Here are 10 universal tips to help you climb to the highest ranks in Valorant!
Alright, no more of this low-rank shenanigans, it's time to get good at the game and take your skills to the next level. Whether you're a complete beginner looking or more experienced player looking to tune your strategies, these 10 tips will help you to improve, and we promise you – if you do all of them at once, then Radiant will just be a matter of time.
WARNING: some of these tips will be really sweaty. Like, super super sweaty. So if you are not a sweaty player... well, you can read it, unless it won't be too sweaty for you.
Find a Duo Partner
Climbing Valorant ranks can be exhausting, so it is better to have a partner with whom you can go through this journey. Ideally, your duo partner should complement your weaker sides and play with a different class, but this will only make a difference in Gold+ ranks. Having someone to play with will also give you a different perspective on the metagame and criticism of your gameplay, which you can later use to polish your skills and improve.
And most of all – if you want to climb, don't play with people who don't care about winning. Even though some people might be fun to play with, they won't help you in getting a Radiant rank., and if you really want that, you need to find people who are as tryharding as you are. It can be painful to say "no" to some people, but it is what it is.
Play Consistently
If you want to do something better, do it consistently, even if you suck at it. It's also the case with Valorant and every other video game, especially ones that you need some muscle memory skills for. Even if you can't commit to playing a full game on a given day, take a few minutes to practice on The Range.
For real, if you have a busy life, then just do 10 or 15-minute sessions every day, and then just play actual matches 2 or 3 times a week! This small investment of time can go a long way in improving your muscle memory and overall game performance, and it won't necessarily disrupt your daily schedule too much.
Learn Your Strategies & Lineups
Aim skills alone won't be enough; oh no, not in this game. Not only you should know lineups for the Agent that you are playing, but you should also know which lineups to expect from the enemy team. And then, you want to come up with strategies that counter all these popular meta lineups. Of course, you don't have to be so perfect about it, but that's how it should ideally look like.
We know that it might be boring to practice lineups for hours without any competition. And honestly, this lack of discipline in learning lineups and testing strategies is something that will block some of you in this hard climb. We know that it might be boring to practice lineups for hours without any competition. Still, it is like that with every competitive game or sport – many aspects of them are super boring, but players who really care about improving do them as well.
Avoid Distractions While Climbing
If you care about winning, turn off every app that is not related to your climbing session. That includes Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, and all that kind of stuff. It's a distraction, and it's absolutely not worth it. Simply put, forget about consuming content while you are fighting for a higher rank; your focus needs to be on point.
Focus On Your Weak Parts
There is really no need to waste time on things you are already super good at – you've already mastered them, that part is done! Instead, identify areas where you can improve (or in other words "where you are bad") and focus on them. It won't be comfortable, because well, first you need to say that you are bad at something out loud. And nobody likes that.
Whether it's communication, aim skills movement, or managing your emotions, doesn't matter. You are surely bad at something and there is always something to improve. That said, take stock of your strengths and weaknesses and don't be afraid to put in the work to become a better player. Huh, that was the sweatiest thing I wrote in this guide.
Optimize Your In-Game Settings
It's also worth making sure your in-game settings are on point. You want them to give you the most comfortable gameplay, and therefore, the best environment to improve. Your settings tab is where you can really get a nice competitive edge at any level. However, it's also worth noting that there are no perfect settings; it's all up to your preferences at the end of the day. But this is why you might want to check out some of our Valorant settings guides to get yourself inspired:
- The Best Valorant Settings for FPS: Graphics Settings
- The Best Valorant Settings in 2023
- TenZ Settings & Hardware (2022)
Make Sure You Give Good Callouts
Communication is key in Valorant, as it allows your teammates to coordinate strategies, as well as share information about things like an enemy's location. Good communication can help a team to work together more efficiently and effectively, and that's something that will highly increase your chances of winning a match.
Effective communication can also help to reduce confusion and miscommunication on the team, which can lead to stupid and unnecessary mistakes. By staying in constant communication with your teammates and using clear and concise callouts, you can help to ensure that your team is always on the same page and working towards the same goals.
- Learn how to give high-quality callouts: How To Give Better Callouts in Valorant
Regularly Compete in Online Tournaments
Tournaments are a great option to gather experience and meet other players with a competitive mindset. This is probably the best practice you can get before jumping into a ranking system, especially when it comes to developing your decision-making skills. You'll need to analyze your opponents and come up with effective strategies to outmaneuver under pressure!
Plus, here you pretty much always play against pre-made squads, so a random troll in the enemy team won't save you. One aspect that is also worth mentioning is that online tournaments can also help you to improve your teamwork and communication skills, and as we have already mentioned, it's a big one.
Learn To Realize When You Should Stop Playing
It's also crucial to focus on maintaining a calm and focused mindset during your grind. High ego and emotions such as anger and frustration can lead to a bitter loss streak. Take breaks when you feel like you might need them, as grinding while feeling overwhelmed can lead to burnout, and therefore, destroy your climb.
Sometimes a 2-day break (a weekend one, for example) can really refresh your motivation and be more productive than just mindlessly clicking "Play". Take care of yourself, king, and if you have never considered fighting with a feeling of tilt, we recommend you to check out this guide: How to Avoid Tilting in Valorant
Let Others Criticize You
When other people criticize you, they are often providing some form of feedback about your performance. Moreover, it can be difficult to be objective about your own performance, and it's often easier for others to identify areas for improvement that you may not have noticed.
Sure, sometimes it might not be a nice thing to hear "ohh bro you suck at this particular Agent, don't pick it ever again". But well, maybe you do actually suck at playing this one Agent? Think about why the other players would criticize you in the first place; it does not necessarily mean that they are toxic.
Keep in mind that the process of becoming a better player will take some time, so don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate results, no matter which climbing methods you believe in. Either way, we hope that these will be helpful in your grinding journey, and if you are hungry for more information that can take your game to the next level then be sure to follow our Guides section!
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