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Vanguard is a kernel-level anti-cheat that loads before you even reach your desktop — and it doesn't care whether a modification is cosmetic or competitive. So what actually happens if you run a skin changer on Valorant? We break down how Vanguard detects skin changers, what types of bans Riot enforces, and what your options are if you've already been caught.
Unlike instant bans that tip off cheat developers immediately, ban waves are delayed, coordinated purges where Riot bans thousands—or hundreds of thousands—of accounts simultaneously after silently detecting them over days or weeks.
Wondering when your VAN 152 error will finally disappear? While standard Valorant HWID bans for cheating technically expires in a set amount of time, Riot tracks every account you create during that waiting period—and attempting to play during your sentence can extend your ban to a year or permanently.