Ultimate Valorant Beginners Guide: Tips, Tricks & Basics to Get Started

Welcome to the Valorant beginners guide! If you’re new to the world of Valorant, you’re in the right place. Valorant is a popular tactical first-person shooter game developed by Riot Games, known for its strategic gameplay, unique agents with special abilities, and intense team-based combat.

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about Valorant, including what the game is, how it works, how to play, and essential tips to help you get started. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

What is Valorant?

Valorant is a tactical first-person shooter game developed and published by Riot Games. Released in June 2020, it quickly gained popularity for its unique blend of precise gunplay, strategic gameplay, and character-based abilities.

How does Valorant work?

In Valorant, players are divided into two teams of five, each team either attacking or defending bomb sites. The attacking team aims to plant a spike (bomb) at one of several designated sites, while the defending team must prevent this from happening or defuse the spike if it is planted.

One of the defining features of Valorant is its roster of agents, each with their own unique set of abilities. These abilities add a layer of strategy and depth to the gameplay, as players must not only rely on their shooting skills, but also on their ability to use their agent’s powers effectively.

Valorant is played in a series of rounds, with the first team to win 13 rounds declared the victor. Each round lasts about 1.5 minutes, making matches intense and fast-paced. Players can purchase weapons and abilities at the beginning of each round using in-game currency earned from their performance in previous rounds.

With its emphasis on strategy, teamwork, and skillful execution, Valorant offers a challenging and rewarding experience for both new and experienced players.

Game Modes in Valorant

So far, Valorant has 8 game modes available to play: Unrated, Competitive, Spike Rush, Deathmatch, Escalation, Replication, Custom Games, and Swiftplay. So you can choose which mode is best for you, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player.

Valorant offers a variety of game modes to cater to different playstyles and preferences:

Unrated

Unrated is the standard game mode where two teams of five compete in a best-of-25-rounds match. The first team to win 13 rounds wins the match.

Competitive

Similar to Unrated but with a ranking system. Players are assigned ranks based on their performance in matches.

Spike Rush

A shorter, more casual version of the standard game mode, perfect for quick matches. The first team to win four rounds wins the match. Each round, all players are given the same random weapon, and the spike is always planted at the start.

Deathmatch

Players respawn after being eliminated, and the first player to reach 40 kills, or the player with the most kills after 9 minutes, wins the match. Abilities are disabled in this mode.

Escalation

Teams must get a certain number of kills with each weapon or ability to advance to the next level. The first team to complete all levels wins the match. Each player’s weapon and abilities change as the team progresses.

Replication

Similar to Unrated, but with the twist of everyone using the same agent, making for unique and often chaotic gameplay.

Custom Games

Custom games can be used for practice, friendly matches, or testing new strategies. The rules and objectives can be tailored to the players’ preferences.

Swiftplay

A condensed version of Unrated for quicker games. The first team to win 5 rounds wins the match, offering a balance between the casual nature of Spike Rush and the competitive nature of Unrated.

Valorant Characters (Agents)

In the game, each agent falls into one of four distinct roles, each with unique responsibilities and play styles that can greatly influence the outcome of a match:

Duelists: The first to enter sites, Duelists seek first blood to give their team an early advantage or create space on a site.
Initiators: They create opportunities for their team to enter sites by gathering information and using flash abilities.
Controllers: These players excel at controlling areas of the map using smokes and walls to create choke points, which their team can exploit.
Sentinels: Masters at holding down entire areas of the map, Sentinels use traps to cut off enemy flanking routes.

Complete list of agents Valorant and their abilities

Duelists

Phoenix

Abilities:

Blaze: Creates a wall of fire that blocks vision and heals the agent.
Curveball: Throws a flashbang that curves left or right, blinding enemies.
Hot Hands: Throws a fireball that explodes after some time or on impact, dealing damage to enemies and healing Phoenix.
Run It Back (Ultimate): Marks the agent’s location. If Phoenix dies during the ability’s duration, he is reborn.

Jett

Abilities:

Cloudburst: Throws a cloud of fog that obscures vision.
Updraft: Propels Jett upward.
Tailwind: Dashes a short distance in the direction Jett is moving.
Blade Storm (Ultimate): Equips a set of throwing knives that deal high damage and headshot kills reset the knives.

Reyna

Abilities:

Leer: Casts an eye that nearsights all enemies who look at it.
Devour: Consumes a soul orb from a fallen enemy to heal Reyna.
Dismiss: Consumes a soul orb to become intangible for a short time.
Empress (Ultimate): Enhances Reyna’s abilities, allowing her to enter a rapid-fire state and automatically consume soul orbs.

Raze

Abilities:

Boom Bot: Deploys a robot that bounces off walls and chases enemies.
Blast Pack: Throws a satchel that sticks to surfaces and can be detonated remotely.
Paint Shells: Throws a cluster grenade that explodes and deals damage.
Showstopper (Ultimate): Fires a rocket launcher that deals massive damage in an area.

Yoru

Abilities:

Fakeout: Deploys a decoy that mimics footsteps to confuse enemies.
Blindside: Throws a flashbang that bounces off surfaces.
Gatecrash: Sends out a teleport beacon that Yoru can reactivate to teleport.
Dimensional Drift (Ultimate): Allows Yoru to become invisible and invulnerable, moving freely around the map.

Neon

Abilities:

Fast Lane: Deploys two energy lines forward, creating walls of static electricity that block vision and deal damage to enemies passing through them.
Relay Bolt: Throws an energy bolt that bounces off surfaces and stuns enemies within its radius upon impact.
High Gear: Activates a speed boost, allowing Neon to run faster. This ability includes a slide mechanic that can be used once if sufficient energy is available.
Overdrive: Increases Neon’s speed and allows her to fire a stream of electricity from her fingers, with each kill resetting the firing duration.

Iso

Abilities:

Contingency: Deploys a bulletproof wall of prismatic energy that moves forward, blocking all bullets but allowing players and projectiles to pass through.
Undercut: Throws a molecular bolt that applies a brief fragile debuff to all players it touches, making them take increased damage. The bolt can pass through walls.
Double Tap: Enters a focus state where killing or damaging enemies generates an energy orb. Shooting the orb grants a shield that absorbs one instance of damage.
Kill Contract: Fires a column of energy that pulls Iso and the first enemy hit into an interdimensional arena for a duel to the death. Both players are suppressed and must fight with their current weapons.

Initiators

Sova

Abilities:

Owl Drone: Deploys a drone that can tag enemies, revealing their location.
Shock Bolt: Fires an explosive bolt that deals damage on impact.
Recon Bolt: Fires a bolt that reveals enemies in its line of sight.
Hunter’s Fury (Ultimate): Fires three long-range energy blasts that damage and reveal enemies.

Breach

Abilities:

Aftershock: Fires a burst through a wall that deals damage.
Flashpoint: Fires a flashbang through a wall, blinding enemies.
Fault Line: Charges a seismic blast that stuns all enemies in its line.
Rolling Thunder (Ultimate): Sends out a wave that stuns and knocks up all enemies in its path.

Skye

Abilities:

Regrowth: Heals allies in a radius over time.
Trailblazer: Deploys a Tasmanian tiger that can leap and stun enemies.
Guiding Light: Sends out a controllable bird that flashes enemies.
Seekers (Ultimate): Releases seekers that track down and near-sight the three nearest enemies.

KAY/O

Abilities:

FRAG/ment: Throws a grenade that sticks to surfaces and explodes multiple times.
FLASH/drive: Throws a flashbang that explodes after a short fuse.
ZERO/point: Throws a blade that suppresses enemy abilities.
NULL/cmd (Ultimate): Empowers KAY/O, giving him combat stim and the ability to suppress enemies in a radius.

Fade

Abilities:

Prowler: Deploys a creature that tracks enemies and nearsights them.
Seize: Throws an orb that explodes and tethers nearby enemies.
Haunt: Throws an orb that reveals enemies in its line of sight.
Nightfall (Ultimate): Sends out a wave that reveals, deafens, and decays all enemies it touches.

Gekko

Abilities:

Mosh Pit: Throws a grenade that explodes into smaller projectiles, covering a large area and dealing damage over time to enemies within its radius.
Wingman: Deploys a small drone that can scout and reveal enemy positions. If it spots an enemy, it will mark their location for a brief period.
Thrash: Sends out a creature that can be controlled to move forward. When activated again, the creature lunges at enemies, stunning them upon impact.
Plant Spike: Activates a special ability that allows Gekko to plant the Spike from a distance. This ability can only be used when Gekko has the Spike in his inventory.

Controllers

Brimstone

Abilities:

Incendiary: Launches a grenade that explodes into a fire area.
Stim Beacon: Deploys a beacon that grants rapid-fire to all nearby players.
Sky Smoke: Calls in smoke clouds to block vision.
Orbital Strike (Ultimate): Calls in a laser strike over a large area, dealing high damage over time.

Viper

Abilities:

Snake Bite: Fires a projectile that explodes into a pool of acid.
Poison Cloud: Throws a gas emitter that creates a poison cloud.
Toxic Screen: Deploys a long line of gas emitters that create a wall of toxic gas.
Viper’s Pit (Ultimate): Creates a large toxic cloud that reduces enemy vision and health.

Omen

Abilities:

Shrouded Step: Teleports a short distance.
Paranoia: Sends out an ethereal projectile that nearsights and deafens enemies.
Dark Cover: Deploys a spherical shadow orb that blocks vision.
From the Shadows (Ultimate): Allows Omen to teleport anywhere on the map. If killed during teleportation, he returns to his original location.

Astra

Abilities:

Gravity Well: Pulls in and weakens enemies in a specific area.
Nova Pulse: Charges and concusses enemies in a specific area.
Nebula: Creates a smoke cloud to block vision.
Astral Form/Cosmic Divide (Ultimate): Enters astral form to place stars on the map, which can be used for abilities. Cosmic Divide creates a wall that blocks bullets and dampens sound.

Harbor

Abilities:

Cascade: Deploys a wall of water that moves forward, passing through walls and structures. Players can stop the wall at any time. The wall slows any players it hits.
Cove: Throws a sphere of water that creates a shielded water dome upon impact. The dome blocks bullets but allows players to move through it.
High Tide: Sends out a wall of water that can be guided with the player’s crosshair. The wall slows enemies it touches and can pass through terrain, providing cover and blocking vision.
Reckoning: Unleashes a wave of water in a large area. Enemies within the area are repeatedly targeted by pulses that concuss them if they fail to move out of the area of effect.

Clove

Abilities:

Pick Me Up: Absorbs life energy from a fallen enemy, granting temporary health and agility.
Meddle: Throws a fragment that decays enemies’ health temporarily within its area of effect.
Ruse: Deploys smoke clouds, which can still be used after Clove’s death.
Not Dead Yet: Allows Clove to self-resurrect shortly after being killed.

Sentinels

Sage

Abilities:

Barrier Orb: Creates a solid wall that blocks movement and vision.
Slow Orb: Creates a slowing field that reduces movement speed.
Healing Orb: Heals an ally or Sage herself over time.
Resurrection (Ultimate): Revives a dead teammate.

Cypher

Abilities:

Trapwire: Places a tripwire that reveals and dazes enemies.
Cyber Cage: Throws a remote-activated trap that creates a cage, blocking vision and slowing enemies.
Spycam: Deploys a camera that can tag and reveal enemies.
Neural Theft (Ultimate): Reveals the locations of all living enemies after taking the life of an enemy.

Killjoy

Abilities:

Nanoswarm: Throws a grenade that releases nanobots, dealing damage over time.
Alarmbot: Deploys a bot that hunts enemies and explodes, applying a debuff.
Turret: Deploys a turret that fires at enemies in a 180-degree cone.
Lockdown (Ultimate): Deploys a device that detains all enemies in a large radius after a short wind-up.

Chamber

Abilities:

Trademark: Places a trap that scans for enemies and destabilizes the terrain around them.
Headhunter: Activates a heavy pistol with an alternate fire for aiming down sights.
Rendezvous: Places teleport anchors that Chamber can teleport between.
Tour de Force (Ultimate): Activates a custom sniper rifle that kills with any direct hit.

Deadlock

Deadlock is Agent 23 in Valorant, abilities:

GravNet: Throws a grenade that creates a circular net trap on impact, forcing enemies within to crouch and move slowly.
Sonic Sensor: Deploys a sensor that detects noise such as footsteps or gunfire. When triggered, it concusses all players within its detection radius.
Barrier Mesh: Deploys a set of barriers forming an X-shaped mesh that blocks movement but allows bullets and abilities to pass through. The barriers can be destroyed by targeting the orbs sustaining them.
Annihilation: Fires a nanowire pulse that traps the first enemy it contacts in a cocoon and pulls them along the pulse’s path. The cocooned enemy is killed if they reach the end of the path unless the cocoon is destroyed.

See more:

All Weapons in Valorant

Valorant offers a diverse range of weapons, with a total of 17 weapons with unique characteristics suitable for different game styles and scenarios. Here is a summary of all the weapons available in Valorant:

Sidearms

Classic

Cost: Free
A versatile semi-automatic pistol with a three-round burst alternate fire.

Shorty

Cost: 150 credits
A short-range, double-barrel shotgun with high damage at close range.

Frenzy

Cost: 450 credits
A fully automatic pistol with a high fire rate and moderate damage.

Ghost

Cost: 500 credits
A silenced semi-automatic pistol with high accuracy and good damage.

Sheriff

Cost: 800 credits
A powerful revolver with high damage and good accuracy, but a slow fire rate.

SMGs (Submachine Guns)

Stinger

Cost: 950 credits
A budget-friendly SMG with a high fire rate and moderate damage, also has a burst fire mode.

Spectre

Cost: 1600 credits
A versatile SMG with a good balance of fire rate, accuracy, and damage.

Rifles

Bulldog

Cost: 2050 credits
A burst-fire rifle with moderate damage and good accuracy.

Guardian

Cost: 2250 credits
A semi-automatic rifle with high damage and excellent accuracy.

Phantom

Cost: 2900 credits
A fully automatic rifle with a silencer, good damage, high fire rate, and lower recoil.

Vandal

Cost: 2900 credits
A fully automatic rifle with high damage and good accuracy, but a higher recoil than the Phantom.

Sniper Rifles

Marshal

Cost: 950 credits
A lightweight, bolt-action sniper rifle with high accuracy and good damage.

Operator

Cost: 4700 credits
A heavy sniper rifle with high damage and excellent accuracy, capable of one-shot kills to the body.

Shotguns

Bucky

Cost: 850 credits
A pump-action shotgun with high damage at close range and an alternate fire mode for a wider spread.

Judge

Cost: 1850 credits
A fully automatic shotgun with a high fire rate and devastating damage at close range.

Machine Guns

Ares

Cost: 1600 credits
A budget-friendly machine gun with a high fire rate and moderate damage.

Odin

Cost: 3200 credits
A heavy machine gun with a high fire rate, high damage, and excellent suppression capability.

Melee

Tactical Knife

Cost: Free
The default melee weapon with quick attacks and a higher-damage alternate attack.

Valorant Beginners Tips (cover with valorant characters)

10 Tips For Beginner Valorant Players

Embarking on your Valorant journey can be both exciting and challenging. As a beginner, there are numerous aspects of the game to master, from understanding the basics and choosing the right agents to refining your aim and developing effective strategies.

To help you get started on the right foot, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of tips specifically designed for new players:

1. Master the Basics

Familiarize yourself with the layout of each map. Knowing common chokepoints, bomb sites, and hiding spots can give you a significant advantage.

Smooth and precise movement can help you dodge bullets and position yourself better. Use the practice range to hone your movement skills.

2. Choose the Right Agent

Begin with agents that have straightforward abilities, such as Sage, Brimstone, or Phoenix. This helps you focus on learning the game mechanics without being overwhelmed by complex abilities.

Choose agents that suit your playstyle. If you like aggressive play, try Duelists. If you prefer support, Sentinels might be more your speed.

3. Optimize Your Connection with ExitLag

ExitLag is a service designed to optimize your internet connection, reduce lag, and provide a more stable gaming experience. This can be particularly useful for players experiencing high ping or connection issues.

This tool works by finding the best possible route for your game data to travel, ensuring that your connection is as fast and stable as possible.

By incorporating ExitLag into your setup, you can minimize connection issues and ensure that your focus remains on improving your skills and enjoying Valorant.

4. Aim for the Head

Headshots deal significantly more damage than body shots. Practice your aim to consistently hit headshots, which can often lead to instant kills.

Spend time in aim training programs or the in-game practice range to improve your accuracy.

5. Manage Your Economy

Learn when to save money (eco round) and when to buy weapons and abilities. Proper economic management can make a big difference in your team’s performance.

Make sure your team is on the same page regarding buys to avoid mismatched equipment.

6. Use Your Abilities Wisely

Use your abilities strategically rather than spamming them. Save them for key moments where they can have the most impact.

Understanding the timing and effects of each ability can help you use them more effectively in different situations.

7. Play with Your Team

Valorant is a team-based game, and working with your teammates is crucial. Lone-wolfing often leads to quick deaths.

Use crossfires and watch each other’s backs to increase your team’s chances of surviving encounters.

8. Stay Calm Under Pressure

If you find yourself as the last player alive, stay calm and think strategically. Panicking often leads to mistakes.

Avoid getting tilted or frustrated. Keeping a positive and focused mindset will improve your overall performance.

9. Watch and Learn from Others

Observing how professional players move, use abilities, and communicate can provide valuable insights.

Many skilled players stream their games and explain their strategies, providing a wealth of knowledge for beginners.

10. Communication is Key

Communicate with your team to share information about enemy locations, strategies, and plans. Use specific callouts for enemy positions to keep your team informed and coordinated.