Beta Key Buddy Valorant Explained: The Rarest Accessory You Can’t Buy

You’ve probably seen it hanging off the side of a Vandal or a Phantom in a high-elo lobby and wondered what the heck it was. It's sleek, black, and has that distinctive "B" emblem. We're talking about the beta key buddy valorant—though most OGs just call it the Closed Beta Coin.

It’s one of those items that immediately tells everyone in the server that you aren’t just a regular player. You were there when the game was basically just a collection of gray boxes and broken Raze grenades. Honestly, it’s the ultimate "I was here first" flex.

What is the Beta Key Buddy Valorant Anyway?

Basically, the beta key buddy valorant is a reward for the players who helped Riot Games test the game back in the spring of 2020. Back then, Valorant wasn't the global phenomenon it is today. It was a closed project, and getting in required a massive amount of luck with Twitch drops.

If you were one of the lucky ones to secure a "key" (which was actually just an account flag), you got access to a special, limited-time Closed Beta Rewards track. This wasn't a paid battle pass. It was a free XP-based progression system designed to give players a reason to grind during the testing phase.

The track had five tiers:

1. "First" Title – A simple text tag.
2. Valorant Beta Player Card – Features the "B" emblem in black.
3. "V1.0" Title – Another flex for the profile.
4. Beta Pioneer Player Card – A more vibrant red version of the first card.
5. Closed Beta Coin Buddy – The final reward.

That fifth tier is what everyone refers to when they search for the beta key buddy valorant. It is a circular coin, black and gold, stamped with the "V" logo and a "B" for beta.

Can You Still Get It in 2026?

Short answer: No.

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Longer answer: Absolutely not.

Riot was very clear from the jump that these rewards were exclusive to the closed beta period. Once the game officially launched on June 2, 2020, that rewards track vanished forever. Unlike skins that rotate through the Daily Store or the Night Market, the beta key buddy valorant has never returned.

It’s what we call "discontinued content." Because it was tied to a specific account milestone that can no longer be achieved, the number of these buddies in circulation is fixed. In fact, the number is technically shrinking as old accounts go inactive or get banned.

Why is it so rare?

Think about the math. In 2020, Riot capped the number of people who could play the beta to ensure their servers didn't explode. Even among those who got in, you had to actually play enough to hit Tier 5.

Many people hopped in for two games, realized it wasn't for them, and left. Only the dedicated players finished the track. Today, with tens of millions of active players, the percentage of people rocking the beta key buddy valorant is likely well below 1%.

Misconceptions About the Beta Buddy

There is a lot of bad info out there. Some people confuse this with the "First Strike" rewards or the "Riot Fist Bump" buddy.

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Let's clear the air.

• The Riot Buddy: This is given out manually by Riot employees. You get it by being a "good sport" when you happen to be in a match with a developer. It has nothing to do with the beta.
• The Premier Buddy: These are for winning specific divisions in the Premier mode. They look cool, but they aren't the beta coin.
• Valorant Mobile Beta: Some people have seen mentions of a "Beta Key Buddy" for the mobile version of the game. While Riot often re-uses naming conventions, the original PC beta key buddy valorant remains a separate, legacy item.

I’ve seen people on Reddit claiming they "found a code" for the beta buddy. Those are scams. Every single one of them. There are no codes for this item. It was an XP unlock tied to a 2020 account state. If someone tries to sell you a "code" for it, they're trying to steal your Discord or your skins.

Why People Still Obsess Over It

In a game where you can buy a $100 skin bundle every two weeks, "wealth" doesn't mean much. Anyone with a credit card can have a Kuronami Vandal.

But you can’t buy history.

When a player has the beta key buddy valorant equipped, it signals a few things to the rest of the lobby:

1. Experience: This person has been playing tactical shooters for at least six years.
2. Dedication: They liked the game when it was ugly and unpolished.
3. Rarity: They have something that 99% of the player base can never obtain.

It’s the gaming equivalent of a vintage Rolex. It’s not necessarily the "flashiest" thing in the world—some of the newer animated buddies look objectively "better"—but the status attached to it is unmatched.

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How to Spot an Authentic Beta Key Buddy

If you’re looking at one in-game, notice the details. The buddy is a thick, matte black coin. The "V" and the "B" are etched in a gold/bronze color. It doesn't glow. It doesn't make noise. It doesn't change colors when you shoot.

Its beauty is in its simplicity.

If you see something similar that's bright red or looks like a triangle, that's likely a Ranked reward from a previous Episode. Each Episode gives out buddies based on the highest rank you achieved (Gold, Platinum, Diamond, etc.). While those are cool, they don't carry the same weight as the beta key buddy valorant.

Actionable Insights for Collectors

If you missed out on the original beta, don't sweat it. While you can't go back to 2020, Valorant is constantly releasing new "limited" items that will eventually be as rare as the beta buddy.

• Watch for Event Passes: Riot occasionally drops free event passes for things like the VCT Champions or the Arcane series. The items in these passes usually never return.
• Play the New Betas: Whenever Riot launches a new feature (like the console version or the upcoming mobile version), there is almost always a "participation" reward. Grind those out. In five years, the "Console Launch Buddy" will be the new beta flex.
• Keep Your Account Clean: The biggest threat to a rare item isn't a glitch; it's a ban. If you have rare items like the beta key buddy valorant, use two-factor authentication.

The era of the original beta is long gone, but the legacy of the "B" coin lives on in the hands of the OGs. If you see one, give 'em a crouch-spam of respect. They've seen the game grow from a twitch-drop dream into the giant it is today.