Smurfing has been a persistent issue for competitive shooters, undermining the enjoyment of fair play and frustrating honest players. Fans of VALORANT have been asking for greater anti-smurf measures for years. Riot Games is finally taking a stronger stand with Patch 11.08. This update kicks off a series of patches aimed at getting rid of rank manipulation, boosting accounts, and sharing accounts. Many people in the community think this step is long overdue.
What’s New in Patch 11.08: Reporting for “Rank Manipulation”
The addition of a separate “Rank Manipulation” category to the in-game report system is one of the most exciting things about Patch 11.08. Before, players who were thought to be smurfing or boosting had to be reported under generic categories like “Cheating” or “Sabotaging” and leave a note with no specific information. Riot hopes that by offering the community a clear way to report issues, they will have better reports and data to work with.
To send a report under this new category:
- Open the match settings (press ESC on PC)
- Find the player you suspect
- Select Report, then check Rank Manipulation
- Optionally add a description or context
- Submit
This reporting change is intended as the first line of defense in Riot’s broader strategy against smurfing.
What Lies Beyond 11.08: MFA, Account Sharing, & Bans
Patch 11.08 is just the beginning of Riot’s plan. The roadmap includes additional measures in subsequent updates:
- Patch 11.09 will roll out the Riot Mobile Verification (MFA) Beta, forcing certain accounts flagged for sharing to enable Multi-Factor Authentication via the Riot Mobile app.
- Accounts that are purchased, shared, or boosted and confirmed by Riot will begin receiving bans.
- Patch 11.10 expands the MFA requirement specifically for Ascendant+ accounts.
- Finally, by 2026, these rules are expected to be enforced globally, including in the APAC and EU regions.
Riot says that a lot of smurfing originates from accounts that are shared or exchanged, which is against their Terms of Service. They want to limit the number of accounts that can be easily exploited by limiting account sharing and linking accounts to specific devices.
Why These Moves Matter (and What Could Go Wrong)
Pros
- Better detection & enforcement: With more structured reports and MFA, Riot can more reliably detect rank manipulation and boost behavior.
- Cleaner matchmaking: Fewer smurfs means more balanced competitive matches.
- Stronger account security: MFA helps protect users from account theft or misuse.
Risks & Concerns
- False positives: Some legitimate players might be flagged for “sharing” inadvertently, leading to friction.
- Adoption & rollout issues: The MFA system is in beta, and region-by-region rollout could cause confusion or delays.
- Incomplete coverage: Smurfing via alternate accounts (rather than shared ones) might still persist.
People in the community are cautiously hopeful. Many players have been asking for tougher action for a long time, and the new reporting system is seen as a good first step. Yet, there are still doubts about how efficiently Riot will enforce punishments and how quickly the restrictions will spread over the globe.
Patch 11.08 is a strong initial step in Riot’s larger effort to stop smurfing. Riot is showing that VALORANT is entering a new era of accountability by offering players a direct option to report Rank Manipulation and by making it easier for MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and account verification to be added in future patches. The foundation is now established, but whether this will be enough to stop smurfing for good depends on how well it is carried out, how well it is enforced, and how well the community works together.
