evolve from pistols to heavy hitters like the new Warden rifle as the field narrows to the last team standing.

Roguelike Ability Drafts & "Slot Pull" Tension

The "draft-fight-repeat" loop brings a roguelike edge to VALORANT. Every round begins with a randomized draft screen, a literal "slot pull" where every pick is a bet. Do you diversify your kit to cover all bases, or do you double down on a single ability to reach the game-breaking power of Level 3?

Gauntlet: Glitched ability examples (Image Source: Riot Games)

Some examples of these abilities are:

• Yoru’s Fakeout: An upgraded decoy that doesn't just flash but actually shoots bullets.

• Skye’s Trailblazer: A scouting wolf that scales into a giant, lethal predator.

• Gekko’s Wingman: No longer just a little buddy; he becomes a "really big guy" that concusses the first enemy he finds.

Hybrid Robo-Agents & Stitched Arenas

Visually, the mode is a neon-drenched fever dream. Players trade human agents for hybrid robo-agents, battling through four "Stitched Simulation" arenas. 

These maps are "distorted memories" of familiar bomb sites, physically fused together at visible, glitching seams to create an uncanny environment optimized for high-speed 2v2 combat.

Bridging the Skill Gap

The brilliance of Gauntlet: Glitched lies in its "controlled variance." The RNG of the draft acts as a great equalizer, allowing a Diamond and a Bronze player to queue together without the frustration of a traditional "carry." It’s about social synergy and the shared journey of the duo.

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Featured Image Credit: Riot Games

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