Can You Trade Skins in Valorant? All You Need to Know

Valorant is a competitive tactical shooter where cosmetics play a big role in player identity. From premium weapon skins to exclusive bundles, many players invest real money to personalize their loadouts. Because some Valorant skins are limited-time or tied to past bundles, it’s natural for players to wonder whether they can trade skins with friends or other players, especially if they missed out on a release. In games like CS2, skin trading is a core feature, so the question comes up even more often in Riot’s shooter. In this guide, we break down whether skin trading is possible in Valorant, what Riot Games officially allows, how gifting actually works, and the risks behind common trading myths you’ll see online.

Riot Games Official Stance on Skin Trading in Valorant

Riot Games has been very clear about its position on skin trading in Valorant it’s not something they plan to add. Developers have explained that trading systems make sense in games built around loot boxes and random drops, where the studio controls supply through drop rates. Valorant works differently. Its cosmetic economy is based on direct purchases, where players know exactly what they’re buying before they spend any money.

Instead of randomness or secondary markets, Riot wants skins to be treated as clear, upfront products. If a bundle or weapon skin appears in the store, the goal is for players to decide whether it’s worth the price as-is, not based on resale value or future demand. Allowing trading would open the door to speculation, third-party markets, and scams, which goes against how Valorant’s store is designed. Riot has also stated that player feedback matters more than aftermarket value—if players don’t like a skin, they want to hear that so future cosmetics can improve. Because of this design philosophy, official skin trading in Valorant is not planned and remains extremely unlikely.

How Gifting Works in Valorant

Gifting in Valorant is very limited and works differently from games that support full item transfers. Right now, Valorant does not let you send skins or items directly from your own collection to another player. You can’t trade, swap, or gift weapon skins you already own, and there’s no option to send VP (Valorant Points) to friends either.

The only gifting-style option available is buying content for someone else through specific promotions or external gift cards. In practice, this means you can purchase a Valorant gift card (VP) from supported retailers and give the code to a friend, who can then redeem it on their own account. Once redeemed, they use that VP to buy whatever appears in their store rotation. Riot avoids direct in-client gifting to reduce fraud, chargebacks, and account abuse, which are common issues in competitive shooters with premium cosmetics.

Because Valorant’s store uses rotating daily offers and direct purchases, Riot keeps full control over how skins enter the economy. Until that philosophy changes, gifting will remain limited to gift cards and special promos, not in-game item transfers or skin sharing.

Valorant Skins Trading Safe Options

Skin trading is not supported in Valorant, which means there is no official way to swap skins between players. Any form of player-to-player trading happens outside the game and always comes with risks. That said, not all options carry the same level of danger.

The highest risk methods are random deals on Discord, Telegram, or social media. These often involve fake middlemen, stolen accounts, or sellers who recover the account weeks later using original email access or purchase receipts. Many players lose both the account and their money this way, and Riot will not help recover accounts that were bought unofficially.

A safer alternative for players who want specific Valorant skins is buying pre-loaded accounts from 1v9. Unlike private sellers, 1v9 offers verified listings, seller ratings, buyer protection, and secure transaction handling. This significantly reduces the risk of scams, account recovery, or missing access details. While account trading is still not officially supported by Riot, using a trusted marketplace like 1v9 is far safer than dealing with unverified individuals.

It’s also important to avoid cheap VP sellers or “discount skin” offers. Riot actively reverses fraudulent purchases, which can result in removed skins or negative VP balances that lock your account from future purchases.

To stay safe:
• Buy skins directly from the Valorant store when possible
• Use official gift cards or VP from trusted sources
• If buying an account for specific skins, stick to reputable platforms like 1v9
• Avoid private deals, DMs, or prices that look too good to be true

Until Riot ever changes its stance on trading (which is very unlikely), buying accounts from a trusted marketplace like 1v9 remains one of the safest ways to get the Valorant skins you want without exposing yourself to unnecessary risk.

Will Riot Games Ever Add Skin Trading to Valorant?

Riot Games has made it clear that skin trading is not planned for Valorant, and based on how the game’s economy is designed, it’s very unlikely to change in the future. Valorant uses a direct-purchase model where players buy weapon skins straight from the in-game store using Valorant Points, with no loot boxes or player-driven marketplace involved. Riot has explained that skin trading usually only works in games built around random drops or crates, where supply and demand can balance naturally, and that system simply doesn’t fit Valorant. Allowing skin trading would open the door to scams, account theft, and third-party markets, while also undermining Riot’s controlled pricing and store rotations. Because Riot wants players to know exactly what they’re buying, when they’re buying it, and at a fixed price, adding skin trading would go against the core design of Valorant’s cosmetic system. For these reasons, and given Riot’s consistent stance over the years, Valorant skin trading is extremely unlikely to ever be added.

FAQs

Can you trade skins in Valorant with other players?

No, Valorant does not support skin trading in any form. Riot Games has confirmed that players cannot exchange, sell, or trade weapon skins or cosmetics between accounts.

Does Valorant have a gifting system for skins?

Currently, Valorant does not offer a direct gifting feature. You cannot send skins or Valorant Points to friends, and any skin purchases are locked to the account that bought them.

Is it safe to buy Valorant accounts with skins?

Buying accounts always carries some risk, but using established platforms like 1v9 is considered a safer option compared to random sellers on Discord or social media. Reputable marketplaces offer seller verification, buyer protection, and dispute support, which helps reduce scams.

Will Riot Games ever add skin trading to Valorant?

Riot Games has stated multiple times that skin trading is not planned for Valorant. Since the game uses a direct-purchase store model rather than loot boxes, adding trading would conflict with how Riot designs and monetizes cosmetic content.

Conclusion

Valorant does not support skin trading, and Riot Games has been very clear about keeping it that way. Skins are designed to be purchased directly from the in-game store, with no option to trade, sell, or transfer items between players. While gifting and account-based alternatives exist, they are limited and come with risks if used improperly. Understanding Riot’s rules helps you avoid scams, account issues, and wasted money. If you’re looking to build your Valorant skin collection, the safest approach is to stick to official systems and trusted platforms, knowing that true player-to-player skin trading is not part of Valorant and is unlikely to be added in the future.