A Beginner’s Guide to Playing Valorant in 2022

Newbies might get intimidated whenever they first try out Valorant. What can they do to improve their gameplay?  

Riot’s very first first-person shooter gamer was a massive hit as soon as it went officially live. Thousands of Valorant accounts have already been created, and the numbers keep on rising. While its current total player count is nowhere near the top FPS game, CS:GO, gamers expect that it might be able to catch up since more players are pouring in. Since many newbies are new to the FPS genre, it would be conducive to having a guide open for their perusal. 

Things Beginners Should Know

Trying out a new game that requires skills and strategy can be pretty intimidating for newbie players, especially for FPS games. Fortunately, there are various things that new gamers with Valorant accounts can do to learn about the game and be better. Here are some of the best tips that newbies can follow:

Listen for Noise, But Don’t Make One

Sound cues are one of the most valuable information that players can acquire while in the game. Gunshot, abilities, and even footsteps can help gamers know where their enemies are and notify their teammates. However, noise can also be made by the players and their teammates themselves. This would essentially give away their position, which would give enemies time to prepare before any incursion. Newbies should be very attentive to any noise and avoid making sounds. 

Know When to Run and When to Walk

New players should be able to discern when they can run and walk. Walking and jumping enable faster movements, but they also generate more noise. Meanwhile, walking will slow down players significantly, but it will not make any sounds. 

Ideally, gamers should only run when they are rotating fast to another site or in the heat of the action. Meanwhile, walking should always be done when the team is sneaking into a place or when trying to flank. In general, newbies should never run when they have not given any information to the enemy team. 

Don’t Run and Gun

While running and gunning work for games such as Fortnite and Apex Legends, more technical titles such as Valorant and CS:GO do not encourage such movements. Moving while spraying will increase players’ recoil and firing error, which decreases the accuracy of their shots. Generally, new players should practice stopping their movements before firing to ensure their bullets will heat.

Players should note that some guns can be exempted from this rule. Guns such as Spectre, Judge, and Bucky are frequently used for running and gunning at close range. However, this tactic should be avoided when engaging in long-distance shootouts, even when these guns are used. 

Always Place Your Crosshair at Head Level

This tip is one of the hardest things to master, but it is very effective. Keeping the crosshair placed on head level lets players hit more lethal shots whenever they engage in firefights. While this rule can intimidate newbies, they should not feel discouraged since many veterans, and long-time players tend to forget about this tactic every now and then. 

One way to practice this tip is to ready their crosshairs during the prep phase. Newbies can aim their reticles on the head level of their teammates so that they can gauge the correct placement during actual fights. Players should always make this a habit if they haven’t mastered crosshair placement yet.

Buy Armor

One mistake that newbies tend to make often is forgetting to buy armor. While having a gun would be nice to get quick kills, players need to be alive to get those frags. While these protective pieces cannot save them from headshots, they can mitigate most damage to body shots. It is essential to always have armor, especially for lower elos.

Know When to Full Buy

One tip that most players tend to forego is when to go for a full buy. A full buy means buying SMGs or rifles and complete armor. The other two terms related are half buys and saving. Half buy refers to equipping a non-pistol weapon and half armor. Saving usually indicates that players will only use pistols and will not get any armor most of the time.

Several players consistently make one mistake and go for a complete buy when their teammates are saving. However, just because gamers have the creds to buy these items, it does not mean that they should always do so. The team becomes less effective and inefficient when not everyone is packing the same firepower. Before buying anything, always check whether teammates have enough for a complete buy or need to save. 

Always Communicate

This tip is the most consistent thing for any game. For games such as Valorant, a team game, communication is essential since it is essential for information gathering. Info is critical in FPS games since it allows players to react accordingly and swiftly to enemy movements. Newbies should always use their comms or, at the very least, use their pings. 

New players should not be intimidated by the skill needed to play this popular FPS game. They will progressively become better as they put in more hours and play more games. Buying Valorant skins and battle passes can also enhance the experience as newbies learn more about the game.