Since its June 2020 release, VALORANT has grown to become one of the world’s most well-known first-person shooter (FPS) games. It’s a 5v5 character-based tactical shooter that requires sensible gun control and strategic use of agents’ abilities. Notably, gun handling is something you must master to compete with the VALO-pros.
For those who are already familiar with the FPS genre, aiming might be a little bit simpler, but for those who are not, it might be the most challenging task. Because of the gaming mechanics, particularly the playable characters’ (also known as “agents'”) skills, the shooter is challenging to adapt initially.
Furthermore, there are plenty of in-game options, features, and mechanisms that you will find difficult to grasp as a beginner. That’s why, this particular FPS requires a lot of learning, regardless of your level of expertise in the genre. This guide will aid you in doing so effectively.
In this article, we will cover all the fundamentals of VALORANT in different sections, then move on to VALORANT tips for beginners and subsequently a list of top VALORANT players to watch to improve your gameplay.
VALORANT beginner’s guide: Gameplay concept, Agents, Maps, Weapons, and more
The following sections will give you a clear overview of the game, answering your question “how to play VALORANT” sufficiently. With time, you’ll get used to the game.
Gameplay concept and rules
The gameplay concept is very simple to grasp. In the standard VALORANT game modes, there are two teams of five members each, one called the Attackers and the other the Defenders.
Attackers: The objective of Attackers is to either eliminate the opposite team or plant and detonate the spike within the time limit. If the team is successful, they will win the particular round; otherwise, they will lose.
What is a Spike in VALORANT? – A spike is a bomb that must be planted in the plant locations (A, B, and C).
Defenders: Defenders’ goal is to either eliminate opponents before they plant the spike or defuse the spike if it has already been planted. They will win the round if they do so.
After the first half of the game, attackers and defenders are swapped, giving players equal opportunities to play as attackers and Defenders. The first team to win 13 rounds wins the entire match. However, the win rules for modes other than the standard VALORANT modes differ, even though the gameplay concept is similar in each mode.
Game modes
VALORANT has an extensive list of game modes. The different game modes are categorized into plant/defuse, deathmatch, and practice game modes.
Plant/Defuse
In this type of mode, gamers are split into attackers and defense teams. Planting and defusing is the foremost objective of the teams, as described earlier in the gameplay concept. The following are the Plant/Defuse type modes in VALORANT, with Unrated and Competitive modes being standard VALORANT game modes:
Unrated
The Unrated is a non-competitive game mode with standard VALORANT gameplay.
- Win rule: First to 13 rounds
- Est. gameplay duration: 30-40 minutes
Competitive
As the name suggests, players will witness a competitive environment in this mode, where they will be competing with each other to earn higher ranks. This mode follows the same rules as the unrated mode except that you will advance in your rankings as you play better.
Your VALORANT account level must be at least 20 to begin playing the competitive mode.
Swiftplay
The VALORANT Swiftplay mode is a shortened version of Unrated. With a four-round half, the first team to five rounds wins the match. Those who do not have hours to play the first-person shooter should try this mode, as a Swiftplay game only lasts around 10-15 minutes.
Spike Rush
Spike Rush is a casual mode similar to Unrated. All players will randomly get the same weapon to fight against the opposing team. Unlike unrated, this mode is significantly shorter.
- Win rule: First to 4 rounds (best for those who don’t have much time to play VALORANT)
- Est. gameplay duration: 8-12 minutes
Replication
The rules for this mode are the same as for unrated. However, in this mode, all team members are spawned with the same agent, which is chosen by the system based on the votes you cast for specific agents at the start of the match.
- Win rule: First to 5 rounds
- Est. gameplay duration: 10-15 minutes
Note: This mode is currently unavailable in the game.
Deathmatch
In deathmatch mode, the emphasis is on killing enemies. Players respawn quickly once they get killed and can play the match until it is over. The one or team with the highest number of kills wins the match.
Deathmatch
It’s a free-for-all 12-player deathmatch mode. The first to grab 40 kills or who grabs the maximum kills until nine minutes have passed wins the match. This mode is arguably the best for practicing gunplay mechanics and is therefore strongly advised for beginners in VALORANT.
Escalation
It’s a 5v5 quick team deathmatch game mode in which players are equipped with specific weapons and abilities at each Escalation level. The first team to reach level 12 or the highest level wins the match. Individual kills will contribute points for leveling up.
Snowball Fight
Like Escalation, Snowball Fight is also a team-based deathmatch mode in which players get a snowball launcher that fires snowballs at enemies. The first team to get 50 kills will win the game.
Practice Game Modes
There are currently three practice game modes—Shooting Test, Spike Planting, and Spike Diffusing—that you can play to improve your gameplay. VALORANT beginners are highly advised to spend some time in these modes.
Additionally, there is a custom game mode that allows players to create a private match in which all players, including opponents, can be invited.
Note: The Escalation, Replication, and Snowball Fight game modes are cyclical and might not always be accessible.
The Maps
There are currently ten maps in VALORANT, with the Lotus being the latest release. The following is the map pool of VALORANT as of now:
- Haven
- Ascent
- Breeze
- Bind
- Fracture
- Icebox
- Split
- Pearl
- Lotus
Note: Bind and Breeze have been recently removed from the map pool for unrated and competitive modes.
Since maps in VALORANT are shuffled to make way for new matches, novice players often become perplexed and struggle to implement strategies to trap enemies. It will take some time to become familiar with all of the maps.
The Agents and their roles
To become a professional player, agents may be the aspect of the game that requires the most attention. Although there are many VALORANT agents available, mastering any of them is not so simple because each one has distinct abilities that may be challenging for beginners to comprehend.
Thankfully, the developers have divided all agents into four groups based on their abilities, which greatly helps players in selecting the best agents for themselves as per their preferences and playstyle. The VALORANT agent roles are:
- Sentinel – Agents with this role are defensive experts. Their abilities help in defending against opponents.
- Duelist – Dualists like engaging in fights and taking out frags. Rushers may prefer this role.
- Controller – Agents in the controller role are specialized to set up the most favorable on-field environment for their teams to succeed.
- Initiator – Initiators start the battle and find enemies hiding in nearby spots and corners.
Currently, there are 20 agents in VALORANT all, divided into the aforementioned roles. As a beginner, you shouldn’t immediately try to use an agent’s skills. You’ll become confused, and your performance won’t be enhanced in any way.
Instead, focus on aiming at opponents and eliminating them with a variety of weapons.
After learning gunplay mechanics, start learning agents and strategies to use them one by one.
The Weapons
VALORANT contains many weapons, each with its own set of characteristics. All of the weapons have been classified with the following labels:
- Sidearms – You can use sidearms as a backup weapon. Sidearms in VALORANT are:
- Classic
- Shorty
- Frenzy
- Ghost (recommended for beginners)
- Sheriff
- SMG (sub-machine guns) – These firearms have a high rate of fire and allow you to battle in mid-range.
- Stinger
- Spectre (recommended for beginners)
- Shotguns – Shotguns are designed to take close-range fights.
- Bucky
- Judge
- Rifles – Rifles are deadly long-range weapons in VALORANT. Rifles in VALORANT are:
- Bulldog
- Guardian
- Phantom (pro-choice)
- Vandal (pro-choice)
- Sniper rifles – Sniper rifles are lethal one-shot killers. These, however, are extremely difficult to control, especially for beginners. Sniper rifles in VALORANT are:
- Marshal
- Operator
- Machine guns – Machine guns are powerful bullet sprayers that are difficult to play with. Machine guns in VALORANT are:
- Ares
- Odin
- Melee – Melee weapons can be a knife, a hammer, an axe, etc.
Economy
“Economy” in VALORANT refers to the management of available resources such as weapons, abilities, armor, etc. in a particular match. You can buy and sell the said items as per your needs using the temporary in-game currency or points called “Creds” (short form of Credits).
Each round in standard game modes allows you to buy your favorite gun, agent abilities, and armor so that you can enter combat with the most resources. Creds, on the other hand, are limited for obvious reasons. These are given to players based on their performance and the outcome of specific rounds.
Players are given 800 Creds at the start of each half. Following that, the number of Creds you earn will be determined by your kill total, battle performance, and other factors. Earned Creds for won and lost rounds are calculated separately.
Beginners should avoid getting stuck with the “economy” system. They can simply purchase their preferred guns and armor without regard for Creds.
VALORANT progression system (Account Leveling)
VALORANT, like most games, has a system for displaying a player’s level. As players win matches and perform well, their level rises.
In VALORANT, the account level of a player is determined by Account Points (or AP) that can be earned by playing matches. The number of APs rewarded depends on the time spent in the particular match and the outcome of the match.
Furthermore, you will receive extra APs for the first win of the day. In short, it can be concluded that the higher the level, the more professional the player is.
Basic VALORANT keybinds and mouse controls to emphasize learning as a beginner
VALORANT offers you a plethora of keybindings options. If you are just getting started with the FPS, learning every option at once might be overwhelming for you.
Therefore, you should prioritize learning only the fundamental VALORANT keybinds and mouse controls at first, as doing so will enable you to play games and execute basic in-game actions without any issues.
Here are the basic VALORANT keybindings and mouse controls:
| Command | Key |
|---|---|
| Forward, backward, left, right | W, S, A, D |
| Fire | Mouse left |
| Scope | Mouse right |
| Weapon switch | Mouse scroll |
| Silent walk | Left Shift |
| Plant/Defuse spike | 4 |
| Reload | R |
| Open Buy Store | B |
| Open Map (hold) | Caps Lock |
| Mic (push-to-talk) | U |
| Scoreboard | Tab |
Note: These VALORANT keybindings are the default settings. You can adjust these settings to suit your preferences if you’d like.
VALORANT tips for beginners
The above guide may be more effective if you embrace the following VALORANT beginner’s tips:
- Do an extensive aim practice
- Play only with a specific agent for a few days
- Try to stay alive for longer
- Understand the maps
- Master specific weapons according to your playstyle
- Adjust basic settings like mouse sensitivity and FPS settings
- Be friendly with the team via voice chat and ask them for tips for specific on-field situations
- Follow pro VALORANT players on social platforms, notably YouTube.
ALSO READ:
Watch these top VALORANT players to improve your gameplay
Self-practice alone may take a long time to develop into a professional VALORANT player. Analyzing experienced and pro players will assist you in becoming so quickly. Here are a few VALORANT streamers on YouTube/Twitch that you can watch to improve your gameplay.
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