A nostalgic breeze has been blowing through the VALORANT store for a while now, and the first week of September has been one of the periods where this breeze was felt most strongly. As of September 2, 2026, Riot Games added the Run It Back V26 bundle to the game. The bundle brings together three weapon skins recognizable from the game's early years: Elderflame Operator, RGX 11Z Pro Vandal, and Singularity Sheriff. These three skins will remain in the store until September 22. So whether you miss those days or never started playing the game during that period, players have a limited opportunity window of about three weeks.
Which Skins Are in the Run It Back V26 Bundle?
The Run It Back V26 selection consists of the most well-known premium skins in VALORANT history. The Elderflame Operator originally released on July 10, 2020, as part of the first high-end collection called Ultra Edition. With its dragon-themed design, custom animations, and sound effects, this Operator skin offers much more than an ordinary recolor. The RGX 11Z Pro Vandal, meanwhile, arrived on October 6, 2021, alongside the original RGX 11Z Pro collection. Thanks to its futuristic lines and crisp details, the skin became one of the most frequently preferred options among Vandal players.
The Singularity Sheriff, the third item in the bundle, will feel familiar to fans of the original Singularity collection from October 2020. Its default black-and-purple appearance fits VALORANT's sci-fi atmosphere. The most talked-about aspect of the skin is its finisher animation. The Singularity Sheriff's finisher is frequently mentioned by players because it creates one of the most enjoyable moments in the game. These three pieces gather design sensibilities from different eras in a single bundle.
Why Do Classics Still Get This Much Attention?
These skins have one thing in common: they are not ordinary appearances that simply change the color of the weapon. The Elderflame Operator's dragon theme is supported by animations that almost turn the weapon into a living creature. The RGX series, with its clean and futuristic lines, appeals to players who want to capture a crisp image on screen. The Singularity Sheriff's black-and-purple palette also offers an alternative for those looking for something both stylish and distinctive. Each of these skins stands out not only in visuals but also in audio and animation details.
Beyond that, the nostalgia factor also comes into play. Seeing a skin from VALORANT's early days in the store creates a different kind of excitement for long-time players. For new players, this means a chance to grab iconic designs they couldn't access before. The fact that a skin is still talked about so much years later reflects the quality of the work Riot's design team put in during the early period. Riot is also known to make fine adjustments to the effects of such skins from time to time; the Elderflame Operator was one of the skins that received its share of these changes in early patches.
How Much Does Run It Back V26 Cost and How to Buy It?
The Run It Back V26 bundle is priced at 5,460 VP. That amount corresponds to roughly a $55 expense based on current VP packages. While the bundle is in the store, it is not possible to buy only one of the three skins; the options are either getting the entire bundle or waiting. The pricing announced by Riot Games reflects a 20% discount compared to the normal total value of the three skins.
This price point can be seen as a notable bundle, especially for players who want to complete their collection. However, for those interested in only one skin, 5,460 VP may remain high. Since weapon skins do not provide an in-game advantage, the return on this spending is measured entirely by visual experience and personal taste. Even so, the announcement of the bundle stands out as an important entry on the store calendar for players who follow the series.
How Long Will It Stay in the Store?
The bundle went on display on September 2, and its sales period will end on September 22. That means there is about three weeks to make a decision. Although that period may seem long for indecisive players to think about, it is actually a limited window on the store calendar. Those who especially postpone by saying 'I'll get the skin sometime' will not be able to access this bundle in the store after the set date. Riot clearly announces the sales end date for such limited bundles, ensuring players use their time wisely.
The Run It Back Tradition: Which Skins Came Before?
The Run It Back name is not being used in the VALORANT store for the first time. Riot has also re-released beloved weapon skins from old collections through past bundles. The first Run It Back bundle included Sovereign Ghost, Prime Spectre, Oni Phantom, Spline Operator, and Nebula Ares. Later versions brought names such as Ion Phantom, Magepunk Operator, Reaver Phantom, Cryostasis Operator, Oni Vandal, and Magepunk Phantom to players. In this way, players who started the game in different periods got a chance to catch the skins they had missed.
Starting with the V25 version, the series changed its format to include three Exclusive-tier skins. Kuronami Spectre, Nocturnum Bulldog, and EX.O Vandal were among the examples of this format. The V26 bundle continues this arrangement with its three-skin structure. However, the pieces selected in V26 consist mostly of names that play on the game's classic memory. This makes the bundle feel not just like a shopping opportunity but also like a summary of an era.
Can These Skins Return Later?
The removal of Run It Back V26 from the store does not mean Elderflame Operator, RGX 11Z Pro Vandal, and Singularity Sheriff will never return. Based on what has been seen so far, after limited bundles leave the store, individual skins can appear again in other rotations. Random systems, especially the daily store, can occasionally bring popular skins back into the spotlight. Therefore, hope is not entirely lost for those who miss out on the skins.
However, that possibility does not reduce the value of the current guaranteed sales window. Waiting for random rotations requires both patience and luck; buying the entire bundle now, on the other hand, lets you account for all three skins with certainty. For those who actually plan to use the skins, the risk of waiting can be summed up as the chance of missing the opportunity. Therefore, Run It Back V26 becomes an even more attractive option for players who want to complete their collection decisively.
Patch Period and Current Store Calendar
The bundle's release date also coincides with VALORANT's current content calendar. The game is currently in Act 5 of Episode 26. Riot's 13.05 patch was released on September 1, and the announcement of Run It Back V26 came right after this patch. Opening a limited-time bundle after a new patch is a rhythm Riot frequently uses. When players return to the store after reviewing the patch notes, they encounter a new surprise.
In this way, both the interest of current players is kept alive and a sense of renewal is created for players who have taken a break from the game. These moves on the store side become more meaningful when considered alongside the game's main content updates. Users want to experience a sense of novelty not only in game mechanics but also in visual elements. Therefore, bringing back old but beloved skins stands out as an effective method both in terms of community satisfaction and sales strategy.
Who Is This Bundle For?
In the broadest sense, Run It Back V26 appeals to anyone who values VALORANT cosmetics. Especially for players who use a sniper rifle, the Elderflame Operator is almost a status symbol among skins. For players whose main weapon is the Vandal, the RGX 11Z Pro Vandal is a strong visual and audio alternative. Those who frequently use a semi-automatic pistol like the Sheriff can also catch a different look experience with the Singularity Sheriff. Including different weapon types in the bundle speaks to a wide audience of players.
That said, collectors who simply want to accumulate rare skins are also within the bundle's target audience. Players who could not get these skins in the past or started the game later can fill in the gaps during this three-week period. After all, everyone's budget and priorities are different; however, these three names form a selection of the most talked-about past products in the VALORANT showcase. Moreover, the fact that all three skins are still used regularly shows that the bundle is meaningful not just for the collection shelf but also for active players.
Conclusion: A Three-Week Classic Opportunity
To sum up, Run It Back V26 is a nostalgia bundle that fully lives up to its name. Three legendary skins such as Elderflame Operator, RGX 11Z Pro Vandal, and Singularity Sheriff are offered to players for 5,460 VP with a 20% discount. The bundle will remain in the store until September 22, and afterward the possibility of these pieces appearing individually in rotations will remain uncertain. For those who want to collect classics, this could be a window not to be missed. If your budget allows and you have been following these skins for a long time, now is the perfect time to take a look at the store.
