Valorant is a tactical, free-to-play FPS shooter created by Riot Games that has become one of the most played online games in the world during its short lifespan (it was only released in June 2020). While it famously shares many things in common with CS:GO, it is unique in that it offers multiple characters with different abilities and traits. This is why many see Valorant as a natural middle ground between CS:GO and Overwatch. These characters’ special abilities add a new level of fun and tactical play to the tried and tested CS:GO formula of terrorists vs counter-terrorists.
The Basics – How to Play
Valorant has several game modes, though the standard non-ranked mode is the most popular and doubles up as a training mode as its rules are identical to competitive matches. In this mode, games are played between attacking and defending teams in the classic CS:GO style, although there are no terrorists or counter terrorists this time and the counter strike bomb is replaced with a ‘spike’.
During a match of the standard non-ranked mode, the attacking team has the spike, an explosive device that must get delivered to one of up to 3 sites marked on the Valorant map. Once activated, the team has 45 seconds to defend it before it explodes, winning them the game.
The defending team’s main objective is to prevent the spike from being planted, either by killing all attackers or by running down the clock. If the spike is planted then they must deactivate the spike before it explodes. Games are played as a best of 25 with the first team to 13 taking the win.
Competitive games follow similar rules and can be accessed once you have won ten unranked matches.
Rounds take place on a selection of Valorant maps. Each map is quite different and requires a unique approach. You may find that your weapons are useful on one map, but not so much on another.
Just like with CS:GO, Valorant has an in-game currency for each individual player that they can use to buy weapons, equipment and to power up their abilities.
Selecting Agents
When playing Valorant, the most crucial decision you will have to make is choosing the right agents. They fall into four categories, and each has a different role. Valorant characters also have special abilities that make them suited to the given job. Abilities can also combine with weapon types to make huge combos.
Of all the Valorant characters, duellists are the primary attackers. They will enter a site, relaying information and creating space for their team. Their abilities are usually movement-based so that when defending they can get into new positions and close off entry points. Essentially, they make it easier for their squad to enter a site.
Initiators push forward, breaking open sites and disrupting enemy plans. They are great for retaking ground, as their abilities are generally flash-based or ones that reveal enemy locations. For organizing your attack or defence, you cannot go without one of these Valorant characters.
Sentinels are defenders that will hold ground and territory. Their abilities allow them to create certain objects, so they can close off areas, forcing the opposition to take alternative routes.
Controllers direct play and control the battlefield. They can clear out areas easily or make space. These abilities can also hold the enemy back, stopping them from making a push.
As well as each Valorant character’s special abilities, a range of weapons are available in the game. These come in every shape and size, from sidearms to shotguns. Between each round, you will have a chance to buy the best Valorant weapons and items you can to give yourself an advantage. This can have an enormous impact on how the game turns out.
Choosing the Best Valorant Settings
Like most games, the best Valorant settings are often down to personal preference. However, there are some settings many professional players prefer to use.
Having a great aim is vital in Valorant, as you do not have long to make your kill. This means your mouse needs to be sensitive enough to allow you to get precise, but quick enough so you can react to what is going on around you. A high sensitivity will mean micro-movements are harder to do and you will aim in a jerky, erratic fashion. Most professionals will use an eDPI that sits at around 280. Start from here then adjust it as you see fit.
The resolution of the game should be set to the native resolution of the screen. You can lower this if you are experiencing a low frame rate, but it is not advisable to do it a lot. Most pros will play the game with the letterbox aspect ratio and though 4:3 looks odd, it is easier to target with it. You should not be using a monitor with a refresh rate lower than 144Hz.
For audio, Valorant does not have too many options, though you can enable HRTF. This gives you accurate positional sounds, perfect for hearing what is going on in the game. It is advised you turn this on but disable virtual sound. Disabling the in-game music will prevent further distractions.
Your next setting to adjust is the minimap. This is a vital piece of the HUD allowing you to find your way around the stage. You can choose to have it static or rotate the map with your player. Make it big enough to see everything you need, but not so large it becomes a distraction.
Pro Tactics for Valorant
If you have played CS:GO, then you should be able to jump straight into Valorant easily. However, inexperienced players, particularly those used to the mechanics of other FPS games, may find it tough. Below are some pro tactics to help you get better.
Communicate
This sounds easy, but communication takes practice. Get yourself used to talking as you play and relaying valuable information to your teammates. Working out what needs to be said is important, as you do not want to clog communication channels with unnecessary conversation. As you play each map, we recommend that you learn all the names of locations – that are helpfully added to each map. This will mean you can quickly pass information by giving the right call outs – for example if you spot an enemy a A bomb site, you’d say “Enemy at A”.
Practice Shooting
Start by getting the right crosshair adjustment for your playing style. There is no one-size approach to this. Once you have it, make sure you begin practising how to shoot. You can do this in the range, and you should aim to get in about 15 minutes of practice every day.
You should then begin trying out a few different guns. The Phantom, Vandal, and Operator are good for those starting, so begin with them. Aim to understand how they recoil and how fast they fire. The first nine bullets fired will pull the gun up, so you need to go down to counter the recoil. After this, the gun will move left to right so you must compensate in that way.
Use a Knife to Run
When you equip a knife in Valorant, your character will be able to run a lot quicker. If you need speed and are trying to get across a map fast, then switch your gun for a knife.
Use Portals
Portals can quickly get you from one side of a map to the other. However, you can also throw grenades and rockets through them. You can use this to gain tactical advantages over your opponents.
Which Valorant Weapons Are the Best?
Finding the best Valorant weapons is tough, as it often depends on your playing style and the situation you are in. You may find yourself in close quarters where a Shorty or Knife is best. However, they won’t get you far with ranged combat.
The most used guns are the Operator, Phantom and Vandal. People love that the operator can kill in one shot. The Phantom’s accuracy means it is best used in quick, short bursts. Though slower, the Vandal is powerful but can be hard to use if you are a beginner.
How to Get Valorant Weapon Skins
Skins are available to buy from the Valorant store. To access this, you need to buy Valorant points which you can then spend. Skins can be bought individually, or you can buy them in bundles, which will provide other items like weapons and cosmetics. While the bundles can be expensive, they work out cheaper than getting the skins individually.
You will also gain skins for your weapons during the game. As you gain XP, you can unlock contracts. Completing this will get you skins for a secondary weapon. However, contracts are not easy to complete so you will have to put the work in.
The third way to get them is with the battle pass. Each will include free skins that unlock at various levels. All you need to do is complete them within the given timeframe.
What is Valorant?
Valorant is a tactical first-person shooter created by Riot Games. It is a character-based title, with each agent having their own unique look and abilities. It has a lot of similarities to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, particularly when it comes to some of the mechanics of the game. However, it does not go for the realism of that title, instead opting for a futuristic, science fiction narrative.
How Many People Play Valorant?
Every month, Valorant has an active player count of between 12 and 16 million. Every day, around 1.5 million people log on to play. This makes it one of the most played games, despite being a relative newcomer.
When Was Valorant Released?
Valorant was released in June 2020. Game development had begun in 2014 under the working title of Project A. It was teased the year before in October 2019 with a beta test available in April 2020.
