Valorant
Valorant
How to play Raze in Valorant, a complete guide to the duelist
Fariha Bhatti
The Showstopper Raze is one loud duelist and with the right style of play, she’s a deadly Valorant agent Equipped with a self-destructive Roomba and deadly grenades, she’s the perfect mix of an initiator and duelist. Raze popped out as the loud, jolly, but lethal duelist among the original 10 agents in Valorant. She was the only strong option in the role after Jett. The addition of newer, more aggressive …
Valorant
When is the Valorant mobile beta? Leakers say soon
Fariha Bhatti
Riot Games is being weirdly tight-lipped about Valorant Mobile, but soothsayers aren’t holding back. A beta test may be happening sooner than expected, leakers suggest. After making strides in the PC ecosystem, Riot Games is gearing up to reshape mobile gaming with its character-based tactical shooter. Valorant is the next esport to follow in the footsteps of Apex Legends, PUBG, and more. However, fans must keep their eyes locked on …
Valorant
Try this genius trick makes Battle Sage viable on Pearl
Fariha Bhatti
Sage is not just a healer. With this trick, she can be a key part of winning rounds on Pearl. In fast-paced Valorant games, Sage is often burdened with the task of healing teammates. Her assists may look attractive, but the agent often fails to add kills to the board. That’s not entirely a bad thing. Sage’s support is crucial until the end of the round, so it’s best for …
Valorant
Here’s how to reload quicker as Cypher in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
If you’re a Cypher main who opts for quick switching to save time, you’ve been reloading your weapon all wrong. Check out this trick to reload quicker as Cypher. Riot Games introduced a unique twist of ability-wielding characters to the traditional first-person shooter genre. In 2022, Valorant stands out as an entertaining shooter that draws players in with its lively agents and immersive lore. But Valorant is still a shooter …
Valorant
Game-breaking Jett Updraft glitch can shut down teams on Icebox
Fariha Bhatti
Jett continues to redefine the Valorant meta through bugs and glitches, with the latest example being her ability to reach unfair spots on Icebox using Updraft. Icebox’s complex layout with ample chokepoints is Reyna’s home turf but Jett mains can also enjoy a high kill count. She’s not the star duelist of Icebox, but her power to adapt makes her a viable pick. And of course, trolls can find plenty …
Valorant
Players highlight a game-breaking coaching bug in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Riot’s kept-up shooter may be the next esport to land in hot water for a nasty glitch that provides Valorant coaches with unfair information. Radar glitches are pretty common in shooter games, but they often get instant fixes due to their severity. However, some glitches get slipped under the rug, spelling chaos for the esports. A popular example is the coaching bug fiasco in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that festered the …
Valorant
Omen TP bug on Ascent is breaking Valorant competitive
Fariha Bhatti
Omen’s teleport is acting up again, but it’s likely the map’s fault this time. Ascent B main is letting him inside walls with an advantageous view after using his TP. Ascent is known for its thin walls. Most objects on this summer venue allow for wall-bang shots, especially if you have Sova or Odin on your team. It is pretty annoying to deal with, but also entertaining if you’re the …
Valorant
Every tactifriend location on new Valorant map Pearl
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant can be painfully competitive, but these sneaky tactifriends can be surprisingly calming during grueling games. All Valorant maps have tons of tactibears, penguins, rabbits, and snow figures hidden in unusual spots. Some of these are in plain sight, whereas others are in areas only visible using ghost mode. The tactibears and plushies in Valorant don’t necessarily impact the gameplay. Their job is to sit tight, look cute, and make …
Gain control of Pearl B site with this fool proof Viper setup
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Pearl’s complicated turns and nooks may make duelists sweat bullets on the defender’s site. Luckily Viper can help gain B site control on Pearl. The latest addition to the Valorant map pool Pearl is no cakewalk. The wonder beneath the waves is enough to keep players on their toes. Ace duelists and aimers may struggle to make space and garner site control. Support agents will be the true heroes on …
Secret Kay/O, Phoenix, and Yoru buffs are being tested in PBE
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Updated versions of Kay/O, Phoenix, and Yoru are in the Public Beta Environment with a number of secret buffs. Not all Valorant agents are equally viable. Phoenix and Yoru are traditionally weak in competitive games, and Kay/O only makes an occasional appearance. Due to the shifting meta, some agents often struggle to find footing in new acts. Considering the plunging pick rate of the trio, Riot Games is testing some …
How to get free On the Case Prime Gaming gun buddy in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant Episode 5 is packed with free loot and prizes, but it’s not exclusive to the in-game client. Owners of an Amazon Prime account can unlock the On the Case Valorant gun buddy for free. Extravagant Valorant skins aren’t affordable but Riot Games’ regular free rewards let all players enjoy Valorant’s in-game cosmetics. These free items may not be as lavish as the pricy ones, but they certainly add some …
First details emerge on Valorant agent 21, codenamed “Mage”
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant prophets have revealed the codename for the upcoming agent 21. Here’s everything we know about Mage. The spine-chilling initiator Fade has been terrorizing the agents with her dark abilities and beasts. In episode five’s Pearl, she’s continuing to be a strong pick, meaning the game meta will soon be ready for a new face. With potential agent buffs in the pipeline, Riot is firing on all cylinders to make …
Riot details its plans to record Valorant in-game voice chat
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Toxic players may want to watch what they say in Valorant voice chat. Riot Games is gearing up to introduce a voice evaluation system to fight bad actors. Valorant attracted loads of fans with its modern gameplay and characters. The game saw massive success among FPS fans and trolls. Riot’s efforts to curb toxicity in Valorant have been successful to some degree, but there’s no shortage of abusive players. The …
Five tips to rank up quickly in Valorant Episode 5
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant Episode 5 is here, which means it’s time to grind a new badge. Following a few simple steps at the outset can help climb the ladder quickly. In Episode 5, Riot Games pulled Split out of the queue, throwing Pearl into the mix. But, that’s not what most players are concerned about. Adding Ascendant to the ladder will make climbing ranks even more challenging. Higher ranked players may find …
Lock down wins on Pearl with this Viper site entry setup
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
New Valorant map Pearl is a maze, but not for Viper. The poisonous controller can take site control effectively with her skills. Controllers may struggle a bit on Pearl due to the sheer number of site openings. Each smoker in Valorant has a typical spherical smoke that may not be enough on large sites. However, Viper works better than most in solo situations. Her Toxic Screen splits the area in …
This risky new last second Spike trick is perfect for tilting enemies
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
There’s nothing cooler than a last-second Spike defuse in Valorant, but eyeballing it based on sound cues is too risky. Try this new trick to defuse the Spike right before it blows. Tea-bagging may have been the go-to BM in shooter games, but it no longer cuts ice. Competitively salty Valorant players have discovered new ways to tease the opponents that are much more satisfying. Tapping the Spike and then …
What’s the Valorant Crossover event pass? Here’s how to get it
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Countdown to Episode 5 has begun, bringing more reasons for players to be excited about this particular act. Riot has introduced a new crossover event for Valorant, meaning more gift items! New Valorant episodes aren’t exactly a picnic for the players. Competitive players often sweat bullets at the beginning of each episode due to the rank reset, which is pretty much a roll of the dice. However, the new act …
Here are all the Valorant ranks in order after Episode 5
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
The competitive mode for Valorant has received a bit of an upgrade in Episode 5. New players may benefit from this Valorant rank badge guide. Valorant was initially released with 22 ranks spread across eight tiers. In episode five, Riot has slipped in the green Ascendent badge to the rank order to deliver some much-needed balance. It’s not an earth-shaking update, but it could have a major impact on Valorant’s …
Here are all 7 of the Valorant maps in rotation for Episode 5
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
With the release of the fantastical eighth map, Pearl, Riot Games has introduced a new rotational cycle. Here are all the active Valorant maps in Episode 5. A sparkling green Ascendant badge and the futuristic utopia Pearl have shaken Valorant to its core. To top it all off, Riot decided to narrow the map pool down to the magic number seven. This will make the next season a head-scratcher, especially …
Here are the best agents to use on new Valorant map Pearl
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
New Valorant map Pearl is an underwater city encapsulated in a clear Radianite shield, adding yet another unique gimmick to Valorant. But what agents work best in this peculiar location? The Kingdom has taken it upon itself to secure Omega earth’s future in Valorant Episode 5. The wonder beneath the waves dubbed Pearl was once a city on the brink of collapse, but was ultimately saved by the heroes. While …
Riot Games has long looked to expand its footprint beyond the success of popular MOBA League of Legends, and one of its biggest successes to date in this regard is the tactical shooter, Valorant. Blending traditional first-person shooter elements with unique and flashy hero abilities, Valorant seeks to combine the best attributes of tactical shooters and hero shooters into one cohesive experience.
Based on player feedback, the game has largely succeeded in accomplishing those aims. It’s not an easy balance, and it’s one that is arguably still tenuous, but Riot Games seems to be doing as good a job of it as most fans have hoped for.
What type of game is Valorant?
Valorant is a first-person shooter that represents a unique blend of the tactical shooter and hero shooter subgenres. There are some games that represent similar gameplay elements, but not many that offer the exact experience that Valorant puts forward to players.
The tactical shooter genre is often considered to have been defined by the release of the original Counter-Strike, a multiplayer mod for famed single-player PC title Half-Life that later became a standalone game of its own. While most multiplayer FPS games to that point emphasized prolonged battles between opposing players zipping around the game at high speeds, Counter-Strike slowed things down significantly and made players much more susceptible to each other’s firepower, requiring players to take a more tactical approach to play.
That slower and more tactical approach, combined with the lightning-quick nature of action when it does occur, proved reliably popular. That popularity can still be seen today with the ongoing success enjoyed by the Counter-Strike franchise, and it’s this gameplay type that represents the core of Valorant. It’s no accident that former Counter-Strike developers were drafted by Riot Games to help create Valorant during the game’s formative stages.
What differentiates Valorant from CS and other tactical shooters it that each of the game’s characters, called agents, wield a number of unique abilities. Some are typical for tactical shooters, like flashbangs and smokes, while others are wildly different, such as an ability that transports two players to an isolated dueling arena for its duration.
These agent abilities are more reminiscent of hero shooters, a subgenre that arguably got its start with the Team Fortress games but has best been popularized by Blizzard title Overwatch. The abilities, combind with the tactical considerations that are at the core of Valorant, separate it from most any other FPS experience available for play.
How does Valorant esports work?
Like many other popular competitive shooters, Valorant does have a thriving esports scene. That scene is differentiated by the way it’s run and controlled by developer and publisher Riot Games. Riot uses a model based on the success of its League of Legends esports scene, which sees the globe’s competitive players and team’s separated by region. These regions play out their own competitions in their sections of the world before coming together at regular intervals for international tournaments featuring the best teams from each individual region.
While League of Legends once boasted a variety of regions and regional types, Riot sought to simplify that model when setting up esports for Valorant. The game has only a handful of major regions, and these regions are held as largely equitable, each sending their best teams to international events leading up to the year-end VALORANT Champions event.
