Valorant Patch 13.09: Hush + Season 26 Act VI
Updated November 6, 2026
Valorant Patch 13.09 released October 27, 2026 as the headline Hush-introducing patch — adding the new Duelist, kicking off Season 26 Act VI, and timing out alongside the Hush Official Gameplay Reveal and Agent Cosplay Guide: Hush posts on the same day. Riot’s framing: Hush is designed to create “high-impact openings,” reinforcing her Duelist identity through aggressive entry gameplay. This page covers what Riot has officially confirmed about Patch 13.09 — Hush’s arrival, Act VI start, and the surrounding content package. Patch-level agent balance numbers aren’t in Riot’s consolidated news feed snippet; for the full balance sheet, players should check the in-client Patch Notes. Verified on 6 November 2026.
Source: Riot Games — Valorant Patch Notes 13.09 (October 27, 2026).
Headline — Hush arrives with Patch 13.09
The central event of 13.09 is the Hush release. Key confirmed elements:
- Hush role. Duelist — Valorant’s entry-fragger class, designed around first-contact engagements.
- Season 26 Act VI start. Hush launches with the new Act, which refreshes competitive queues and battle pass.
- Design intent. Riot’s Hush Official Gameplay Reveal video frames her kit around creating “high-impact openings” — breaking site defenses on attack and swinging retakes on defense.
Hush is the second new Agent of 2026, slotting into the Duelist pool alongside existing picks like Jett, Raze, Phoenix, Neon, Iso, and Yoru.
What else landed with Patch 13.09
Four content pieces released around Patch 13.09 drop day (October 27, 2026):
- Hush Official Gameplay Reveal video. Riot’s in-engine preview of Hush’s four abilities and ultimate in match scenarios.
- Agent Cosplay Guide: Hush. Riot’s community-oriented Hush cosplay reference, suggesting the character’s design draws from recognizable visual archetypes.
- Season 26 Act VI battle pass. Standard Act rollover with new tiers, skins, and sprays.
- Act VI competitive reset. Rank-mmr adjustment for competitive queue players, common at Act boundaries.
Hush’s Duelist positioning
Three ways Hush fits the Duelist role:
- Entry potential. Her kit focuses on breaking initial site defenses rather than long-range harassment.
- Information denial. The “Hush” naming suggests abilities that suppress enemy intel (silence effects, sound dampening).
- Solo-queue viability. Duelists in Valorant typically fit solo-queue well since their kit delivers direct value without team coordination.
For full ability names, cooldowns, and specific numerical interactions, in-client Patch Notes have the authoritative data.
Comparing to prior Duelist releases
| Duelist | Release date | Launch patch |
|---|---|---|
| Iso | October 2023 | Patch 7.09 |
| Clove | March 2024 (Controller) | Patch 8.05 |
| Vyse (Sentinel) | September 2024 | Patch 9.05 |
| Tejo (Initiator) | January 2025 | Patch 10.01 |
| Hush | October 2026 | Patch 13.09 |
Hush is the first new Duelist specifically since Iso in October 2023, making her a significant addition for players who prefer entry-frag playstyles.
Season 26 Act VI start
Patch 13.09 launches Season 26 Act VI. Act boundaries in Valorant trigger:
- Competitive rank reset. All ranked players must complete 5 placements before receiving a new rank.
- Act Rank tracker reset. The Act Rank display (visible on the Career tab) resets to track just this Act.
- Battle pass reset. New tier structure, new rewards, new free-track items.
- Agent Contract adjustments. If Hush’s unlock track is Agent-Contract-based, that opens with Act VI.
Act VI runs for approximately two months (standard Valorant Act length) before Season 26 Act VII begins in January 2027.
What Patch 13.09 did NOT cover
Four things Patch 13.09 is not:
- Not a map addition — no new map launched with this patch.
- Not a mode addition — no new game mode or LTM launched here.
- Not a new Agent beyond Hush — only one Agent release this patch.
- Not a major system overhaul — core mechanics (buy menu, economy, ultimate points) unchanged.
The patch is a focused Hush-launch window, with surrounding balance and bug-fix work typical for an Act-boundary patch.
Where to find the full patch notes
Three places for the complete Patch 13.09 details:
- In-client Patch Notes. Open Valorant → main menu → News tab → Patch Notes 13.09.
- Riot’s news feed. playvalorant.com/en-us/news/ — Patch Notes 13.09 entry.
- Community sites. Third-party trackers like Liquipedia aggregate patch changes per-Agent.
FAQ
When did Patch 13.09 release?
October 27, 2026. The patch introduced Hush as a new Duelist and marked the start of Season 26 Act VI.
What role is Hush?
Duelist. Riot’s Gameplay Reveal video frames her kit around creating “high-impact openings” — breaking site defenses on attack and swinging retakes on defense.
Is Hush the only new Agent in Patch 13.09?
Yes. Patch 13.09 releases Hush as the only new Agent. Other content (gameplay reveal, cosplay guide, Act VI battle pass) is Hush-related.
What is the Act VI start date?
October 27, 2026 — same day as Patch 13.09 release. Act VI runs about two months before Season 26 Act VII begins.
Did Patch 13.09 add a new map?
No. Patch 13.09 focused on Hush introduction and Act VI start. No new map or mode launched with this patch.
Where can I see the full patch notes?
In-client (Valorant → News → Patch Notes 13.09), Riot’s news feed at playvalorant.com/en-us/news/, or community tracker sites. The in-client notes are the authoritative source.
Does Patch 13.09 reset competitive rank?
Yes — Act VI starts with 13.09, so all ranked players must complete 5 placements before receiving a new Act VI rank. Standard Valorant Act-rollover behavior.
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