Here's what you need to know to start the game that dethroned CS: GO!
Valorant is a free-to-play team-based first-person shooter developed and published by Riot Games. Valorant, whose popularity has been increasing lately, manages to keep the interest of the players fresh by constantly updating itself with different choices.
What is Valorant?
Unlike Apex Legends or Overwatch, Valorant is a tactical shooter that is closer to Counter-Strike. However, the agents you play in Valorant have a skill set. Thanks to this difference, which distinguishes the game from other team-based shooter games, Valorant has become the biggest competitor of CS: GO.
If you're new to shooter games, or if it's not uncommon for characters to have abilities in shooter games, Valorant might be a little intimidating for you. However, once you understand the operation of the game, you will have nothing to worry about. In this guide, we will take a close look at all the basic mechanics of the game and try to explain the logic of Valorant step by step.
How to download Valorant and is Valorant free-to-play?
If you do not have Valorant on your computer, you can easily download the game by following the steps below:
Go to Valorant's official website and click the Play Now or Play Free button.
After logging into your Riot Games account, the client will automatically start downloading.
Click on the downloaded file and choose your preferred download location. You will need a minimum of 8GB of free space to install the game.
After your download is complete, you need to sign in to a Riot Games account to log in and start playing.
A new shortcut will appear on your desktop to launch Valorant. You can also search for “Valorant” in your Windows search bar and launch the game.
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What are the system requirements of Valorant?
Valorant, like League of Legends, is a game that focuses more on CPU power and is designed to be opened on any computer. Unless you have a very old computer, you can play the game on minimum settings. For those wondering, Valorant's system requirements are…
Minimum System Requirements (30 FPS):
Operating System: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)
RAM: 4GB
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 / AMD Athlon 200GE
GPU (Video Card): Intel HD 4000 / Radeon R5 200
Recommended System Requirements (60 FPS):
Operating System: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)
RAM: 4GB
CPU: Core i3-4150 / Ryzen 3 1200
GPU (Video Card): GeForce GT 730 / Radeon R7 240
Recommended Maximum System Requirements (144 FPS)
Operating System: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)
RAM: 4GB
CPU: Intel i5-9400f 2.90GHz / Ryzen 5 2600X
GPU (Video Card): GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon R7 370
* On Windows 11 it also requires "TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot"
Make your personal settings before starting the game
Although it is always more tempting to start the game right away, customize the game to your own style from the "Settings" tab for a quality game experience.
Sensitivity / Adjust your mouse sensitivity:
The most important thing you need to do in shooter games is to find the sensitivity you are comfortable with. If you're switching from a different shooter to Valorant, you can convert your sensitivity for Valorant by clicking here.
Choose a "Crosshair" that suits you
You can create your crosshair from scratch, or you can copy a crosshair code you like online and add it to the game.
Adjust your display and other game settings:
There are a few more settings that will enhance your gaming experience, including video settings and controls. You can adjust your video settings according to the number of FPS you want to reach. The controls are the same for each agent, but you can easily set this up in the custom profiling section.
Now that we've made our lock settings, we can take a deeper look at how the game works. There are a total of 19 playable characters in the game, including the latest Turkish agent Fade.
Valorant Classes: Who Should You Play for Your Playstyle?
There are four roles that Riot Games has set for all agents in the game. Below is a brief overview of how each role is played. Note that an agent can take on more than one role due to the gameplay.
Duelist
All dueling agents' skill sets are more aggressive and aggressive than other agents. Agents in this role lead the regions their teams want to go to. Jett, Reyna, Raze, Phoenix, Neon, and Yoru are the main dueling agents in the game. However, recently, some agents with teleporting ability such as Chamber can also act as duelists.
Initiator
Initiators have abilities designed to locate the opponent and give their team a tactical advantage when a gunfight erupts. Sova, Fade, KAYO, Skye, Breach are the main agents you can play in the lead role.
Sentinel
The task of the sentinels is designed to control and defend the areas they are in. Cypher, Killjoy, Chamber, Sage are sentinel agents you can play. Sage, in particular, is one of the great sentinel agents to get, as her kit can both revive and heal her teammates and build walls to block areas.
Controller
If you want to take control of the battlefield and give your team confidence in combat, the controller role is suitable for you. Controllers play a key role in team strategy by covering certain locations with fog and distracting the enemy team. Brimstone, Astra, Viper, Omen are basic controller agents.
Now that you understand the basic roles, you can easily choose the roles and agents you want to play. Knowing the roles is important, but knowing the skill set of the agent you choose is just as important. Trying out agents in practice mode or watching a professional player before entering a game can benefit you.
To unlock a locked agent, you need to go to the agents section from the game menu and press the "Activate Contract" button of the agent you want to unlock. Agents are unlocked at the fifth level of the contract. You can complete the levels with the experience points you earn in the game.
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How to play Valorant?
Now we will give you information about the gameplay from the selection of the agent to the end of the match. But first, let's look at the basic rules of the game.
Normal / Competitive Valorant mode and rules:
Valorant has two teams of 5 players each, Attackers and Defenders. If the attackers can detonate a bomb called "Spike" or can eliminate the opposing team before time runs out, they win the round. If the defenders can neutralize the spike or eliminate the opposing team, they win the round. A match consists of two halves, each half lasting 12 rounds. Attackers and defenders switch places when the half is over, and the team that wins 13 rounds wins the match.
Agent selection and communication:
The game sends you to an agent selection screen when an encounter is found. What you need to do on this screen is to communicate with your team and create a team composition that fits your strategy.
Communicating with your team in-game and providing information about the opponent is vital. This information allows you to strategize against the opposing team's strategy. In short, pay attention to the sounds while in the game and be careful not to use voice chat unnecessarily.
Round start and weapon selection:
At the beginning of each round, you are given a certain amount of time to position on the map, determine your strategy, and purchase abilities and weapons. Credits are required to purchase weapons and abilities in the game. The first round of each half is the pistol round and each player has 800 credits. You then earn credits based on various conditions such as killing enemies, setting/dissolving spikes, winning/losing the round.
There are pistols, rifles, melee and ranged weapons in the game, and the price of each weapon is different. You can choose your weapon according to your playing style, but it's not a good idea to completely deplete your credits and not economize. Therefore, keep in touch with your team and choose the rounds you will buy together.
Ability usage and gameplay:
Your aiming skills and abilities are a whole in the game. You can be a good marksman, but if you don't use your skills properly, that alone isn't enough to win a match. Whether you are using talent in team strategy or individually, take care to use your talents at the right time. A misused ability can damage your team or reveal your position.
One of the most common mistakes beginners make in the game is to walk while keeping the sight on the ground. This will both damage your vision and make it harder for you to hit the opponent when they're in front of you. Always keep your sight at body/head level. If you run and shoot, your bullets will deviate from the target, so stand still when you shoot. Also, choose to walk where you need to play quietly, as constantly running will let your opponents know where you are. Spend your credits consistently and don't forget to buy armor in full purchase rounds. This gives you an extra 25/50 (depending on the armor you get) health.
Valorant also has dozens of weapon skins available for purchase in the in-game store, where you can customize your weapons and gear. If you want to take a look at the best costume packages, you can find the list we have prepared for you here.
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