VALORANT Guide#

VALORANT is a free-to-play 5v5 tactical shooter developed and published by Riot Games. It launched on Windows on June 2, 2020, following a closed beta that opened on April 7, 2020. The Chinese server, operated by Tencent Games, went live on July 12, 2023. This hub collects the game’s core systems based on publicly verifiable material, so new players can build a complete picture before their first match.

Game Information#

One caveat worth noting: the console and PC versions do not support cross-play, so players must pick the client that matches their platform.

Core Gameplay Loop#

Attack and Defense#

A standard match is a 5v5 attack-versus-defense contest: attackers escort and plant the Spike, while defenders must stop the plant or defuse it. A match runs up to 24 rounds, and the first side to 13 round wins takes it; a 12-12 tie sends the game into overtime. Both Unrated and Competitive use this rule set.

Agent Abilities#

Playable characters are called Agents. There are currently 29 agents available across four roles: 8 Duelists, 7 Controllers, 7 Initiators and 7 Sentinels. Each agent brings a distinct ability kit, and a team needs all four roles covered to handle entry, area control, reconnaissance and site holding. The full agent roster and release information live on the Agents page.

Economy and Weapons#

Every round opens with a buy phase, where players spend credits earned in previous rounds on weapons and abilities. Accuracy drops sharply while moving, so stopping before you shoot is the single most fundamental gunplay requirement in the game. Weapons are grouped into sidearms, SMGs, shotguns, rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns and melee, and the full price list is on the Weapons page.

Content Scale (as of the 2026 Season)#

Game Modes#

Beyond the standard attack-and-defense format, the game offers Swiftplay (nine rounds, first to 5 wins), Deathmatch (free-for-all, up to 14 players, first to 40 kills), Team Deathmatch (5v5, first to 100 kills), Premier, the 3v3 mode Retake (added in v13.00), and limited-time modes such as Snowball Fight and Escalation. Mode rules and unlock conditions are covered on the Modes page.

Ranks and Tiers#

Competitive mode unlocks at account level 20. The ranked ladder has 9 tiers and 25 sub-tiers, in ascending order: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Ascendant (added June 2022), Immortal and Radiant. Every tier except the top one is split into 3 sub-tiers. Tier rules and climbing advice are on the Ranked page.

System Requirements (Unreal Engine 5, official figures)#

The operating system requirement is 64-bit Windows 10 (Build 19041 or later) or 64-bit Windows 11; Windows 11 also requires TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot, and Windows 7/8/8.1 are no longer supported.

The minimum tier needs 4GB of RAM. On storage, the PC download is roughly 49.4GB and the installed size is roughly 24.6GB. Overall GPU demands are modest, but competitive players are advised to build for the 144 fps tier for smoother visual feedback.

Getting Started Quickly#

1. Install the client: download the international build from playvalorant.com; the Chinese server is installed through Tencent’s channels.
2. Finish the tutorial: start in The Range to get comfortable with movement, shooting and abilities.
3. Try different roles: rotate through all four roles in Unrated to find where you fit.
4. Learn map layouts: memorize site locations plus special mechanics such as teleporters and ziplines.
5. Then enter ranked: Competitive unlocks at account level 20, and placement matches give you a baseline to work from.

FAQ#

Is the game paid?#

No. VALORANT is free to play, and in-game purchases are cosmetic items such as skins that do not affect match balance.

Can console and PC players play together?#

No. The console versions (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) and the PC version do not support cross-play.

Is pistol round money only 800?#

This page does not carry unverified economy figures. Per-mode round credits and buy rules are on the Modes page, and weapon prices are on the Weapons page.

Which agent should a beginner pick?#

Start from the role concept: pick a Duelist if you want to entry frag, a Controller if you like smokes and area control, and an Initiator or Sentinel if you prefer scouting and support. The full roster is on the Agents page.

Section Navigation#

• Agents — all 29 agents, role distribution and release information
• Weapons — full weapon categories and price overview
• Maps — 13 standard maps and their special mechanics at a glance
• Modes — rules and unlock conditions for every mode
• Ranked — the tier system, placement matches and unlock conditions
• Patch Notes — current version and major version timeline
• Battle Pass — pass structure and recent series
• Abilities, Progression and Goals, Beginner Basics, Economy Management, Lore, Settings, Weapon Skins, Spectating, Strategies, Team Comps, Tips, Training, Ultimates

Related Games#

• Delta Force — a tactical extraction shooter built around squad play and objective control
• Battlefield 6 — large-scale military shooter with class-based team play
• Marvel Rivals — a hero shooter where team composition drives every match
• Deadlock — a hybrid MOBA-shooter that blends lane pressure with tactical gunfights
• Counter-Strike 2 — the reference point for round-based defusal shooters

Related Rankings#

Best Shooter Games · Best Co-Op Games · Most Anticipated Games of 2026

Full Guides#

In-depth sub-guides — the full agent roster, weapon price tables, all 13 maps, every game mode, ranked tiers and climbing routes, the battle pass, abilities, economy management and team compositions — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s VALORANT section.