Valorant
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G2 ardiis shows how Sova can destroy Killjoy’s ultimate on Haven
Fariha Bhatti
In a recent match against Team Liquid, G2 esports’ Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks showed that he’s been spending a lot of time mastering Sova’s arrows, and gave aspiring players a great example to follow. The Grand Final of the Red Bull Homeground tournament saw Team Liquid go up against one of the most prestigious teams in Valorant, G2 Esports. The Oscar “mixwell” Cañellas-led squad swept the title of Homeground champions, and …
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Valorant patch 2.02 nerfs running accuracy, changes ranked
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant patch notes 2.02 are finally out with fixes for various bugs, shifts in the competitive ranking, and a running accuracy nerf. Riot Games has delivered second patch notes after the arrival of Episode 2, which focuses more on tactical aspects on the game. The developer has fixed various bugs, updated the competitive ranking system, and made changes to the game’s weapons. Players have recently discovered various bugs in Valorant …
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These Brimstone Molotov tricks will win you rounds on Haven
Fariha Bhatti
Controllers are crucial for opening up sites in Valorant and this Brimstone Molotov lineup shows just how powerful they can be. Valorant controllers are pegged as the ultimate support, largely thanks to their smokes. With their ability to block sights, attackers can easily win control over bomb points with minimal difficulty. However, duelists outshine them post-plant, forcing the smokers into the backdrop. Consequently, controllers have become the least-picked class of …
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ScreaM wants shooting, skills to be more important in Valorant
Olivia Richman
Team Liquid’s ace Valorant player, Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom, is known for his incredible accuracy and mind-blowing headshots and he wants those skills to translate better to Valorant. In a tweet on Monday, ScreaM expressed that he wanted Valorant’s shooting mechanics to matter a bit more. Instead, the game’s “slow movements, tagging, and aim punch” have made the game “easy for everyone.” ScreaM wrote that he hoped the next few patches …
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This Phoenix lineup lets him clear out bomb sites on Ascent
Fariha Bhatti
When it comes to duelists, Valorant’s fiery Pheonix isn’t statistically the best. This new lineup might help change that. Phoenix is the least-picked duelist, with a pickrate of just 6.7%. While other duelists enjoy aggressive abilities that let players frag out, Pheonix has a balanced toolkit capable of executing plays. His seemingly plain and tedious kit requires some work to deliver its full potential. Phoenix’s Molotov “Hot Hands” could help …
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This is what happens when you blow 2,000 Killjoy nanoswarms
M Alzamora
Competitive gaming can get a little stale sometimes as players repeatedly play on the same maps, pick the same characters, and use the same weapons round after round. But while most players take a break from competitive play with a different game, one player took a completely new approach to mixing things up. The user settled on Killjoy, Valorant’s defensive specialist who comes equipped with remotely detonated nanoswarm grenades and …
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Riot developers shine light on upcoming ranking changes
Olivia Richman
The latest Ask Valorant blog discussed some much-needed changes that will be coming in just a few patches. Last month, Riot informed fans that the shooting accuracy of running agents would see a decrease, especially with rifles. This was a much-needed change, as players that ran recklessly into the action were often rewarded with pretty good accuracy in a game that’s supposed to be about strategically guarding sites and holding …
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Indian Valorant pro Xhade confesses to cheating in Valorant
Fariha Bhatti
Valorant professional player Abhay “Xhade” Urkude has confessed to cheating in ranked matches following a ban commissioned by Riot Games. Indian Valorant team Paratroop’s Sentinel Xhade was disqualified from The Esports Club Invitational after receiving a an during the tournament. Initially, the player was adamant that he wasn’t complicit in any shady business. However, his teammates and a few Indian professional players pestered him to speak the truth. In Paratroops’ …
These Sova arrow lineups will get you an advantage early in the round
Fariha Bhatti
News
Valorant’s initiator Sova is easily one of the most viable playmakers in high ranked lobbies. Here’s how his Recon Bolt makes him an important asset for any team. A duelist may launch on enemies with blinding flashes, but teammates’ support can make them inviolable. A little information can help a duelist perform to its full potential. Sova’s toolkit allows him to gather information, assisting his teammates in opening sites. With his …
This crazy Cypher one-way smoke will lock down Split’s B site
Fariha Bhatti
News
Valorant Sentinel Cypher is prized most for his intel-gathering skills that facilitate map control. On a map like Split, Cypher’s powers shine the most. A new lineup changes how players use Cypher’s smoke to create a one-way peep, enabling you to bag bonus kills while your enemies are unable to respond. Controllers and Sentinels operate the best on maps with snug corners and tight chokes, as abilities like smokes, grenades, …
Is Sova OP in Valorant? 100 Theives Hiko shows off the agent
Fariha Bhatti
News
Valorant’s initiators are often undervalued in high-ranked lobbies, as the stats confirm. However, pro player Hiko’s incredible plays with Sova’s toolkit tell a different story. Stage one of the Champions Tour in North America saw 100 Thieves go up against The Five Emperors in a best-of-three match. The games were one-sided, as 100 Thieves stomped over their opponents in 2-0 fashion. And it was Spencer “Hiko” Martin’s outstanding use of …
Valorant ramps up new anti-cheat policies and punishments in 2021
Olivia Richman
News
Valorant announced an updated anti-cheat plan for the remainder of winter, introducing new solutions and harsher punishments for offenses. According to Matt “K3o” Paoletti of the anti-cheat team, the goal is to maintain a high level of competitive integrity in the popular tactical shooter. While the anti-cheat team reportedly watched the happenings of First Strike very closely, they haven’t been able to show the same amount of attention to the …
Valorant Champions Tour starts today, here are the teams to watch
Nina Forneloza
News
The stage is set for the NA Valorant Champions Tour with 128 teams fighting for their chance at the first global Valorant tournament later this year. So what teams should fans keep their eyes on? Below are just a few of the teams competing in the NA Challengers Series, which takes place from January 27 to March 7. The Sentinels had an unfortunate run in the First Strike Grand Final …
Evil Geniuses announces its new Valorant roster for Challengers
Nicholas James
News
One of the oldest organizations in esports, Evil Geniuses, has announced a new Valorant roster that will compete in the first Challengers tournament. The announcement was teased earlier in the day in a cryptic tweet that implied big news was coming soon. pic.twitter.com/ETmbduMKIH — Evil Geniuses (@EvilGeniuses) January 27, 2021 The team will make its debut at the event and is the first time that many of its members will …
Valorant player ReFleck banned for hacking on live stream
Fariha Bhatti
News
Aspiring Valorant professional player ReFleck was recently caught cheating on the live stream in a match against Dignitas’ all-female roster. As if Valorant bans are already not severe enough, ReFleck had to bear the embarrassment of receiving one on a live broadcast. Consequently, the player has removed himself from the internet. Dignitas’ Juliana “showliana” Maransaldi shared the “hacker detected” screenshot on Twitter, followed by the original clip from a private …
Furia, Vorax among the favorite teams in Brazil Challengers
Nicholas James
News
The South American region is kicking off its regional Challengers tournament a few days earlier than the rest of the world. The Brazillian leg is now in the closed qualifiers stage, finishing up the online open qualifiers with a few upsets. All of the top four teams in the Brazillian First Strike event were upset in the open qualifiers and will not be defending their titles at the event. Gamelanders …
Silenx to stand in for 100 Thieves ahead of Champions Tour
Fariha Bhatti
News
100 Thieves’ key player Nick “Nitr0” Cannella won’t be attending the first open qualifier of Champions Tour due to family leave. The organization has found a replacement in Jonathan “Silenx” Huntington ahead of the tour. nitr0’s leave will prevent him from attending the Champions tour initially, leaving 100 Thieves with a four-man lineup. The organization has picked up Silenx to stand-in for their expert rifle. Welcome @Silenx_x to our competitive VALORANT …
Cloud9 announces new player and changes ahead of Challengers
Nicholas James
News
In a video outlining Cloud9’s thoughts about the organization’s Valorant team moving forward, it was revealed that a new player was signing along with a new coach and general manager. Update on the status of #C9BLUE and our plans going into the future from @RelyksOG, our new GM @C9Robin, & our new Head Coach @autumnkorea! pic.twitter.com/JbG3ahof7U — Cloud9 (@Cloud9) January 26, 2021 The new addition to the Cloud9 Blue roster …
Jamppi confirms switch to Valorant after legal battle with Valve
Fariha Bhatti
News
After a lengthy legal battle, professional Counter-strike: Global Offensive player Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen has announced his much-speculated move to Valorant. ENCE’s former young gun Jamppi has been rumored to exit CSGO after years of legal proceedings with Valve. After some back and forth, the youngster has decided to quit Valve’s competitive shooter once and for all. Hello guys, i hope you understand my english, and my decision! Terkkuja ! pic.twitter.com/kHhT7F6RDj …
This Killjoy nanoswarm lineup always helps clear Ascent’s B site
Fariha Bhatti
News
Riot’s addition of Yoru in Valorant Episode 2 may have facilitated the five-duelist lobby nightmare. But a Sentinel as deadly as Killjoy still proves that picking her is key to bagging a win in Valorant. A tough fight becomes easier when the enemy team has Killjoy on a map filled with tight corners. Her toolkit is unforgiving on the defender’s side due to her ability to impede fast pushes. However, …
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.
