Valorant
Valorant
Viper 1-way allows her to completely shut down sites on Ascent
Fariha Bhatti
Viper is an absolute menace on Ascent with the map offering up some juicy one-way poison smokes options. Despite being released in the original Valorant roster, Viper long struggled for relevance. Several buffs later, players refuse to pick any other controller in Valorant over Viper. This new one-way smoke on Ascent’s point B shows why she’s the favourite smoker in Valorant. Ascent’s point B is hard to defend against enemies …
Valorant
800,000+ viewers watch G2 vs. Sentinels at VCT Masters Berlin
William Davis
VCT Masters Berlin is delivering on all fronts so far as the best Valorant teams in the world face off on LAN, but two teams are attracting more attention than the rest. So far, Sentinels and G2 Esports have been the teams that viewers have been most interested in by far. The two star-studded rosters are playing in the same group, which means two best-of-three series between the two have …
Valorant
Jett is OP when you use the highest spot in all of Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Ever wondered what the highest spot on Icebox is? This player might have found the perfect vantage point. Few agents can truly shine on the tiny tundra of Icebox. Jett rules this cold location in the duelist category, thanks to her ability to hop on top of boxes. The content creator and ace Jett main HowtoNoodle has kicked things up a notch by finding an overpowered spot on Icebox using …
Valorant
Valorant fan creates Omen clay figure that’s adorable, spooky
Fariha Bhatti
Omen is still a fan favorite in Valorant and this tiny clay statue by a Valorant player is proof. Released as part of the original 10-man Valorant roster, Omen has remained a crucial agent in his own category. Even after a number of major balance patches and other additions to the lineup, players still prefer the spooky controller over other smokers. A Valorant player paid homage to the character by …
Valorant
Riot Games may be considering a map pick feature for Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
After rolling out its seventh map, the team behind Valorant is now considering the addition of a map pick feature for the game. Since Valorant’s release, players have complained about not being able to queue in desired locations. Unlike other first-person shooters, Valorant’s has a random map pick system that can be a bit of a nuisance. However, Riot Games recently expanded the map pool with Fracture, and players are …
Valorant
Cypher might be OP on Fracture thanks to these unique lineups
Fariha Bhatti
Fracture’s complex underground design calls for a reliable Sentinel who can watch the backlines, but Cypher has the added bonus of being able to completely lock down flanks. Valorant’s seventh map has an interesting design that sandwiches defenders between attackers with the H-shaped layout. Coupled with an underground zip line feature, Fracture is one of the most complex maps in Valorant so far. While attackers on Fracture have an edge …
Valorant
sinatraa’s Valorant esports suspension is over, but what’s next?
Olivia Richman
Valorant star Jay “sinatraa” Won is no longer suspended from Valorant esports. sinatraa received a six-month suspension in May following sexual assault allegations made against him by his ex-girlfriend, Cleo Hernandez. Hernandez opened up about her negative experiences with her ex-boyfriend, claiming emotional and sexual abuse during their time together. These allegations included screenshots and audio recordings. Riot Games opened up an investigation into the allegations. This resulted in a …
Valorant
How to do an in-game lightshow with ZEDD skins
Fariha Bhatti
The latest Valorant skin bundle Spectrum may cost a fortun, but it has extraordinary features that are worth every penny. Riot Games has been releasing unique skins like Sentinels of Light and Recon in the recent patches. But, the brand new ZEDD collection is in a league of its own. The pricey bundle has a minimal appearance at first but it comes with an over-the-top finisher that has a secret …
This attacker side Viper setup on Fracture wins games
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Fracture’s split layout is perfect for main Viper players. The new location is tough to tackle but not when Viper has your back. No other agent struggled in the pick rating as much as Viper in the initial acts. However, the gas engineer has been on top of her game in the recent patches and it seems that she’ll stay a favorite agent for a long time. The new map …
Top 5 agents to use on new Valorant map Fracture
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
After bolstering Valorant’s gunplay, Riot Games has released a new map that once again highlights the agent abilities of the game. Fracture isn’t a duelist map. It requires the full use of agent powers. Fractured is perfectly sized. Unlike Breeze and Icebox, it’s neither too large nor too small. Agents who carry smokes, molotovs, and similar abilities will shine on this lush location. Here are the top five agents that …
Valorant Episode 3, Act 2 launches with Fracture, battle pass
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Valorant Episode 3, Act 2 has arrived, and it’s one of the most exciting so far. Competitive queues have been stopped by Riot Games to smoothly roll out the new update, which expands the Valorant map pool. The sizeable patch has now gone live in most regions. https://twitter.com/PlayVALORANT/status/1435625137546485762 Patch 3.05 is a massive one, as it buffs most agents, brings back Immortal tiers, and adds new map Fracture. While players …
New Viper one-way gets easy kills on Icebox
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Smokers aren’t as viable on Icebox as other agents but this new one-way Viper setup proves otherwise. Icebox’s unique layout loaded with choke points and narrow entryways doesn’t allow Controllers to play around with their kits. However, Viper is unlike any other agent in her category thanks to her death-dealing equipment. This new lineup for one-way smoke on point B shows she’s a solid pick on all maps. Icebox’s point …
Riot reveals Spectrum, Valorant’s most expensive bundle
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games has collaborated with popular DJ ZEDD to create the game’s first creator-inspired skin bundle. Valorant recently released its first collaboration bundle in Ruination, and it seems that Riot Games plans on rolling out more collections moving forward. The developer has announced a partnership with ZEDD to deliver a new skin bundle unlike any other in the game. Valorant is known for its expensive luxury in-game content, including skins, …
shroud says Fracture feels like a CSGO map, and this is why
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Popular Twitch streamer and first-person shooter specialist Michael “shroud” Grzesiek has tried new Valorant map Fracture, and he thinks it’s most similar to maps in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Riot Games’ latest addition to Valorant’s map pool is a game-changer. It branches off from typical FPS map design, adding a new twist to the genre. Former CSGO pro and current Valorant streamer shroud dove into the new location, and he’s a …
More agent 17 teases, big lore reveals coming with Fracture
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
The latest Valorant map, Fracture, has tons of easter eggs regarding game lore, but it might also be hinting at agent 17’s forte. Fracture takes Valorant in a different direction and doubles down on Mirrorverse lore, highlighted recently by Riot Games in the Duality cinematic. Players have discovered new easter eggs in Fracture that may confirm Deadeye’s specialty. Riot Games has hidden plenty of tactibears across Fracture, but devs may …
Breach buffed in patch 3.05, Immortal tiers return
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
The latest Valorant patch brings a brand new map Fracture and glad tidings for competitive players stuck in lower ranks. Valorant Episode 2 Act 3 is on the horizon and it’ll significantly impact agent interactions and ranking system. Riot Games previously dropped hints regarding fixing ranked distribution. The new act will implement the changes, making ranking up much easier. So far, most players pick Breach for trolling purposes. The new …
Does Icebox need a rework? Riot considering overhaul of the map
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games might be planning another rework for its icy cold map, Icebox. Valorant is packed with dusty maps that encourage long-range duels. Icebox is a major outlier in the map pool, but players aren’t big on bomb point B say it can be bland at times. It seems that the developer is listening, and a rework is in the cards, streamer and caster Jakub “Lothar” Szygulski has revealed. https://twitter.com/LotharHS/status/1433584519974633475 …
New visual bug teleports Spike from base to the site
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Patch 3.02 left many bugs in Valorant but this new one targets defenders explicitly. A new visual bug is misleading defenders in Valorant regarding the Spike’s location. Attackers often forget the Spike behind in the Spawn, which renders enemies a massive advantage. This glitch places a dupe of the bomb in base, tricking defenders into staying back. https://www.reddit.com/r/VALORANT/comments/pf68gd/spike_teleported_from_base/ Since the release of patch 3.02, players have reported many errors and …
Is new agent Deadeye being teased in this Fracture trailer?
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Fracture’s trailer dropped with a bang, and it highlights a significant hint for agent 17. Riot Games recently expanded the map pool with the addition of an H-shaped locale Fracture. Many players overlooked a massive detail in the trailer while they were busy admiring the map’s foliage covered half next to damaged facilities. The developer might have introduced agent 17, Deadeye, in the trailer for Fracture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CR4Wy8dKrY Lore-heavy map Fracture …
First look at new map Fracture’s unique layout, release date, images
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant
Riot Games has finally revealed the seventh location and it’s unlike any other map in Valorant. Valorant’s much-awaited map Fracture might be Riot Games’ most inventive creation so far. Fracture is a game-changer. It breaks away from typical first-person shooter map design, with each party dominating a particular map area. Fracture rolls in with attackers sandwiching defenders from both sides. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CR4Wy8dKrY Riot Games has always successfully created hype around new …
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.
