How to obtain the Riot Gun Buddy in VALORANT

The Riot Gun Buddy is the rarest cosmetic in VALORANT and is near impossible to obtain for most players. You’ll have to be on your best behavior to obtain this bit of bling, so don’t act up.

The Riot “Fist Bump” gun buddy features the Riot Games logo with a shade of red underneath the icon. It’s one of VALORANT’s rarest items because you can’t obtain the gun buddy through the shop, a battle pass, or the Night Market.

This gun buddy is usually the talk of the server once your teammates notice this cosmetic hanging from your weapon. If you do see someone who has it dangling from their magazine, maybe it’s a good idea to be friendly to them. Just in case they might know a Riot dev.

How do I get the Riot Gun Buddy in VALORANT?

For players to obtain the gun buddy, they need to be given one by a Riot developer or member of the VALORANT team. That’s easier said than done, though. Players need to find an employee in a match and be a “good sport.”

In Aug. 2021, a member of the internal play programs at Riot said: “We often give them to players that are naturally being good sports and making the game fun for their teammates.” In July 2022, however, Riot clarified the Riot gun buddy could only be obtained via “positive engagement with a Riot employee, and only Riot employees.”

Additionally, Riot made it clear “asking a Rioter for the Gun Buddy [actually] lowers your chances” of getting one since each Riot employee only has a limited amount to give away. Riot also included a reminder that no Riot employee will ever offer to sell you one, so if anyone ever offers, you shouldn’t trust them.

Following Rioters on Twitter and direct messaging them doesn’t increase your chances, either. The only “surefire” way to get it is to demonstrate good sportsmanship while playing a match with a Riot employee. Since many Rioters don’t advertise themselves as Riot employees in VALORANT lobbies, you can up your chances with this simple trick: be positive and display good sportsmanship in every game you play. It’s not hard.

Even if a player or community member has been given a Riot gun buddy, this does not mean they can give them out to other VALORANT players either. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until you spot a Riot team member in the wild.

We’ll ask them for you when we talk to them next, don’t worry.