VALORANT Champions Shanghai Watch & Earn Rewards
VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 is bringing the best teams from across the VALORANT esports scene together for the final major championship of the 2026 VCT season. But the tournament is not only about watching professional players compete for the world title.
Fans watching the event can also earn several exclusive in-game rewards through Riot Games‘ Watch & Earn system, while additional rewards are available through Shotcall and Pick’Ems.
The Champions Shanghai tournament runs from September 24 through October 18, 2026. During that period, viewers have multiple opportunities to collect cosmetic rewards, including titles, a spray, a gun buddy and a player card.
The important thing is that these reward systems do not all work in the same way.
Some rewards require simply watching the official tournament broadcast for a specified amount of time. Others require interacting with Shotcall on Twitch, while Pick’Ems rewards are tied to tournament predictions.
Here is everything VALORANT players need to know about the Champions Shanghai Watch & Earn rewards, including the requirements for each item and the difference between Drops, Shotcall and Pick’Ems.
VALORANT Champions Shanghai Watch & Earn Release Dates
Champions Shanghai begins on September 24, 2026, and concludes with the Grand Final on October 18.
The tournament is divided into the Groups Stage and Playoffs.
The Groups Stage runs from September 24 through October 4. Playoffs begin October 7, with the final championship match scheduled for October 18.
This schedule matters for the rewards because Riot has attached different requirements to different stages of the competition.
The Prepared Title is available through watching Groups and Playoffs, while the Stamp of Approval Spray requires watching the Grand Final.
That means players who want the complete set should not assume that watching only the opening matches will be enough.
All Champions Shanghai Watch & Earn Rewards
There are three main reward categories associated with watching and interacting with Champions Shanghai:
| Reward System | Reward | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Watch & Earn | Prepared Title | Watch at least 30 minutes during Groups and Playoffs |
| Watch & Earn | Stamp of Approval Spray | Watch at least 30 minutes during the Grand Final |
| Shotcall | The Catch Title | Earn 50 Shotcall points |
| Shotcall | Crab Buddy Gun Buddy | Earn 300 Shotcall points |
| Shotcall | Trophy Player Card | Finish in the top 3% of any Shotcall map |
| Pick’Ems | Calculated Title | Participate |
| Pick’Ems | Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy | Finish in the top 50% |
| Pick’Ems | Pick’Ems Master: Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy | Finish in the top 20% |
| Pick’Ems | 100% Title | Make perfect picks |
These systems are separate, so players should pay attention to which activity is connected to each reward. Riot’s official announcement confirms the Watch & Earn and Shotcall requirements, while Pick’Ems has its own prediction-based reward structure.
How to Get the Prepared Title
The Prepared Title is one of the easiest Champions Shanghai rewards to understand.
Players need to watch at least 30 minutes during the Groups and Playoffs.
This is a watch-time requirement rather than a prediction challenge.
The key point is that Riot specifically says the 30-minute requirement applies during Groups and Playoffs. Players therefore have an opportunity to earn the reward by tuning into the tournament during those stages.
If you are planning to collect the title, it is sensible to watch through an official broadcast and make sure your account is properly connected before expecting the reward to appear.
The Prepared Title is designed as a simple participation reward for viewers who follow the tournament.
How to Get the Stamp of Approval Spray
The Stamp of Approval Spray works differently from the Prepared Title.
To earn it, players must watch at least 30 minutes during the Grand Final.
The Grand Final takes place on October 18, 2026.
This is an important distinction because watching 30 minutes during the earlier Groups Stage does not satisfy the requirement for the Grand Final spray.
Players interested in collecting the complete Watch & Earn set should therefore keep October 18 available for the final match.
The requirement is relatively straightforward: watch the official Grand Final broadcast for at least the required 30 minutes.
What Is Shotcall in VALORANT Champions Shanghai?
Shotcall is a separate interactive feature connected to the Champions Shanghai broadcast.
Instead of simply watching the match, viewers can make predictions about what will happen during the tournament.
Riot describes Shotcall as a way to predict maps, rounds and key moments while the match is being played.
Correct predictions provide points, and those points contribute toward Shotcall rewards and leaderboard placement.
There is one particularly important requirement: Shotcall is available through the official VCT Twitch broadcast on desktop.
That means players should not assume that watching the tournament through every possible platform will provide access to the Shotcall interaction.
For players specifically trying to earn Shotcall rewards, using the desktop Twitch experience is the safest way to follow Riot’s stated requirement.
How to Get The Catch Title
The first Shotcall reward is the The Catch Title.
Players need to earn 50 Shotcall points over the course of Champions Shanghai.
Points come from participating in Shotcall predictions during the tournament.
This makes The Catch different from the Prepared Title.
The Prepared Title is based on watch time, while The Catch requires active participation in the interactive prediction system.
Players who enjoy making predictions while watching esports can therefore work toward this reward without needing to spend money on anything.
The main requirement is reaching the 50-point threshold before the Champions Shanghai event concludes.
How to Get the Crab Buddy Gun Buddy
The Crab Buddy Gun Buddy requires more Shotcall participation.
Players must earn 300 Shotcall points over the course of Champions Shanghai.
Like The Catch Title, the reward is tied to Shotcall rather than simply watching the broadcast.
The official requirement specifies that Shotcall must be played through Twitch on desktop.
The gun buddy is therefore one of the rewards aimed at viewers who actively interact with the broadcast rather than simply leaving a stream running.
Players who want the Crab Buddy should start using Shotcall early instead of waiting until the final matches. That gives them more opportunities to accumulate points throughout the tournament.
How to Get the Trophy Player Card
The Trophy Player Card has a different requirement again.
Players must use Shotcall and finish in the top 3% of any map during Champions Shanghai.
This is not simply a cumulative point target.
The top-3% requirement makes the Trophy Player Card a leaderboard-based reward. A player can participate in Shotcall throughout the event but still need a particularly strong performance to meet this requirement.
Because the requirement is based on placement rather than a fixed number of points, players should treat it differently from The Catch and Crab Buddy.
The official description states that Shotcall predictions can involve maps, rounds and key moments, with points helping players climb the leaderboard.
How Shotcall Points Work
Shotcall is designed around predictions during live matches.
The idea is simple: watch the action, make predictions and earn points when those predictions are correct.
The exact challenge changes as matches progress because the questions can involve different parts of a professional VALORANT match.
For players, this creates a more active viewing experience.
Instead of simply watching a professional team execute a strategy, you can make your own prediction before seeing the result.
That also explains why the Shotcall rewards have different thresholds.
A player targeting only The Catch needs 50 points. Someone trying to obtain the Crab Buddy needs 300 points, while the Trophy Player Card depends on leaderboard placement.
Pick’Ems Is Separate From Watch & Earn
One common source of confusion is treating Pick’Ems as part of the normal Watch & Earn Drops.
It is better to think of Pick’Ems as a separate Champions Shanghai reward system.
Pick’Ems lets players predict tournament outcomes.
The system is powered by AWS and gives players points based on the accuracy of their predictions.
Riot has also provided specific deadlines for the Groups Stage and Playoffs predictions.
This means Pick’Ems is about predicting tournament results, while Watch & Earn is primarily about watching matches and Shotcall is about live predictions during broadcasts.
Pick’Ems Rewards for Champions Shanghai
There are four Pick’Ems reward levels.
Calculated Title
Players receive the Calculated Title simply for participating in Pick’Ems.
This is the entry-level reward for taking part in the prediction system.
Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy
Players who finish in the top 50% receive the Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy.
This reward is based on how well a player’s predictions perform compared with other participants.
Pick’Ems Master: Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy
Players who finish in the top 20% receive the Pick’Ems Master: Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy.
The rewards are cumulative.
That means reaching the top 20% also provides the lower-tier Pick’Ems rewards rather than replacing them.
100% Title
The highest Pick’Ems achievement is the 100% Title.
It is awarded for making perfect picks.
Unlike the participation reward, this requires complete accuracy across the relevant predictions.
Champions Shanghai Pick’Ems Deadlines
The Groups Stage Pick’Ems opened before the tournament.
Riot’s official schedule states that Groups Stage picks opened September 10 at 7:00 AM PT on the web and 8:00 AM PT in the VALORANT client.
Those picks lock on September 24 at approximately 2:10 AM PT, around ten minutes after the first Champions Shanghai game begins.
The Playoffs Pick’Ems opens on October 4 after the Draw Show and confirmation of the playoff matchups.
Playoffs picks then lock on October 7 at approximately 2:10 AM PT, around ten minutes after the first playoff game begins.
These deadlines are important because missing the lock time can prevent players from making or changing predictions for that stage.
Champions Shanghai Tournament Schedule
The reward event follows the larger Champions Shanghai tournament.
The Groups Stage runs from September 24 through October 4.
Sixteen teams are divided into four groups, with each group containing representatives from the four VCT regions: Americas, China, EMEA and Pacific.
The format gives teams limited room for mistakes because losing twice results in elimination from the tournament.
Playoffs begin October 7 and continue through October 18.
The final match is scheduled for October 18.
For viewers chasing rewards, this long tournament window creates several opportunities to watch matches and participate in Shotcall.
Do You Need to Watch Every Champions Shanghai Match?
No.
Riot’s Watch & Earn requirements do not say that players need to watch every match of Champions Shanghai.
For the Prepared Title, the requirement is at least 30 minutes during Groups and Playoffs.
For the Stamp of Approval Spray, the requirement is at least 30 minutes during the Grand Final.
Shotcall and Pick’Ems have separate participation requirements.
This distinction is useful because Champions Shanghai spans several weeks. A player who cannot watch every match can still participate in the reward systems that fit their schedule.
However, someone attempting to collect every available reward will need to pay attention to the different deadlines and requirements.
Do Watch Rewards Require Shotcall?
No.
The normal Watch & Earn Drops and Shotcall rewards are separate.
The Prepared Title and Stamp of Approval Spray are connected to the stated viewing requirements.
The Catch Title, Crab Buddy and Trophy Player Card are connected to Shotcall.
This separation is worth highlighting because simply watching the stream does not automatically satisfy the Shotcall requirements.
If your goal is the Crab Buddy, for example, you need to actively use Shotcall and accumulate 300 points.
Is Shotcall Available on Mobile?
Riot’s current Champions Shanghai announcement specifies that Shotcall is available on Twitch desktop through the official VCT broadcast.
Therefore, players should not rely on the mobile Twitch app for the Shotcall portion of the reward system.
Watching on another device may still allow you to follow the tournament, but the interactive Shotcall requirement specifically points players toward the desktop Twitch experience.
This is one of the most important practical details for anyone trying to collect the Shotcall rewards.
Can You Earn Multiple Champions Shanghai Rewards?
Yes.
The different systems allow players to work toward multiple rewards during the same tournament.
For example, a player could watch the required time for the Prepared Title, return for the Grand Final to qualify for the Stamp of Approval Spray, participate in Shotcall for The Catch and Crab Buddy, and make Pick’Ems predictions.
The systems are not presented as one single reward track.
They are separate activities running around the same Champions Shanghai event.
That means players should keep track of each requirement independently rather than assuming one activity unlocks everything.
Champions Shanghai Rewards Checklist
For players who want a simple checklist, the requirements can be summarized like this:
Watch & Earn
- Watch 30 minutes during Groups and Playoffs → Prepared Title
- Watch 30 minutes during the Grand Final → Stamp of Approval Spray
Shotcall
- Earn 50 points → The Catch Title
- Earn 300 points → Crab Buddy Gun Buddy
- Finish top 3% of any map → Trophy Player Card
Pick’Ems
- Participate → Calculated Title
- Finish top 50% → Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy
- Finish top 20% → Pick’Ems Master: Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy
- Make perfect picks → 100% Title
Keeping these categories separate makes the reward system much easier to understand.
Champions Shanghai Watch & Earn: Final Details
VALORANT Champions Shanghai 2026 begins on September 24 and runs through October 18, giving fans several weeks of professional VALORANT competition and opportunities to earn in-game rewards.
The simplest rewards come through Watch & Earn.
Watching for at least 30 minutes during Groups and Playoffs can unlock the Prepared Title, while watching at least 30 minutes of the Grand Final can unlock the Stamp of Approval Spray.
Players who want additional rewards can use Shotcall through the official VCT Twitch broadcast on desktop. Reaching 50 Shotcall points earns The Catch Title, while 300 points unlocks the Crab Buddy Gun Buddy. The Trophy Player Card requires finishing in the top 3% of any Shotcall map.
Pick’Ems provides another set of rewards based on tournament predictions, including the Calculated Title, Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy, Pick’Ems Master: Stone of Heaven Gun Buddy, and 100% Title.
The main thing to remember is that these are different reward systems.
You do not need to watch every Champions Shanghai match simply to participate, but you do need to follow the individual requirements if you are trying to collect specific rewards.
For players who already plan to follow the 2026 VALORANT World Championship, the event provides several ways to turn that viewing time into additional in-game items without requiring a separate purchase.
As Champions Shanghai progresses from the Groups Stage into the Playoffs and finally the October 18 Grand Final, keeping track of the specific Watch & Earn, Shotcall and Pick’Ems requirements will be the easiest way to avoid missing a limited-time reward.