Riot Games Announces Champions 2026 Pick’Ems and Agent Gear Rework

Predictions for the Group Stage of Champions Shanghai will open on September 10. Players can submit their picks through the VALORANT client or the web version, selecting which teams advance from the groups and predicting their final placements. Points will be awarded for correct predictions, with additional bonuses for exact placement guesses. While Riot Games has not yet revealed the complete reward list, participants will receive rewards simply for taking part. All predictions must be submitted before the Group Stage begins on September 24.

Separately, patch 13.06 is scheduled for release on September 22. The primary feature of this update is a reworked Agent Gear system that directly ties item unlocks to the amount of time spent playing a specific agent. Players will retain all previously unlocked items, and Kingdom Credits will remain the currency for obtaining additional gear. However, possessing enough currency will no longer be sufficient; progression for each item will now depend on playing the corresponding agent. This means that to unlock gear for a particular character, players will need to play matches using that agent. Riot Games has not yet disclosed the exact requirements, progression speed, or the specific amount of playtime needed. Before the update arrives, players can finish unlocking items for agents they rarely use under the current system. Apart from the Agent Gear rework, the complete list of changes for patch 13.06 has not yet been announced.