Ranking up in Valorant is one of the most tedious tasks in video game history. For those who are new to PC games, it’s likely that their ranks would unlock at Bronze or Iron. Once you grasp the basic fundamentals of Valorant, it’s easy to rank out of Bronze. By fundamentals, players are expected to understand the meaning of Agent roles, common chokepoints, and the basics of utility usage. Once these factors are understood, ranking up into Silver wouldn’t be that big of a task. To rank above Silver and Gold is where the real grind starts. In this guide, we will look into three issues that you would have to fix to rank above of Silver-Gold and reach Platinum in Valorant.
1. Do Not Stress On Strafing Too Much.
Movement errors in Valorant are strictly punishable. Players end up missing their first shot because of minor movement errors. Players who have ranked above Bronze would notice that the run-and-gun meta is most prevalent in that specific elo. Once players get the hang of coming to a standstill and taking their shot, they quickly try to implement strafing into their movement. What players don’t realize is that strafing techniques are learned over time and as more matches are played out.
Many coaches have noticed that players tend to move sporadically left and right, assuming that they are strafing well. While doing so, players might have the crosshair right on the head but end up missing the target. This is ideally caused by movement penalties implemented by Riot. To help overcome this bad habit, there is an option to enable the movement error graph within the stats tab of the settings. Enable that feature, and players can immediately notice the changes they need to make.
2. Make Sure to Learn 2-3 Agents for Every Map To Rank Up Faster
Another key element that players have to focus on in order to rank up is agent knowledge. Especially in Valorant, Sticking to just one agent from every role doesn’t cut it when you reach the higher elos. Instead, focus on agents for specific maps, and make sure to play them out in the best way you can while playing ranked. The majority of low Elo players learn one agent from every role, and they keep spamming that specific selection while filling in. The sad truth is, every specific map has special agents that players have to learn. Make sure to “fill in” with map-specific agents, rather than the agents you think you’re comfortable with. Make use of sites like tracker.gg or Blitz.gg to understand which are the best agents suited for each map.
3. Mental is Everything in Valorant
Tilt in Valorant is deemed as the biggest “throw” factor to exist in the game. A player might get an ace in the first round and end up bottom fragging because they got tilted mid-game. This is a very common scenario. Many assume that aim is something players should have ready from the first round and end up flaming teammates for early whiffs. The moment a teammate gets called out for their aim, it’s most likely not going to help the player with their confidence. The real answer is to wait it out and empower your teammates until they feel comfortable in the lobby.
As important as “comms” are in Valorant, the tone used in these comms can make or break a team. For anyone having trouble dealing with toxic teammates on a regular basis, mute them early and use the in-game communication wheel to play the match out. It might be tough for the first few rounds, but everyone in the lobby will end up using the comms wheel. Simple techniques like this to keep a healthy mental state are the easiest way to rank up out of Gold and Silver.
