VALORANT’s Warden gets a more controlled opening burst in patch 13.09. Riot has smoothed pitch recoil for the first few bullets and reduced the error on the second and third shots, while describing the weapon’s current price as 2,900 credits.
Riot says the aim is to improve base versatility and handling at that price. The changes were announced on October 27, alongside Hush’s arrival.
What changed in the first three shots?
The patch lists two numerical changes:
| Follow-up shot | Previous error | New error |
|---|---|---|
| Second bullet | 0.25 | 0.20 |
| Third bullet | 0.60 | 0.50 |
That reduces the listed second-shot error by 20% and third-shot error by about 16.7%. Those percentages describe the error values, not a guaranteed increase in hit rate: aim, recoil control and the circumstances of a shot still determine whether it connects.
Riot also says the early pitch recoil has been smoothed. That concerns the opening bullets, not a claim that the entire sustained-fire pattern is unchanged or that every shot becomes perfectly accurate.
The buy decision stays at 2,900 credits
The notes do not announce a price reduction. A player budgeting 2,900 credits for Warden should therefore compare the handling change at the same purchase cost, rather than expect the patch to free up credits for utility or armour.
Likewise, this entry does not list a damage or fire-rate increase. The practical reason to revisit the weapon is its opening-shot control. Short bursts in the Range can help you judge the changed feel before committing to it in a match.