As a seasoned Valorant analyst with years tracking competitive trends, I've seen smurfing plague matchmaking. Following player complaints, Riot Games has acted decisively with a smurf ban surge and revised Terms of Service.
Smurfing—where skilled players create alt accounts to dominate lower ranks—frustrates beginners and disrupts fair play. Riot's recent ban wave targets this in competitive queues, drawing from their official blog: "We may terminate or suspend your account without notice if we reasonably determine that you have violated any part of these Terms (including the Rules of Use)."
Key rules now explicitly prohibit: "You may not share your account or login credentials with anyone. You must keep your login credentials secret." and "Playing on another person's account or otherwise engaging in any activity intended to 'upgrade' an account's status or ranking."
While matchmaking flaws in high tiers contribute, deliberate smurfing persists despite MMR safeguards. Riot's enforcement signals a commitment to integrity, though savvy players may adapt.
