Explanation for the Disablement of Arcane Gauntlets Skin in VALORANT

Hint: It’s related to a notably oversized trophy.

If you’re trying to use your Arcane Gauntlets during a match in VALORANT but can’t seem to equip them or are ending up with the standard knife instead, you’ve come to the right place for clarification.

The Arcane Gauntlets are part of the special edition Arcane Collection’s second wave, which debuted in VALORANT’s Episode Nine. This bundle also included a Vandal skin and various accessories that are not available for individual purchase. Therefore, the frustration and confusion among players unable to showcase their unique gauntlets is understandable.

However, this issue is temporary. Here’s what you need to know regarding the Arcane Gauntlets glitch in VALORANT.

Reasons for the Absence of Your Arcane Gauntlets in VALORANT

On September 10, Riot Games issued a platform status update for VALORANT indicating that the following features were deactivated:

Arcane Gauntlets
Arcane Gauntlets, Level two

Players can check this notification by clicking the yellow exclamation mark icon next to the Mission tab in the upper bar of the client. While Riot hasn’t publicized this news on their social media outlets or explained the reasoning behind the Arcane Gauntlets’ removal, the cause is linked to a glitch affecting the Trophy Flex from the VALORANT Champions 2025 collection.

Before their removal, the issue arose when players equipped with the Arcane Gauntlets inspected the Trophy Flex simultaneously, causing the trophy to grotesquely enlarge. Although the spectacle of players running with an oversized trophy was humorous, it obstructed sight lines for those impacted and persisted throughout matches, making it impossible to «unequip» the problem. This was not a mere oversight, likely bordering on game-breaking, prompting Riot’s quick action to disable the feature for further fixes.

Consequently, if you possess the Arcane Gauntlets, you might find them absent from your inventory currently. If you had them equipped prior to Riot’s intervention, the game probably reverted to the default black knife. You may switch to another melee skin until the Arcane Gauntlets are restored.

Riot has not provided a timeline for when the melee skin is set to return, but it is expected to be back soon. Conversely, the Champions Trophy Flex remains available in VALORANT, so you can showcase it at its intended size without issue.