How to get better at Valorant as a beginner

Valorant is one of those shooters that feels deceptively simple until you actually jump into a lobby. Suddenly, you are getting one-tapped by a teenager with pixel-perfect aim while you are still trying to figure out which ability does what.

It is brutal out there. But do not worry, because we have a list of strategies to help you.

1. Fix your messy settings

The first thing you need to change is stuff in your menus. Specifically, head to your general settings and turn “Show Corpses” off. It sounds morbid, but dead bodies clutter your view and can hide weapons or traps that you need to see.

While you are there, tweak your audio to ensure you hear agent callouts. Also, stop using the default crosshair immediately, since it’s terrible for aim. Tweak it such that it’s a smaller, cleaner dot.

2. Stop moving and shoot

If you are someone coming from Call of Duty, the first thing you’ll have a hard time with is Valorant’s mechanics. You cannot run and gun here. In this game, movement is the enemy of accuracy. To actually hit anything, you have to stand perfectly still.

One thing you should get used to is something known as “counter-strafing.” Basically, if you are holding the ‘A’ key to move left, you quickly tap ‘D’ to instantly stop your momentum before firing. It makes your first shot accurate immediately. It takes muscle memory to get right, but once you master this, you will win significantly more duels.

3. Communicate!

You cannot just say “he is over there” and expect your team to know where you mean. Every map has specific callouts for high-traffic areas, like “Garden” on Bind or “Heaven” on almost every map with a high ground. You need to learn these to relay info quickly. If you are struggling with the names, use your ping system.

Moreover, you can mark enemy locations instantly without saying a word. Also, keep an eye on your mini-map. It shows vision cones and sounds, giving you intel even if you are not looking directly at the action.

4. Learn to manage your monies

Nothing screams “noob” louder than buying a heavy rifle when the rest of your squad is trying to save. You have to watch your credits. If you spend everything every single round, you will constantly be stuck with subpar gear against fully kitted opponents.

Learn when to buy a cheap Sheriff or just a pistol so you can afford a Vandal and full shields in the next round. Communicate with your team about this, and if you are broke, ask someone with excess cash to buy for you.

5. The art of the jump-peek

Information is just as valuable as ammo. Sometimes you need to know if an Operator sniper is holding a long angle without getting your head taken off. This is where the jump-peek comes in. Equip your knife — you run faster with it — and run at a 45-degree angle toward a corner. Jump out and immediately air-strafe back into cover while looking down the lane.

This technique allows you to bait out a shot or spot an enemy safely. It is risky at first, but it’s a crucial mechanic for gathering intel in a safe manner.

6. Quit spraying around

It is tempting to just hold down the left mouse button and hope for the best, but that rarely works. After the first few bullets, your gun’s recoil goes wild and the bullets go everywhere except where your crosshair is.

Instead, practice firing in short bursts of two or three shots. This resets your recoil and keeps your shots accurate. If you are using a Vandal, this is mandatory. If you prefer the Phantom, you can get away with a bit more spraying. But disciplined bursts are still superior for long-range engagements.

7. Warm up before you dive in

You would not run a marathon without stretching, so do not jump into a ranked match cold. You need to wake up your hands. The best way to do it is spending a few minutes in the Shooting Range, clicking on bots or hop into a Deathmatch. It forces you to take gunfights without the pressure of abilities or bomb plants.

And if you want to get really serious, download Aim Lab on Steam. It is free and has specific playlists designed to mimic Valorant‘s physics.

8. Record yourself play

It is easy to blame your teammates when you lose, but that will not make you better. Instead of doing that, observe your own gameplay by watching your replay. Use software like OBS Studio, Xbox Game Bar, or Bandicam to record your matches and watch them back later.

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Once you start doing this, you will notice things you missed in the heat of the moment, like poor crosshair placement or aggressive pushes that got you killed. Did you flash your own team? Did you peek when you should have hidden? Spotting these bad habits is the first step to fixing them. It hurts the ego, but it works.