VALORANT Targets Smurfing with MFA, Shared Account Restrictions, and Boosting Bans

Playing against smurfs has long been one of the most frustrating experiences in VALORANT. To address this issue, Riot is introducing new requirements for certain accounts to activate multi-factor authentication (MFA) through Riot Mobile.

Starting in patch 11.09, accounts identified as purchased or detected for boosting will also face bans.

Key Terms Defined

• Alternate Account: Any account played by someone who already owns another account.

• Shared Account: Any account where the owner deliberately shares login credentials with another person.

• Smurfing: The deliberate deception of the matchmaker to place a player in matches below their true skill level.

• Boosting: A form of smurfing where a higher-skilled player uses a lower-ranked account to raise the rank of that account and others in the party.

Why These Changes Are Happening

A significant portion of smurfing issues comes from shared accounts. By reducing account sharing, smurfing is expected to decrease.

Account sharing has always been against the Terms of Service, and stronger security measures should make it easier to detect bad behavior.

Enabling MFA also increases account safety, with 80–90% of stolen accounts typically having MFA disabled.

Who Must Activate Riot Mobile MFA

• Accounts detected as shared based on play signals suggesting multiple users.

• Accounts ranked Ascendant or higher (including Immortal and Radiant) starting with patch 11.10.

Who Is Not Affected

• Accounts used only by their original owners.

• Players who own multiple accounts, as long as they are not shared.

Why Ascendant and Above

High-ranked players can cause the greatest damage to competitive integrity through smurfing or account sharing. These ranks also carry higher risks of issues such as win trading.

Required Steps

If an account is flagged as shared, Riot Mobile must be installed and a one-time verification completed. This links the account to a mobile device and activates Riot Mobile MFA for added security and free rewards.

Upcoming Updates

• Patch 11.08: Reporting for "Rank Manipulation" becomes available, helping collect valuable data.

• Patch 11.09: Riot Mobile MFA required for shared accounts in NA, LATAM, BR, and KR. Bans issued to accounts detected as purchased or boosting.

• Patch 11.10: Riot Mobile MFA required for Ascendant+ accounts in NA, LATAM, BR, and KR.

• 2026: Riot Mobile MFA required for shared accounts and Ascendant+ in AP and EU.

Future updates will expand detection methods, using both reports and automated systems to address all forms of smurfing.

What Comes Next

The MFA requirement is currently a beta release, and adjustments may be made based on community feedback.

Players are encouraged to share concerns, such as false shared account detection or issues with verification.

After the beta phase, MFA will be rolled out globally with the potential for broader requirements to strengthen competitive integrity.