Valorant Beginners Guide For 2024

Since launching in 2020, Valorant has become one of the most popular competitive shooters out there and it continues to amass a huge following. As the games can be intense and there are just so many Agents to master, it can be intimidating to jump into the game at this point but don't fret.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about and try out Valorant for yourself, we've got a beginner's guide that will walk you through all that you need to know to become a master Agent in the game. With practice and our tips, you can start playing ranked games in no time.

Find Friends To Play With

First off, Valorant is a team-based game and teamwork is a must. You'll need to constantly communicate with your team to let them know what you're doing. While there are quick communication options in the game, it's still better to turn on voice chat so that you can relay things more efficiently.

That being said, if you're finding it hard to talk with strangers, you might want to grab some friends to play Valorant with. You'll find it a lot easier to practice when you're with people that you're comfortable playing with.

Learn The Layout Of Each Map

There are currently 10 maps in the game. They go on a rotation with each season but it's important that you have a general idea of how each map is laid out. Believe it or not, some Agents are better fit for certain maps as well. It can be hard to master the layout of each map but keep in practicing and you'll eventually get the hang of things.

Of course, there are bad Agents for a map as well. It's essential that you know the best team compositions per available map so that you can at least adjust your picks accordingly.

Settle For A Few Agents First

As of this writing, there are 24 Agents in Valorant already and you can access more of them as you progress through the game. It can be very tempting to master all heroes immediately but if you're a beginner, we highly recommend settling for a few characters first. Let's talk about the four roles of agents first.

When you start the game, you'll have access to Brimstone, Sage, Sova, Phoenix and Jett. Each of these heroes encompass one of the roles in the game so you can at least get a feel for which role is better for you from the get-go.

It's best to master one or two Agents per role. That way, you can fill up any missing roles from your team's current composition. While you have to unlock all Agents to use them in matches, you will have access to all Agents in the Practice Range. Use that opportunity to find Agents that best fit your playstyle and focus on unlocking them first.

You also need to understand that some Agents are harder to use compared to others as their skills is more complex.

Money Matters

The in-game economy is one of the most important aspects of Valorant. As you progress through the match, you'll earn credits which you can then use to purchase guns before each round. As you may have guessed, you can easily overwhelm the enemy if you're able to manage your credits more efficiently as this can mean having better weapons than them for most of the fight.

Each match starts with all players having 800 Creds. You'll get a certain amount after each round depending on how well you perform. You can hold as much as 9,000 Creds only and anything you earn after that will be put to waste. As such, it's vital that you get the most out of your money each time.

Here's what you can earn depending on what you do

That said, knowing how to spend your money efficiently is a strategy in itself in Valorant. There are a few types of buys that you should be familiar with.

A Full Buy refers to going all-out with your credits for the best weapons and abilities that your Agent has. Of course, with the way the game works, going full buy in each round isn't always possible or advisable as you could end up penniless during crucial rounds in a match.

A Half/Light Buy refers to getting mid-range gear and abilities. If the match is tight and both teams are switching between winning and losing, it's likely that you'll be stuck with this type of buy for most of the match.

A Save/Eco Buy refers to spending as little as possible to save up for crucial rounds. Some people don't get anything at all and just try to survive the round if possible.

Lastly, we have Force Buy. This happens when you and your team HAVE to spend all of the Creds you have to get the best gear possible. This is used during crucial rounds or in cases where you can force an overtime instead of losing.

Remember, it's best for your team to be in constant communication during the buying phase. Not everyone has to go Full Buy during a round. Mastering the in-game economy and being smart with your purchases can make or break your success at winning.

Master The Weaponry

While the Agents are the main stars of Valorant, there's no doubt that the weapons are the supporting roles. There are a ton of weapons in the game and knowing which ones to use and which ones to equip depending on the situation is going to matter heavily. Let's not talk about the budgeting for your weapons first but instead, let's take a look at each weapon type and their stats.

Sidearms

If you're going for an eco round, you might want to go with sidearms as these are the cheapest guns in Valorant. Of course, the price of sidearms comes at the expense of them being relatively weaker compared to other weapons. Sidearms are still relatively effective in the right hands but you need to have pinpoint accuracy if you want to deal significant damage using it.

Rifles

Rifles are some of the most reliable weapons in the game. They are good up close and at a distance. A single mag can easily take out any agent but the problem is that rifles are also rather expensive compared to other weapons. These are best used in rounds where you’re going all out with the spending.

SMGs

You can think of SMGs are a cheaper alternative to rifles. They have a high rate of fire and can deal significant damage with the right accuracy. They’re usually bought after pistol rounds and can be quite a handful with the right aim. SMGs are typically harder at ranged fights because of their spread and recoil however.

Shotguns

Shotguns are very deadly up close but suffer tremendously from afar. These weapons are perfect when used by heroes that have abilities that let them close distances quickly like Neon. This is usually a good weapon when you’re on the defense because you have no other choice but to rush the opponent and the spike.

Snipers

These are the hardest weapons to master in Valorant but they're also the most deadly. You can take out most of the Agents with one shot using the Operator. While expensive, the Operator deals the most damage per ammo in the game. Unless you're really comfortable with snipers, we highly suggest staying off these in the meantime.

Heavy

Heavy weapons are slow at first but once you reach their maximum rate of fire, these guns can easily take out multiple enemies at once. This might sound good on paper but the recoil of these weapons make them hard to use efficiently. In many cases, you might end up wasting tons of bullets hitting no one in the process.

Hit The Range

Constantly matching up against other players is a good way to practice your aim against enemies that are moving as any other player would. However, if you find yourself stuck between getting good and being stuck, then you might want to hit the practice range this. Valorant has an in-game practice range that lets you test out guns and any Agent's abilities before using them in a real match.

You can use the practice range to fire at moving targets, stable targets, and more. There are also various aim trainers online that simulate the feel and mechanics of Valorant. Aim Labs is a good example of this and it even has extra features such as more in-depth data on your progression and performance.

It's also a good idea to hit the range before going into a real match to warm up. This helps prepare your hand-eye coordination before getting into intense firefights during casual or ranked matches.

Talk Like The Pros!

Finally, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the jargon in Valorant. And don't be mistaken, there are a ton of terms and terminologies that you need to familiarize yourself with. Before you go, here are a few that you need to take note of.

Have Decent Gaming Gear

Because of its competitive nature, it's actually very important to have decent gear in Valorant. You'll need a pair of headphones for better comms with your team, as well as better audio during fights. Quality audio will help you get an idea of where firefights are or whether or not enemies are nearby.

For your mouse, you'd want a mouse with a high DPI so that you can aim faster. It's also ideal to get a gaming mouse that has multiple buttons so you can assign hotkeys. As for keyboards, there's really not much to look for other than comfort.

For all of these devices, it's best to look for wired options over wireless options. Wired options might seem outdated and a hassle to use but ask any pro and they'll tell you that these are best for competitive gaming. That's because there's no delay when it comes to wired peripherals.

Practice, Practice, Practice

As with any game out there, you can get better with practice over time while playing Valorant. The game might seem too intense or competitive at first but you'll get the hang of it eventually. Hopefully, our guide serves you well so that you know the ropes when stepping into this game.