Valorant
Valorant
All of the settings for TenZ, Valorant’s best player in 2021
Fariha Bhatti
Climbing the ranks in Valorant is no easy feat, but tweaking in-game settings can help to make the journey smoother. Valorant has a strict ranking system, but those shifting from other first-person shooters will likely find easy in the games. Sentinels’ Tyson “TenZ” Ngo is also among many players who switched from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to raise Valorant’s skill ceiling to a whole new level. The pro player is currently …
Valorant
How to win Valorant games with Astra
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant’s celestial controller Astra is tough to master, but she’s extremely rewarding when used appropriately. In high ELO games, Astra can be the difference-maker when all else fails. Astra has been part of Valorant protocol for months now, but she’s still rarely seen in ranked games. Her high learning curve makes her a rare pick in low ELO games, but professional players like to run the controller. Her kit is …
Valorant
What is Valorant PBE, and how do you apply for it?
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant PBE, short for Public Beta Environment, is a testing sandbox for new features, agents, and bug fixes that are being developed for Valorant. Players can become a part of this program to help Riot better the game. Riot Games has rolled out regular patch updates for Valorant since the game’s release in 2020. The developer has been keen on ensuring the best FPS experience for its players. The PBE …
Valorant
How to get RiotX Arcane gun buddies in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant has dozens of unique gun buddies, but Arcane themed cosmetics are rare. Players can grab still grab the tiny charms to partake in Arcane celebrations across various Riot titles. Riot Games recently announced another crossover between sister games League of Legends and Valorant to commemorate the release of the animated Netflix series Arcane. Valorant players received a brand new bundle that included a Sheriff skin and other goodies. However, …
Valorant
Is the Classic still overpowered after its nerf? Pros say yes
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant’s Classic recently got nerfed, but professional players still think it’s overpowered. Riot Games has continued to rework Valorant weapons after considering community feedback. Recently, players started complaining about the starting pistol being overpowered when compared to the game’s pricier sidearms. The developer nerfed the Classic right-click to better suit the current meta, but it doesn’t seem to do much. The firing error for Classic was changed from .05 to …
League of Legends
League of Legends and Valorant available in Epic Games Store
Nicholas James
Riot Games is continuing to shake up the video gaming world this week, opening the flood gates on announcements galore ahead of the Worlds 2021 finals and the release of Arcane, their flagship animated series on Netflix. After an announced collaboration with Fortnite, Riot is taking its partnership with Epic Games a step further. Today, Epic Games announced that all of Riot Games’ titles, including League of Legends, Valorant, Teamfight …
Valorant
How to play every duelist in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant currently has five fierce duelists and while all of them are equally viable, some are better on certain maps than others. Riot Games’ shooter was unveiled with three duelists in the original roster. The developer later added Yoru and Reyna, making it one of the most crowded categories. Though every agent has their uses, it’s rare that an agent is flexible to the point where they’re a true must-pick. …
Valorant
Brimstone now has a secret office in Valorant’s firing range
Fariha Bhatti
A secret room has been added to the range, offering players more information about Brimstone’s past. Valorant lore continues to become denser as the game gets older. Riot Games has slipped in a secret door to Brimstone’s office, which shines a light on the agent for the first time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnn4uJJH0kQ Newer agents in Valorant have enjoyed tons of spotlight in terms of lore and background. Most stories are developments based …
Riot Games confirm 5-stack queues for all ranks coming to Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games has confirmed that five-stacks are returning to Valorant, but it won’t be as simple as players think. Players have long been complaining about a ranking system that limits five-stacks. The developer has implied rank disparity on full lobby queues, which forces higher-rank players to queue in duos. Leakers suggested that this will change in patch 3.10, and Riot Games has responded with a confirmation. https://twitter.com/PlayVALORANT/status/1455617616718942209 After the leakers …
Classic’s right-click finally nerfed in Valorant patch 3.09
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games has heard the woes of players tired of getting alt-tapped by the Classic and patch 3.09 will nerf the deadly right-click once and for all. Valorant players have been complaining about weapons being overpowered since the release of the game in 2020. The developer has delivered fixes regularly, balancing the guns to suit player needs. Except for the Classic. A whole year since the game’s release, players were …
Valorant Arcane Collector set, Radiant Crisis 001 skins includes baseball bat
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games has unveiled a brand new skin bundle, which is a treat for baseball fans. A new Valorant bundle has introduced a new melee weapon into the game. The Radiant Crisis collection comes with a baseball bat that is equally hilarious and cut-throat. Players have long been waiting for premium edition skins with unique kill banners and animations. The Radiant Crisis bundle is a bit on the minimal side, …
These are the best and worst Valorant maps in Episode 3
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games continue to expand the Valorant map pool by delivering unique locations in each episode. After three episodes, Valorant has seven maps as developers prepare the players for more to come. Riot Games has the habit of modifying game meta with the release of the new map. The developer introduces a new mechanic in every new map, heavily impacting the agent pick rate. While most of these features were …
Riot devs announce Arcane themed items for Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games recently announced that Valorant and other titles would be crossing over with League of Legends during the release of the animated series Arcane. Arcane is coming to Netflix and Riot Games is making sure that players across all titles are informed. The developer has announced League of Legends’ Arcane-themed content for all games, including Wild Rift, Legends of Runeterra, Teamfight Tactics, and Valorant. https://twitter.com/LeagueOfLegends/status/1455188017786732547 Riot Games’ Netflix series …
This is how to play Viper, Valorant’s venomous agent
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
The poisonous Viper is a complex agent. It’s important to learn how to play Viper before even looking at the ladder, since her kit can be awful in the wrong hands. Hybrid agents in Valorant became the hot meta when Viper’s kit was overhauled. The controller became more than just a smoker, also enjoying the ability to deal heavy damage to enemies. However, her unique Toxic Screen and Ultimate can …
How to practice your aim when switching from CSGO to Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Counter-Strike
Valorant may have game-changing abilities at its center, but aim is crucial to climbing the game’s ranks. We have a few tips for players looking to get better at taking down enemy agents. Riot Games dipped its toes into the first-person shooter genre with Valorant and instantly roped in a large chunk of players from more established shooters. Many Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players found instant success in Valorant, but some …
Valorant is officially the most toxic game in 2021
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant is one of the most popular video games in 2021, but it has also become the most toxic one, according to a new report. Keeping a healthy environment in the team lobby can be difficult, especially in first-person shooter games where communication is crucial. Players must coordinate to win, but slight miscommunication can often lead to toxicity in competitive games. Valorant is the new game in this category, and …
Leak uncovers Valorant Episode 3 Act III battle pass rewards
Steven Rondina
Valorant
Valorant Episode 3 Act III is set to be a very big one given the battle pass rewards that leakers found in hidden files. Alongside the long-awaited reveal of Deadeye, officially named Chamber by Riot Games, Valorant data miners unearthed what will likely be most of the rewards for the Episode 3 Act III. This includes two new skin lines, as well as a unique melee weapon. As of this …
Valorant agent 17 revealed, Chamber abilities explained
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant has announced the identity of agent 17. Chamber brings his own custom weapons into the game for the first time. Agent 17, named “Deadeye” by the leakers, has finally been revealed by Riot Games. The new agent is called Chamber, and while he may not meddle with time as predicted, his ultimate does come with a custom Operator, coinciding with the bullet teaser Riot shared earlier this month. https://twitter.com/PlayVALORANT/status/1454101476935077903 …
Should the Classic be nerfed in Valorant?
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant’s free pistol, the Classic, continues to be the hot topic among Valorant players, since some still believe it’s too overpowered. Classic is a go-to weapon for teams that value their armors and utility in the first round. While some players choose to upgrade their pistol at the cost of utility, others stick with the free default weapon. Classic can be extremely rewarding on first rounds, thanks to their powerful …
Leaked Riot blog confirms agent 18 will be released two weeks after Act 3
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games has delayed the release of the new Valorant agent to ensure “clarity of gameplay.” Developers confirmed the news on Twitter, stating that the agent will be delayed for two weeks after the launch of Episode 3 Act III, which is one patch cycle. But many Valorant fans were already aware of the delay due to a leaked blog post. https://twitter.com/PlayVALORANT/status/1453742719340326921 Valorant ranks are about to get locked as …
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.