Hi everyone! I'm Amen. Like many of you on these forums, I've taken a liking to Riot's brand new tactical shooter, Valorant. Even throughout the Phoenix team kills/team flashes, our own Sage walling off the point we're pushing, and our Jett dropping the spike 100 feet up, I keep coming back for more.

We all know the game isn't perfect. No game is, even if IGN does give The Last of Us 1 & 2 10/10. Valorant does have it's issues, similar to all other games. Imperfection isn't exclusive to video games either - unless you're a cheater, all players err and will often find themselves frustrated by even the smallest mistakes. This is true tenfold in competitive; there's something at stake.

If you're still reading, you might be thinking "tell me something I don't know".

I'm nothing short of mediocre at Valorant, and as of writing, I've finished my placements into Gold. Nonetheless, like everyone else, I've made mistakes. For anyone interested, I'd like to share a few things I've done to mitigate said mistakes:

#1) Don't be afraid to try new agents
All too often do players rely on being a one-trick. Consequently, when a one-trick player doesn't lock in their main "fast enough", they struggle throughout the entire match. If you've only ever used one or two agents, give the others a shot. It doesn't have to be in competitive - Spike Rush, Unrated, Customs, and Practice are great modes to get a hang of new agents. Additionally, the more agents you play, the better you'll be able to counter them. You'll gain a better understanding of each character's limits and henceforth learn to counter them more effectively. Please, for your sake, don't be afraid to try new agents.

#2) Don't be afraid to try new guns
Similar to agents, there's already a predefined gun meta. This meta may shift as patches come along, but right now Valorant's gun meta seems well-defined. You know what I'm talking about - the Ghost or Classic w/ Light armor pistol rounds, followed by Vandals, Phantoms and Operators afterwards. These guns are meta for a reason - they've found success more often than the others. Despite this, don't be afraid to defy the meta. This also applies to point #1 (especially if the agent you're picking goes well with the team composition). There are certain guns which are extremely situational but can quickly tip the scales of a game. The Judge can dominate specific angles. The Odin and Ares, when properly angled, can wipe out entire teams. If your head shot game is strong, the Marshal isn't a terrible pick. Consider and experiment with all of your options. This can only benefit you, not hurt you, so why not try it?

Also, understand where guns are most useful. Avoid lead-pushing Haven C long with a Judge - an Operator may be the better choice.

#3) Understand your maps
It goes without saying that each map in Valorant is unique. Because of this, some maps are advantageous for specific weapons and agents. Has anyone here played Smash Bros? The same applies - certain characters are nearly busted depending on the map. Do your best to experiment between characters and guns to find out what works best. You don't have to use the same agent for every game on every map. If you are, it might even be holding you back.

Moreover, try to study what each map has to offer. Know your common angles (where players are most likely to push/peek) and play unpredictably to counter these angles. Know what can and can't be wall banged per map (in Valorant, nearly everything can be wall banged).

If you're playing Jett, Omen, Sage, or Raze, you can exploit the map like nobody's business. Learn all of the high spots you can reach as they can be extremely useful.

#4) Play with your team, not against them
Playing with your team can be hard, especially if you're solo queuing. Regardless, working with your team to best optimize it's chemistry is quintessential towards victory. This can be anything from choosing Sage so your team has a healer to not playing "lone wolf". Remember, Valorant is a team-based tactical shooter, not a 1v5 simulator.

Make call outs. Ping locations. Let your teammates know how much damage an enemy has taken. Be useful to your team, help your team, inform your team. Even if you're dead, you can still ping map locations, ping where a player's cross hair is, and make call outs.

#5) Use your abilities. Use your abilities. For the love of god, use your abilities!
Valorant != CSGO (!= means not equal to)

But how is this possible? They're both pacey tactical shooters!

It's true that Valorant clearly takes lots of inspiration from Counter Strike. However, among the many differences, there's one that truly stands out. There are agents, and each agent has unique abilities.

All too often do I witness players not use their abilities enough, or perhaps not use them at all (even in competitive). While true that having good gun play is extremely essential, it's also true that learning and using your abilities can make or break a match. Player detecting arrows, exploding Roombas, shooting earthquakes from your arms and more. These abilities can push sites, hold sites, earn kills, and even protect your team. Learn them. Use them. And use them often.

Also: Don't push/peek angles with abilities equipped. There's a few exceptions, such as Duelist ults.

#6) Practice your fundamentals
As with any skill, mastering the basics can get you extremely far. There countless players who ignore fundamentals - these are the same players who miss every shot, never check their corners, and constantly aim at the ground.

Adjust your settings, and make sure to find your optimal sensitivity and crosshair. Learn when to walk and when to run. Aim for head level. Learn what counter strafing is. Know what can be wall banged. Check your corners. Use your ears as often as you do your eyes - listen for enemies and react appropriately. These are a few of many fundamentals. Take some time in Practice and Custom modes to truly master the basics.

#7) Understand the economy
Use your money appropriately. Know when to save, when to half-buy, and when to full buy. Pay attention to your team's weapons and money. Pay attention to the enemy team's weapons and money. Buy and save accordingly. How you and your team spend money can effectively determine who wins the match. Unless it's do-or-die, you should never be at $0.

#8) Take breaks
Do you always want to be at the top of your game? If so, take breaks. Avoid playing any game for more than two hours straight without taking a break. Not taking breaks can lead to unnecessary stress buildup and burnout. During a break, do whatever - drink water, use the restroom, listen to music or grab a snack. Just don't play constantly, because eventually play will begin to feel like work, thus becoming less enjoyable. You'll thank yourself later.

That's all for now! I hope someone finds at least one thing useful. There's a lot more information out there to help players improve and better understand the game - what I've shared here is but a small collective of advice from personal experience. Thanks for reading!