Riot’s published Vanguard guidance does not say whether a VALORANT hardware ban follows a CPU when it is sold to someone else. It describes restrictions tied to a computer and system-security requirements, but it does not establish a CPU-specific transfer rule. So there is no documented yes-or-no answer: neither that the ban transfers nor that a buyer is guaranteed to be unaffected.
What Riot’s guidance does say
Riot Games Support’s Vanguard Restrictions page, displayed as published on December 24, 2025, describes restricting access on a computer when Vanguard determines that the computer appears to facilitate cheating. The page gives outdated Windows and particular system settings as examples and directs players to the specific VAN: RESTRICTION message for the settings needed to address that restriction.
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The troubleshooting guide refers to motherboard and CPU identification. That context concerns diagnosing system configuration; it does not say that an enforcement record is stored on a CPU or follows it to a new owner.
A system requirement is not a transfer rule
Riot’s Vanguard system requirements page, displayed as published on May 31, 2026, lists security features that may be required depending on a computer’s configuration, including TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Memory Integrity (HVCI/VBS), and IOMMU. These are system-security requirements. They do not explain whether a hardware enforcement action transfers with a resold component.
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| What the guidance covers | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| VAN: RESTRICTION troubleshooting | A restriction may concern a computer’s configuration, and the displayed error identifies applicable steps. | That a CPU carries the restriction to its next owner. |
| Vanguard security requirements | Security features that may be required depending on the computer’s configuration. | Whether a ban transfers when an individual CPU is sold. |
If you are buying a used CPU or seeing a restriction
If you are considering a second-hand CPU
Riot’s public guidance cited here does not answer whether a prior owner’s enforcement action can affect a buyer. Treat the transfer behavior as undocumented in these sources, rather than assuming either that the CPU is safe or that it is banned. Ask Riot Support for clarification if this uncertainty affects a purchase.
If VALORANT displays VAN: RESTRICTION
- Read the exact VAN: RESTRICTION message shown by Vanguard.
- Follow the configuration steps specified in that message for your computer.
- If the message does not resolve your question, contact Riot Support and provide the exact error and relevant details.
The cited guidance does not recommend swapping a CPU, changing identifiers, or resetting hardware as a way to alter enforcement. A component replacement or system change should not be treated as a proven fix for a restriction.
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