TL;DR: Season 26 (Patch 12.00, Jan. 7) adds the Bandit, a 600-credit precision sidearm that slots between the Ghost and Sheriff—8+24 rounds, 1.5s reload, 0.75s equip, medium wall penetration, one-headshot kill vs light shields—designed to reward accuracy, enable lighter buys, and offer more forgiveness than the Sheriff while trading sustained fire for stopping power; Riot says it will keep assessing the arsenal through 2026. The update also launches All Random One Site, a fast 5v5 LTM with random, non-duplicable Agents (even unowned), full starting abilities, simplified preset loadouts, reduced ultimate costs (two Orbs or kills plus map/dropped Orbs for multiple ults), single active bomb sites per round across a rotating map pool (Abyss, Ascent, Breeze, Corrode, Pearl, Icebox, Sunset, Split), and a Breeze rework.
VALORANT Introduces Bandit Sidearm in Season 26
Riot Games will expand VALORANT’s weapon roster in Season 26 with the addition of the Bandit, marking the first new firearm introduced to the game in approximately two years. The Bandit is positioned as a precision-focused sidearm intended to fill the gap between the Ghost and the Sheriff during light buy rounds. Season 26 launches alongside
Patch 12.00 on Jan. 7.
Weapon Role, Pricing, and Core Capabilities
The Bandit costs 600 credits and does not support attachments. It features medium wall penetration, allowing damage through thin walls and wooden surfaces. The weapon can eliminate an opponent wearing light shields with a single headshot, giving players higher lethality without the full cost of a Sheriff. Riot describes the weapon as a budget-conscious option designed to reward accuracy rather than sustained fire.
Technical Specifications and Handling
The sidearm includes an eight-round magazine with a 24-round reserve. Its reload time is 1.5 seconds, and it has a 0.75-second equip time, enabling quick transitions from abilities to gunplay. These characteristics reinforce its role as a precision tool for calculated engagements rather than prolonged exchanges, particularly in early or low-economy rounds.
Positioning Between Ghost and Sheriff
Compared with the Ghost, the Bandit sacrifices magazine size and sustained fire for increased stopping power. Relative to the Sheriff, it offers a lower credit cost and greater forgiveness in follow-up fights. This pricing flexibility allows players to allocate more resources toward abilities while still maintaining competitive lethality. Riot Games stated it plans to continue evaluating the overall arsenal and core gameplay loop throughout 2026.
New Limited-Time Mode: All Random One Site
Season 26 also introduces All Random One Site, a limited-time 5v5 mode designed for faster and more chaotic matches. Players are assigned a random Agent each round, with no duplicates per team, including Agents not unlocked on an account. All standard abilities are fully charged at the start of each round and recharge during play.
Simplified Economy and Ultimate Changes
Ultimates in the mode require only two Orbs or kills to charge, with additional Orbs placed around the map and dropped by defeated players. This system allows for multiple Ultimate uses within a single round. Buy phases are simplified, removing traditional economy management in favor of preset loadouts, similar to Team Deathmatch but played across four-round stages.
Map Pool and Seasonal Additions
All Random One Site takes place on a single active bomb site per round, with other sites blocked by barriers. The map pool includes Abyss, Ascent, Breeze, Corrode, Pearl, Icebox, Sunset, and Split. The mode launches alongside the Bandit sidearm and a rework to Breeze as part of VALORANT Season 26 on Jan. 7.
