VALORANT Basics Guide

VALORANT is for every kind of player nowadays. Whether you're in it to earn your ranks and show the world that you're the best at what you do, or if you want to run a Team Deathmatch with your mates for a bit of fun, the team over at Riot Games have really nailed down what it is to make an enjoyable game for every kind of player. So if you're just getting started out, or if you're just looking for a bit more information on your new favorite game, allow us to do the honors of teaching you the basics of VALORANT.

Is VALORANT easy to learn or is VALORANT hard to learn? The answer is... both. There are always going to be some aspects of the game that you will pick up on straight away, and some that you won't fully grasp for a while, and that's okay! No game can be mastered quickly, so don't be deterred by the fact that VALORANT may take you a while to perfect - just enjoy the ride!

VALORANT Game Modes

There are two sets of game modes in VALORANT, with a few variations of each style of play. Let's look into that a bit more.

The first set of game modes are based off of something called Plant/Defuse. These modes consist of a team of Attackers and a team of Defenders, fighting for control over up to three sites. The Attackers aim to push through the map in whatever way necessary to reach a site and plant the spike, whilst the Defenders are trying to prevent the Attackers from planting the spike. If the spike is planted, it is then up to the Defenders to defuse this bomb, and neutralize any enemies along the way.

In these modes, there are a few ways for each side to win a round. Attackers must either plant and protect the spike until it detonates, or slay the entire opposing team. For the defending team, if the spike has been planted then the only way to win is by defusing that spike. On the other hand, the Defenders must either wipe out the Attackers team, or if the spike has not been planted then they must simply have one player alive by the time that the timer runs out for that round.

The other type are Deathmatch modes. These modes consist of all players just playing for the most amount of kills, whether that be alone or in a team.

Plant / Defuse

Unrated

• 5v5
• First to 13 rounds wins
• ~30-40 mins
• Purchase Weapons
• Overtime: 1 tie-break round

Competitive

• 5v5
• First to 13 rounds wins
• ~30-40 mins
• Purchase Weapons
• Overtime: A team must win 1 round on both Defense and Attack consecutively (14-12, 16-14, etc.)

Spike Rush

• 5v5
• First to 5 wins
• ~ 8-12 mins
• Random Weapons
• Random Perk Orbs

Swiftplay

• 5v5
• A shorter traditional mode
• Pre-determined Credits for each round
• First to 5 wins
• ~10-15 mins

Replication

• 5v5
• First to 5
• ~10-15 mins
• All Same Agent Teams (voted at Agent select)

Deathmatch

Deathmatch

• Free For All
• 12 Players
• First to 40 kills / Timer reached
• ~7-9 Mins
• Free choice weapons

Team Deathmatch

• 5v5
• First to 100 kills wins
• ~8-10 mins
• Tier Stage Weapons / Weapons Spawners

Escalation

• 5v5
• First to complete level 12 / Timer Reached
• ~7-9 mins
• Weapons cycle per level

Snowball Fight

• 5v5
• First to 50 kills wins
• ~ 5-7 mins
• Snowball Launcher

You can play a variety of these modes in a Custom Game.

VALORANT Premier

VALORANT Premier is Riot's entry into a tournament mode, using the ruleset from Competitive play but promoting the highest quality of competition and gameplay with a singular team throughout. This mode also features map pick and ban phases, as seen in professional tournaments across the globe. To learn more, see our Full Article on VALORANT Premier.

VALORANT Weapons

In total there are 20 Weapons in VALORANT, including game mode exclusive weapons such as the Golden Gun and Snowball Launcher. Across a majority of modes you will be playing however, you will have the choice of 17 weapons, spanning across 6 categories; Sidearms, SMGs, Shotguns, Rifles, Snipers and Heavy. Along with these 17 options, you will also have your trusty Tactical Knife.

When you start shooting, you will notice that a majority of your bullets aren't going in the direction of your crosshair. This is due to bullet spray. This means that even if your crosshair is centered on an enemy, you still have to control the recoil of all guns after your first shot. Check here for the best crosshair for spraying in VALORANT.

VALORANT Agents

In total there are 22 Agents to get to grips with, all of which have their personalized abilities, bringing forth new ways to play and adjust to gameplay scenarios. Here is a list of all the current Agents in VALORANT.

1. Brimstone
2. Phoenix
3. Sage
4. Sova
5. Jett
6. Viper
7. Cypher
8. Reyna
9. Killjoy
10. Breach
11. Omen
12. Raze
13. Skye
14. Yoru
15. Astra
16. KAY/O
17. Chamber
18. Neon
19. Fade
20. Harbor
21. Gekko
22. Deadlock

Of these 22, the first 5 are somewhat the easiest VALORANT agents to learn. This is because their abilities aren't as complicated and a bit more intuitive than some of the more recent agents, but the understanding of what agent is for you will come with time - and so will their abilities. By no means are we suggesting that the first 7 are the best agents to learn on VALORANT, as there are plenty to choose from. For instance, Chamber is all about weapons and is very easy to get comfortable with, and KAY/O is quite a user-friendly information gatherer. Either way, your best option would be to look a bit deeper into each of the characters roles and abilities before you make any decisions.

VALORANT Agent Roles

Controller

A controller is at their best when utilizing their smoke abilities to block off certain areas of the map to benefit their team when pressing or defending. Great at maintaining control of an area.

Duelist

Duelists are expected to be great in one-on-one combat, and tend to play at a slightly faster pace than any other role. It is a Duelist's objective to break lines of defense and create space for their team to push onto sites.

Initiator

Initiators are essentially support classes who are best suited to causing and controlling encounters and allowing you and your team to have the best chance of winning said duels through different means - from seismic concussion blasts to a user-controlled flying flash grenade.

Sentinels

Finally, Sentinels are for the more defensive minded players out there. Sentinels are great for slowing the pace of the game, especially for any teams trying to make a quick burst onto site. They are essentially an anti-duelist.

You will start off with just 5 agents: Brimstone, Phoenix, Sage, Sova, and Jett. The next choice is up to you!

VALORANT Maps

VALORANT has a growing roster of top quality maps, now featuring 9 in total. Spanning from Tokyo to the Bermuda Triangle, there's no shortage of information to learn on where to look and what to expect. It's okay to feel overwhelmed when first setting foot on a brand new map, but fear not, you have teammates around to support you through it! Be sure to make use of the map and pings to ensure that you know exactly where you and your enemies are located, so that you and your team are as well informed at all times.

How to learn maps in VALORANT

Just play! We suggest jumping into any of the more casual modes, such as Unrated or Spike Rush, to get to grips with any new surroundings. Another great way to learn about any of these maps, especially brand new releases, is to head into a Custom Game and just explore!

How to learn VALORANT callouts

Once again, this will come with time, we promise. If you want to be one step ahead however, try and study the maps and use pings to your advantage. Don't know where to find the resources for this? Don't worry, we've got a Guide on VALORANT Callouts here for you to learn more!

VALORANT Strategy

Strategy is especially important in any of the more competitive modes, especially now you have the option of heading into VALORANT Premier.

First off, it is really important that you build up some chemistry with your team - whether that's when you first join a match, or if you have a pre-existing team that you're playing with - being on the same page is extremely important.

You can go for a basic VALORANT strategy such as having a couple of your team flanking around a site or rushing in whilst spamming utilities, or you can approach it more tactically and study what the professionals are doing in tournaments. We make keeping up with tournaments easy, so you'll never miss the most important games and opportunities to learn your next strategy.

Learning Resources for VALORANT

Not only is it great for you to be figuring it out on your own, but the internet is full of great resources for seeing what your fellow VALORANT players are learning, on the go!

Our Twitter is perfect for information such as how to learn lineups in VALORANT, as we share the coolest and craziest lineups and strategies for you to try and master yourself! As well as the resources we can offer you, some of the best VALORANT streamers to learn from are either content creators or professional VALORANT players. These players specifically are playing and learning more about the game than any other players, so can offer you insight that no one else possibly can! Head on over to our Twitter to keep up to date with everything from lineups, to tournament information!

VALORANT Cosmetics

Once you start playing games, you'll start to find that a lot of the people you play with have cooler looking guns than you. Riot does a fantastic job with their cosmetics, so it's not unheard of for you to be lured into wanting to spend money on these skins.

There's a few ways to get hold of these cosmetics. First off, you can simply pick them up off of the bodies of deceased enemies and team mates. A bit morbid, we know, but it's the cheapest way to do it! Once you pick up a weapon, it'll be with you until you pick up another, purchase another, or die. Just... Maybe don't try and pick them up mid-gunfight... You'll probably cost yourself a few valuable seconds.

If you decide you want to go ahead and get your own skins, there's a few ways to do this. Either you can earn them for FREE in the Battle Pass. You will be limited to how many you can get per act without spending a single cent, but it is still possible. You can choose to purchase the Battle Pass also to receive all cosmetics you unlock during the duration of the Battle Pass. These cosmetics can be anything from weapon skins, to calling cards.

If you want some of the more premium skins, such as the Reaver or RGX collections, you will have to fork out some of your hard-earned money to get one of these skins, and a little more to customize them. First off you will need VALORANT Points, which you can purchase through the Store. Once you have your points, it's a waiting game to see the one you want pop up in the store. Your store will refresh every 24 hours with a random set of weapon skins that you can choose from. There is also the possibility of a Night Market, roughly every two months, where you are assigned 5 skins at random that you can purchase at a randomly generated discounted price.

Once you have the skin you want, you're going to want to upgrade it to hear the sound effects or have it in a specific colorway, in which you will need Radianite Points. To get Radianite Points, you either need to purchase them through the store with VALORANT Points, or earn them through the Battle Pass. Usually it is more worthwhile to purchase the Battle Pass and earn Radianite by playing the game, as it will be more cost efficient.

Now you have the skins you want, enjoy them! You can find all of the skins you own in the Collection menu.

Don't worry! If you purchase a skin and decide you don't like it, you can refund it for up to 14 days as long as you reach their terms. For more on this, read our Full Article on VALORANT Skin Refunds!