Riot rolls out Mobile Verification to combat smurfing in VALORANT

Riot Games has announced the Riot Mobile Verification Beta for VALORANT, introducing mandatory mobile verification for certain accounts as a direct measure to counter smurfing and account sharing issues. The initiative is being rolled out across major regions starting in patch 11.09, with broader requirements set for 2026.

Why Riot Is Introducing Mobile Verification

Playing against smurfs remains one of the most disruptive issues in VALORANT. According to Riot, a significant share of smurfing stems from shared accounts, which violates their Terms of Service. By requiring affected accounts to enable Multi-Factor Authentication through the Riot Mobile app, Riot aims to curb account sharing and, by extension, reduce smurfing in competitive matches.

How Riot Mobile MFA Will Work

With the Riot Mobile Verification Beta, flagged accounts must enable MFA through Riot Mobile. This process links a user’s mobile device to their Riot account for added security and transparency. For those required to verify, the app is now a critical step for account access, particularly if the account is suspected of being shared or reaches high rank thresholds.

Also, Riot have acknowledged that false positives or technical difficulties may arise during the beta. Players are encouraged to provide feedback if incorrectly flagged as sharing, or if they encounter problems with the verification process. Based on this feedback, Riot may adjust the system for broader, global rollout.

Who Must Activate MFA?

• Shared Accounts: Accounts detected as being shared will be required to activate Riot Mobile MFA.
• Ascendant and Above: Starting patch 11.10, players ranked Ascendant, Immortal, or Radiant in NA, LATAM, BR, and KR must enable MFA.
• 2026 Expansion: Shared accounts and high-ranked players in AP and EU regions will be included in 2026.
• Not Affected: Players who do not share their account and remain below Ascendant rank will see no change.

Timeline for Implementation

• Patch 11.08: In-game reporting for ‘Rank Manipulation’ introduced.
• Patch 11.09: Riot Mobile MFA required for shared accounts in NA, LATAM, BR, and KR; bans for purchased and boosting accounts begin.
• Patch 11.10: MFA required for Ascendant+ ranks in the same regions.
• 2026: Expansion to shared/Ascendant+ accounts in AP and EU regions.

Broader Impact on Competitive Integrity

By shrinking the pool of abusable accounts and consolidating suspicious activity, Riot expects smurfing rates to decline, making it easier to catch violations and protect the competitive ecosystem. Early data shows that the majority of stolen or abused accounts operate without MFA, so mandating mobile verification is also a strong secondary layer for account security.

Players who play fairly and keep to their own accounts will see little impact, while those leveraging unfair advantages will face more rigorous checks and potential bans. As the system rolls out, community feedback will help refine and potentially expand these anti-smurfing initiatives globally.

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Featured Image Source: Riot Games