How Riot Games Battles Cheaters: Inside Their Advanced Anti-Cheat Tactics

Riot Games stands at the forefront of the battle against cheating in online gaming. As fair play grows ever more important, especially in popular titles like Valorant and League of Legends, Riot's commitment to defeating cheaters is both relentless and innovative. In this article, we explore the unique strategies and technologies that Riot employs to ensure its players enjoy a level playing field.

The Scale of the Cheating Challenge

Every online game faces those determined to gain an unfair advantage. For Riot, the rise of professional eSports and real-money competitions has raised the stakes. Cheating is no longer just a hobby—it's a lucrative business. To keep games fun and fair, Riot must stay one step ahead of increasingly sophisticated cheat developers.

Vanguard: Riot's High-Tech Shield Against Cheats

One of the most effective tools in Riot's arsenal is its kernel-level anti-cheat system, Vanguard. This system dives deeper into your computer than most gaming applications, allowing Riot to monitor and block even the most advanced hacks before they can run. By leveraging security tools like the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and Secure Boot, Vanguard ensures that only an uncompromised, secure environment can run Riot games. This strategy has paid off; as of 2025, fewer than 1% of ranked Valorant matches contain cheaters—a remarkable achievement in the competitive gaming world.

For more on Vanguard’s capabilities and the team's daily operations, check out TechCrunch’s detailed interview with Riot’s anti-cheat team.

Going Undercover: The Reconnaissance Arm

Technology isn’t Riot’s only line of defense. The company also employs a dedicated "reconnaissance arm"—a team that infiltrates online communities where cheats are bought and sold. These agents create fake accounts, sometimes maintaining their cover for years, to blend in with cheaters. By posing as one of them, they gather intelligence on new cheats and identify entire networks of bad actors.

Undercover tactics have allowed Riot to catch premium cheat services—those that cost thousands of dollars and are marketed as “undetectable.” Once these cheats gain popularity, Riot may opt to allow them to spread for a short time. Then, with enough evidence gathered, the team bans every account using them in one decisive action. This not only disrupts cheating operations but also damages the reputation of cheat sellers.

For an inside look at these covert operations, see TheGamer’s report on Riot’s sneaky anti-cheat methods.

Balancing Aggressiveness and Strategy

Riot’s anti-cheat team understands that if every cheat is detected and banned instantly, developers will simply create new, harder-to-detect hacks. That’s why Riot allows some low-level cheating to continue—but only briefly. This approach lets the company study cheats in action, while slowing down cheat developers’ progress.

Transparency with players is another core value. Riot knows that the privileges granted to its software—especially kernel-level access—require clear communication and responsible use. Riot has increased its openness about their strategies, publishing blog posts and engaging with journalists to explain how player security and privacy are protected.

Read more about Riot’s philosophy and continued fight for fair play at Tech Edition.

The Future of Riot’s Anti-Cheat Efforts

The landscape of online cheating constantly evolves, with AI and external hardware making detection even trickier. Nevertheless, Riot continues to adapt. By combining advanced technology, undercover intelligence, and a player-first approach, Riot Games maintains its role as a leader in gaming integrity.

Conclusion

Riot’s holistic approach—integrating powerful tech, undercover sleuthing, and transparent communication—makes its fight against cheaters a model for the industry. For gamers who value fair, competitive play, Riot’s ongoing innovation ensures a safer, more enjoyable environment.

Stay updated on the latest advancements by following credible sources and joining the conversation about gaming security. Together, we can help keep our favorite games fun and fair.