Valorant
Valorant
These Viper lineups on Ascent can’t be countered
Fariha Bhatti
The poisonous controller Viper has some of the deadliest smokes in Valorant. These Viper one-way lineups on Ascent prove that. Viper was one of the least-picked agents in the first six months after the game’s release. However, a rework boosted her pick rate dramatically, making her a must-have on any team. Her smokes are the key reasons players prefer her over other controllers, as they’re comparatively large, deal damage, and …
Valorant
Valorant devs announce insanely big rework for Yoru’s kit
Fariha Bhatti
Riot Games has finally released an update for the much-awaited Yoru rework, and players might actually start using the neglected agent. Valorant’s stylish agent Yoru was released as part of Episode 2 to amp up the dull duelist roster. While his blockbuster release and chic attire managed to pique players’ interest, his kit fell short in practice. Valorant players have long been requesting a Yoru buff, and Riot Games has …
Valorant
Valorant Night. Market returns
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant cosmetics can be a bit too pricey, but players can still enjoy the animated cosmetic without spending big bucks thanks to the Valorant Night. Market. It’s back with cut-price skins. Riot Games’ tactical shooter is unique in many ways, but its animated in-game bundles bring tons of pizzazz to the realistic FPS genre. Unfortunately, these cosmetics aren’t affordable for all. The extravagant skins can put a strain on your …
Valorant
Who is KRU Esports, the team that kicked Sentinels out of VCT?
Fariha Bhatti
KRU esports has shocked everyone at VCT Champions by sending tournament favorites Sentinels packing. Here’s all you need to know about the argentine powerhouse. Valorant’s biggest esports circuit is finally wrapping up in Berlin at the prestigious stage of VCT Champions. The arena has already seen many upsets, but KRU Esports’ win over Sentinels is foremost among them. The Argentine team did the impossible by kicking the unbeatable Sentinels out …
Valorant
New Valorant Christmas bundle Snowfall leaks, doesn’t impress fans
Fariha Bhatti
New Valorant bundle Snowfall is full of Christmas spirit, and it adds a unique crystal knife to the game’s melee collection. Valorant is popular for its cut-throat gameplay and agent tactics, but players love the animated skins that Riot Games continue to put out. The developer doesn’t usually roll out bundles to celebrate festivals and events, but Christmas gets its exclusive skin line just like last year. The collection isn’t officially …
Valorant
Patch 3.12 brings agent profiles, team damage penalties to Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant patch 3.12 is finally here, and it brings exciting changes for versatile players who like to swap agents. Riot Games has finally rolled out a brand new patch, tackling the toxicity issues and adding a brand new feature for versatile players. The latest update is expected to improve game quality and rank experience in Valorant significantly. https://twitter.com/PlayVALORANT/status/1468233857564659726 Valorant has 17 agents, each of them having distinct powers that players …
Valorant
Valorant fan creates a real-life version of the Glitchpop dagger
Fariha Bhatti
A Valorant player has brought the game’s premium and high-demand Glitchpop dagger to life in his 3D creation. Riot Games’ tactical shooter has changed the FPS genre with the twist of abilities, but that’s not all that keeps players hooked to Valorant. The pricey animated skins add to the game’s entertainment value, and while they may cost big bucks, they’re worth every penny. Valorant’s extravagant skins can put a strain …
Valorant
How to convert your CSGO sensitivity to Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players are generally good at Valorant when they make the switch. Transferring your CSGO sensitivity to Valorant might help you to adjust to the new game ever quicker. Valorant and CSGO have a lot in common, but both shooters are unique in their own way. While CSGO players may have difficulty adjusting to Valorant’s agent abilities, most FPS skills easily transfer from one game to the other. …
Jett mains have found a new way to be toxic in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Toxic Valorant players have found a new way to grief in ranked games, and an angry Jett main has figured out another way to do so. Riot Games’ restriction on the four-person queue is proof that toxicity in Valorant is at an all-time high in 2021. Jett players are now exploiting a new bug to doom teammates in competitive games. Using Jett’s dash, players are sticking Spike to unreachable angles …
zombs bashes Brazil, now Brazilian fans want him punished
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
A new drama has been brewing in Valorant esports after Sentinels’ Controller Jared “zombs” Gitlin called the region of Brazil. Shahzeb “ShahZaM” Khanmade’s recent tweet referencing a 15-minute long pause during the game between FURIA and Sentinels has ruffled many feathers. However, Zombs’ remarks about the Brazilian region have an entire fanbase after his head. https://twitter.com/zombs/status/1467278059678146565 Brazilian teams competing for the ultimate championship in Valorant have found themselves under the …
How to fix performance and lag issues in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Performance issues can squeeze the fun out of your Valorant game. But fret not, Riot Games has rolled out a fresh guide on how to identify and fix lag issues in Valorant. Advanced first-person shooters like Valorant require high-end PC builds that can beautifully render the virtual worlds without disrupting the performance. However, an extreme PC build alone doesn’t warrant a smooth gaming experience. When it comes to Valorant, a …
This Cypher bug got a team punished during VCT Champions
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games has delayed the Group A matches at VCT Champions to review the original decision of taking away a win from Vivo Keyd over the exploiting of a game-changing bug. Valorant Champions Tour is finally going down in Berlin to crown the best team in the world after a series of tournaments. However, things aren’t going as smoothly as expected. A months-old bug has cost Vivo Keyd a significant …
Friendly fire penalties are coming to Valorant next patch
Nicholas James
Valorant
Toxicity and game-ruining behavior are issues that Riot Games has been working to address throughout Valorant’s lifespan, and that continues with a change to friendly fire penalties. The developer has already made changes to monitor voice communications, and accurately detect smurfs. Now it’s looking to address players using Valorant’s friendly fire to negatively impact games. According to one of Valorant’s foremost data miners, these changes are ready to go and …
Who is TenZ? Everything to know about the best Valorant player
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant esports is packed with talented players who transferred from other games, but Tyson “TenZ” Ngo’s captivating journey sets him apart from the rest. Sentinels duelist TenZ is considered one of the most mechanically gifted players to have ever touched the game. Since Valorant’s initial release in 2020, TenZ has switched two teams and even briefly given up on competitive play. But his comeback changed Valorant esports for good as he made …
VCT Champions 2021 schedule, prize pool, teams, and more
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
The Valorant Champions Tour has reached its final stage as Riot Games comes closer to finding the best Valorant team in the world at the prestigious stage of the VCT Champions 2021 event in Berlin. The Valorant Champions Tour is a year-long global circuit featuring three levels of competition: Challengers, Masters, and Champions. The first Valorant major was initiated in 2020, and Riot Games has since unearthed unmatched talent via …
New Viper bug gives her wallhack vision inside her ultimate
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Viper’s poisonous pit no longer blocks her entire vision, and players think her wallhack ability is game-breaking thanks to a new bug. Valorant’s feisty controller spent months on the sidelines till she finally received a much-needed rework from Riot Games. The new Viper is impeccable, but bugs like these make her insanely and unfairly overpowered in ranked Valorant games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPl_OifCoh8 Recently, a clip of Viper’s wallhack vision inside dense poison …
Valorant pro Okeanos cut for leaking explicit underage pictures
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant team Virtuoso has dropped its fresh recruit Anthony “Okeanos” Nguyen after community backlash over the player’s past wrongdoings. Team Virtuoso recently announced its comeback into the professional Valorant scene with a new roster. However, community backlash over new member Okeanos’ past has resulted in Virtuoso cutting him off after just two days with his new team. The team is once again looking for a fifth player to complete its …
How to get Valorant gun buddies from Prime Gaming loot
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games has announced a brand new gun buddy, “Outta this World,” for owners of an Amazon Prime account. Here’s how to claim the latest Valorant Prime Gaming loot. November has been an exciting month for Valorant fans. To celebrate its first biggest event VCT Champions, Riot Games rolled out plenty of exclusive in-game items for players to shop through. From VCT dad hats to an extravagant karambit, the developer …
These are the must-learn Viper lineups on Bind
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Few agents are equipped with suitable tools to tackle a map as complex as Bind. But these Viper lineups on Bind prove that she’s one of the best picks on this hard map. The poison handler is ruling the active Valorant protocol with her deadly toolkit. While she’s often picked for her unique smokes that render damage, her Snakebite is just as toxic. The molotov is capable of killing a …
How to get 2021 VCT spray and gun buddy from Twitch drops
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant’s year-long esports circuit, the Valorant Champions Tour, is finally wrapping up and Riot Games has rolled out exclusive merch and goodies for dedicated fans. This includes a free VCT Twitch drop spray, gun buddy, and player card. Riot Games has been throwing free items at players lately between the 2021 League of Legends World Championship and the RiotX Arcane event to celebrate the premiere of the animated series. That’s not …
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.
