Despite only launching 2020, Riot Games’ Valorant has quickly become one of the most popular first-person shooters around. As of 2022, the game is regularly achieving a monthly player count in excess of 15 million. However, only a fraction of the playing community has secured a spot in Valorant’s Diamond, Immortal, and Radiant ranks. Looking for some pointers on how to up your game? We’re here to help.
Practice Makes Perfect
This may seem like an obvious tip, but it’s worth drumming home the point. The good news is that you don’t have to embarrass yourself playing competitively as you get to grips with gameplay basics. Valorant offers a dedicated practice mode that lets you play around with abilities, learn the layouts of maps, and more.
Valorant offers four different practice modes. Open Range lets you explore the virtual environment and sample a full range of gameplay mechanics. Meanwhile, the Spike Planting practice mode will appeal to those struggling to see things through to a successful denotation. On the flip side, there’s the Spike Defuse practice mode. Finally, there’s the Shooting Test practice mode. Aim is everything in Valorant, so you’ll no doubt find Shooting Test sessions incredibly valuable.
Customize Your Settings
Valorant provides plenty of scope for setting adjustments. If you’ve recently invested in a premium gaming mouse, make sure your current settings aren’t limiting functionality. You can make changes to things like aim sensitivity, as well as things like crosshair placement. Many setting adjustments are strictly superficial. However, a thicker crosshair line or more vibrant color can work wonders for your accuracy. Experiment with settings to find something that works for you. You can always readjust things later.
Select a Single Agent to Master
Although having a good grasp of multiple agents will benefit you in the long run, beginners will benefit from mastering a single character. Ultimately, it’s better to be able to deploy a single agent with devastating proficiency, than to be able to use several agents reasonably well.
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to Valorant agents. Unlike other first-person shooters, Valorant’s agents vary widely when it comes to unique abilities and skill sets. You’ll want to take some time exploring all of them to find the right fit for you. Our personal pick? Give Cypher, Reyna, and Sova a try before casting the net wider. All three are popular picks for good reason and won’t let you down when utilized effectively.
Set Realistic Ranking Goals
At the time of writing (2022), there are 20 different ranks in Valorant. First-time players will be classified as unranked, before progressing to the Iron tiers. Eventually, a good player can expect to enter the ranks of Gold and Platinum. The ultimate goal is to secure a spot in the Radiant tier. However, don’t expect overnight progression to these upper ranks. Valorant rankings are something of a science and it may take many months to climb only halfway up the ladder. Struggling to make sense of the ranking structure. This ranks in Valorant guide has all the insights you’ll ever need.