Everyone hates facing smurfs in VALORANT ranked matches, and Riot is finally tackling the elephant in the room.
Smurfing has been an issue in VALORANT since the game’s release. It’s no secret that some players create alternate accounts to either help friends climb the ranks or simply troll matches in lower elo. Now, Riot Games is taking new steps to reduce the amount of smurfs in VALORANT. Let’s break down how.
MFA to reduce smurfs in VALORANT
Right now, you may already be used to entering a code sent to your phone when signing in to Gmail. Riot is preparing to test a similar system. With Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), certain accounts will be required to activate this feature through the Riot Mobile app. However, this will only be tested, in beta, in some regions, being them North America, Latin America, Brazil, and South Korea.
In the upcoming VALORANT patch 11.09, Riot plans to ban accounts that they are confident have been purchased or detected for boosting. This move comes after community feedback and widespread frustration with smurfs disrupting gameplay. “By reducing the number of accounts that can be shared, we expect smurfing to decrease,” Riot stated.
However, they understand this won't be enough to solve the problem. The MFA method will also be good to strengthen your account's security and avoid being hacked. According to Riot's data, 80% to 90% of reported stolen accounts had the MFA deactivated.
Who will be required to activate Riot Mobile MFA?
If your account is Ascendant or higher (Immortal and Radiant), Riot may require you to enable MFA. Another scenario is if your account is detected as being shared. Even if you own multiple accounts, as long as you don’t share them, these requirements shouldn’t affect you.
This method will apply to these ranks because high-ranked players can cause the most disruption when smurfing and are at greater risk of violating competitive integrity by sharing accounts. If your account is flagged as a shared account, you’ll be required to install Riot Mobile and complete a one-time verification process.
Upcoming updates
From patch 11.08, you’ll be able to report another player for "Rank Manipulation" through the in-game reporting system. This will help Riot to collect more data that will better inform the systems about smurfing, so don’t forget to report.
In patch 11.09, Riot Mobile MFA will be required for shared accounts in NA, LATAM, BR, and KR. Riot will also begin issuing bans to accounts they are confident have been purchased or detected for boosting. As for the next patch, 11.10, Riot Mobile MFA will be required for Ascendant+ accounts in NA, LATAM, BR, and KR.
In 2026, Riot Mobile MFA will be required for shared accounts and Ascendant+ in AP and EU.
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