How Vanguard Anti-Cheat Works

Vanguard is infamous for catching even private cheats. Yes, even those labeled “undetected.”

If you’ve ever received an unexpected ban or are looking into how to cheat in Valorant safely, you might not realize how serious Vanguard is. 

This article explains how Vanguard anti-cheat works and why it’s known as one of the toughest in gaming today. It also discusses what makes it difficult to bypass. Understanding how Vanguard operates, like its kernel-level access, TPM fingerprinting, and real-time monitoring, can definitely help you make smarter and safer choices.

What Is Riot Vanguard?

Vanguard is Riot Games’ own anti-cheat software made specifically for Valorant.

• Installed automatically with Valorant
• Runs on system startup, not just when you launch the game
• Stays active in the background even when Valorant is closed
• Responsible for thousands of ban reports across private and public cheat providers

This design is what makes Vanguard controversial and very effective. It’s not a casual anti-cheat you can easily spoof or ignore.

How Vanguard Anti-Cheat Works: The Technical Side

To really get how Vanguard’s anti-cheat system works, it’s helpful to check out the tech it uses. Here’s a breakdown of the key systems:

1. Kernel-Level Access (Ring 0)

Vanguard operates at Ring 0, the deepest level of system access possible.

• It loads with Windows at boot
• Has access to kernel-mode memory, drivers, and hardware behavior
• Can see everything you do, even if your cheat runs outside the game

This is what allows it to detect advanced injections and spoofers that most anti-cheats miss. Of course, it’s also why some users complain about privacy concerns, it’s essentially a watchdog sitting at the core of your OS.

Anyone bypassing Valorant detection must use loaders that can inject at Ring 0 without triggering Vanguard’s kernel-level behavioral scans. 

2. Real-Time Monitoring

Unlike older anti-cheats that activate only when a game launches, Vanguard is always running.

• Monitors behavior before, during, and after gameplay
• Detects cheat processes before they even interact with the game
• Captures metadata from apps and drivers related to hardware IDs and suspicious behavior

This real-time surveillance gives it a huge edge. If you’re using cheat loaders, injectors, or a HWID spoofer, Vanguard can flag those the moment they start, even before Valorant opens.

For full protection, make sure you use an HWID spoofer that resets system identifiers, registry traces, and boot-level fingerprints correctly. 

3. TPM Fingerprinting (Trusted Platform Module)

One of Vanguard’s most powerful tools is its use of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, especially with Windows 11’s TPM 2.0 standard.

• TPM provides a unique fingerprint tied to your motherboard and secure boot state
• It’s nearly impossible to spoof reliably, as most TPMs are soldered directly to the board
• Replacing your motherboard is often the only way to fully reset this fingerprint
• Spoofers attempting TPM bypasses often lead to delayed bans, even if cheats are temporarily “undetected”

4. Behavioral and AI-Based Detection

Vanguard doesn’t just rely on tech, it uses AI to flag behavior over time.

• Tracks reaction times, aim patterns, and mouse movements
• Looks for behavior that doesn’t match human limitations
• Flags accounts for manual review or delayed ban waves
• Includes post-match replay analysis with AI-assisted tools

That’s why you need to understand the difference between undetectable vs undetected cheats to avoid post-ban confusion and risk. 

Why Vanguard Is So Effective (and Controversial)

Vanguard’s effectiveness lies in its deep system integration and always-on architecture.

• Detects things before they become threats
• Catches private and even paid cheats with surprising accuracy
• Makes HWID spoofers a requirement for cheaters, not a suggestion
• Bans often come in waves, based on AI-flagged data

But this level of control also comes with controversy. Critics argue that Vanguard behaves like malware: starting on boot, accessing the kernel, and monitoring behavior 24/7. Riot insists this is necessary for a fair competitive environment. Either way, it works.

If you still plan on cheating, learn how to cheat safely in games with a solid understanding of detection risks and mitigation strategies.

What Vanguard Can and Can’t Detect

Let’s break it down:

Vanguard can detect:

• DLL injection and internal cheats
• Overlay-based ESP or radar
• Spoofers that fail to mask all hardware points
• TPM or BIOS modifications
• Signatured or outdated loaders

Vanguard can’t directly detect:

• External devices like hardware aimbots or pixel-scanners
• Properly isolated cheat VMs (though these are rare and advanced)
• Tools that mimic normal user behavior, but AI may still flag suspicious actions

There are rare cases where cheats bypass Vanguard using silent external drivers and delay-based memory injection, but these are not public.

What This Means for Cheat Users

Here’s the reality: cheating in Valorant is higher risk than almost any other game.

1. Even if a cheat is currently “undetected,” that status can change at any moment.
2. TPM fingerprinting means that HWID spoofers must be strong and complete, including BIOS/SMBIOS-level masking.
3. You’ll need tools that bypass Ring 0 monitoring, which are rare and often private.
4. Behavior still matters, you could be flagged just by playing too perfectly.

Smart cheating is not only about finding any working cheat. It’s about the combination of updated tools, extreme caution, and deep awareness of the risks. If you miss even one piece of that formula, you’re likely to be caught eventually. 

If you’re set on taking that risk, check out this overview of Valorant cheats that focus on stealth, stability, and system-safe execution strategies.

Conclusion

Understanding how Vanguard anti-cheat works is essential for anyone considering cheats in Valorant. It’s aggressive, invasive, and constantly evolving. But it’s also beatable, if you know what you’re doing.

Educated players can reduce risk by using smarter tools and staying aware of Vanguard’s fingerprinting and behavioral systems.

If you’re looking for updated, stealth-focused tools, check out the StealthCore Cheat Collection and stay ahead of detection.