Last time we filled you in on all the terms you need to know to start playing Valorant and be able to hold a conversation without feeling like everyone is speaking Greek. However, BetSpider is the best betting tool for e-sports, and we do not want you to just be able to play, we want you to excel. That is why we decided to create this piece about how to play Valorant and dive deeper into the actual gameplay of this rising star of a game. So, here we go.
Valorant - The History
Developed by Riot Games, the game is a tactical first-person shooter that merges precise gunplay with unique character abilities. Set in a near-future Earth, the game revolves around an event called “First Light,” which caused significant global transformations. This event gave rise to select individuals, known as Radiants, who possess extraordinary abilities. In response, a covert organization called the Valorant Protocol recruits these Radiants, as well as other elite agents, from around the world to maintain global stability and combat threats. Each agent has a unique backstory and skill set, contributing to the overarching narrative of battling for control and preventing another catastrophic event.
How to Play Valorant
In Valorant, players are divided into two teams of five, taking turns playing as attackers and defenders in a best-of-25-round match. The attacking team aims to plant a spike (a bomb) at one of the designated sites on the map, while the defending team must prevent this from happening. If the spike is planted, the defenders need to defuse it before it detonates. Each round is won either by eliminating all members of the opposing team or by completing the objective (planting or defusing the spike). Teams switch roles after 12 rounds, and the first team to win 13 rounds wins the match. Players earn currency based on their performance each round, which they can use to purchase weapons and abilities for the next round.
The game also emphasizes the unique abilities of its agents, each with its own set of skills that can be used strategically during gameplay. These abilities, combined with traditional gunplay, add layers of depth and strategy to the game. Players must communicate and coordinate with their team to effectively use their abilities and achieve their objectives. The game includes various modes such as Unrated, Competitive, Spike Rush, Deathmatch, and Escalation, each offering a different style of play, but the core mechanics of teamwork, strategy, and skillful execution remain central to the gameplay experience. You can learn more about each mode below.
Game Modes
One key aspect of how to play Valorant is the game modes. Specifically, the game offers a variety of modes appealing to different playstyles and preferences. Each one provides a unique gameplay experience, ensuring that players always have new challenges to face.
Unrated
Unrated is Valorant's standard game mode, where two teams of five players compete in a best-of-25-round match. One team plays as attackers aiming to plant a spike (bomb) at one of several designated sites, while the other team defends these sites. The teams switch roles after 12 rounds, and the first team to win 13 rounds emerges victorious. Each round grants players currency to buy weapons and abilities.
Competitive
Competitive mode mirrors Unrated but adds a ranking system to reflect player skill levels. Players must complete a set number of Unrated matches to unlock Competitive play. Wins and losses affect a player's rank, which ranges from Iron to Radiant. The ranking system aims to create balanced matches by pairing players of similar skill levels, intensifying the stakes and competitiveness.
Spike Rush
Spike Rush is a faster-paced variant of the standard mode. Each match consists of seven rounds, and all players are given the same random weapon each round. The first team to win four rounds wins the match. Abilities are pre-charged, and there are power-up orbs scattered around the map that can grant various buffs or debuffs, making for a quicker, more chaotic experience.
Deathmatch
Deathmatch is a free-for-all mode where 14 players compete to get the most kills in a set amount of time. Players respawn after death, and there are no abilities—only pure gunplay. This mode helps players warm up or improve their shooting skills without the strategic complexities of the other modes.
Escalation
Escalation is a team-based mode where players must progress through a series of increasingly less powerful weapons by securing kills. The mode is similar to a "gun game" found in other shooters. The first team to complete all weapon levels or the team furthest along when time runs out wins. This mode encourages versatility and adaptability, as players must master a variety of weapons.
How to Play Valorant: Agents and their Roles
Now that you know the game modes, it is time to choose a hero. In Valorant, players can play with ten legends who have different skills and functions. To improve your performance during matches, one of the strategies that can help is to understand how each character’s mechanics work. When you can, read up on the heroes’ abilities to understand how they affect the game. Don’t be afraid to practice with new champions, as this will expand your knowledge of the game. Agents fall into four roles: Controller, Duelist, Initiator, and Sentry. Here’s what each one means:
Duelist
The duelist role focuses on agents with offensive abilities. They are responsible for paving the way for the team and causing damage in large areas more aggressively.
Controller
They are responsible for controlling the battlefield and preventing enemies from advancing. They have abilities that can create barriers, blind enemies or slow down their movement with smokes.
Initiator
These agents initiate attacks and create opportunities for the team. They have skills that can disorient enemies or reveal their positions.
Sentry
Sentries are agents who defend points of interest. They are responsible for protecting the team and preventing enemies from advancing. They detect opponents, lay traps, and create safe zones.
Initial Maps
Now, you know how you are playing and whom you are playing. Thus, the next step of how to play Valorant is maps. The game initially has four maps, each with its characteristics and strategies. Take advantage of the small number of maps to train hard on all of them and get the most out of them. The maps are the following.
BIND
The map has only two posts and no central control zone. Your options are right and left, both of which lead directly to the opposing team. This is direct combat!
HAVEN
There are three different points of control, which gives the attacking team more options. The extra terrain helps the defenders to make better and different attacks to regain the lost control points.
SPLIT
The elevated area is in the center and the base of both teams allows for a quick ascent with ropes. Don't forget the high points, otherwise your round will be lost.
ASCENT
The most strategic map so far in Riot's game. There are several points of positioning and conflict. What divides the two bases this time is an open area. It allows the possibility of closing gates which, when closed, force the other team to destroy or take a new course.
And There are More…
PEARL
This is the first map on Omega Earth. Here, the attackers from our Earth advance towards the enemy Earth, but discover that the agents there are idolized as heroes. It's a relatively simple map, with two bombsites and no dynamic elements such as teleports or hooks.
FRACTURE
A confidential research site, broken in half by an unsuccessful experiment with Radianite. It's the most distinctive map in the game, being the first to place the defenders in the center, while the attackers take the two ends via a zip line.
BREEZE
Breeze is the tropical map. Its main characteristic is that it has extremely wide and broad bombsites and many tight corridors. For this reason, the presence of agents with smokes and bangs is very welcome. In particular, control agents.
ICEBOX
Icebox is a map marked by its verticality, meaning that players need to keep an eye not only on their line of sight but also above. According to the game's story, the location is "a secret excavation area of the Kingdom retaken by force from the Arctic".
How to Play Valorant: Tips
OK, now that you know the what, the who, and the where, it is time to start playing, so here are some tips to be the best player you can be:
Communication
Communication is another important factor in playing good matches. Whenever possible, it's a good idea to communicate with your teammates. That way, the team will know when an enemy is nearby, retreat to move to other points on the map, or surround opponents.
Mobility
Knowing the map and plotting good routes can be interesting for your team. Movement is part of the game at various times, such as rotating to points or reaching the opponent silently. Extra Tip: Drawing your knife in safe areas is a strategy that makes you move faster and can be useful for repositioning or reaching the place where the bomb is.
Train before you start
In Valorant, there are four training modes: open stand, test firing, arming and spike disarming. By selecting one of these options, you can practice with weapons and heroes and even learn how to arm or disarm the bomb. Training is an excellent alternative to understanding how weapons behave, from the recoil when firing to the damage they cause. Use training targets to improve your aim. That said, it's worth noting that it's also possible to test agents and their skills.
Watch and Learn
Watching and analyzing other people's games can be an interesting source of learning. Watching these gameplays can help you carry out the previous suggestions more easily because some players often give tips during their games. What's more, following a player you admire can inspire new strategies during matches.
How to Play Valorant: Master the Game and Elevate Your E-Sports Betting Experience
With these tips and an understanding of Valorant’s gameplay, you are ready to jump in and start playing. Now, if you also like the thrill of sports betting, the best thing to do is open a BetSpider account. BetSpider not only offers the best option to bet on e-sports but also accepts several payment methods, from bank transfer to cryptocurrency. Join our web of success today and take your betting to the next level! Keep practicing and good luck.
