11 Must-Know Tips for Valorant Beginners
From Silver to Radiant in 6 Months
I used to be just another average player in most games. But in Valorant, by studying the game, watching pros, and going through plenty of trial and error, I climbed from Silver to Radiant in just 6 months.
To help you climb faster than I did, I'm sharing 11 essential tips that made the biggest difference in my journey. And I promise—these aren't the same recycled tips you've seen in every other video. If I had known them earlier, I would have ranked up even faster.
Stick with me until the end, because we'll cover things like how to dodge bullets, how to find perfect lurk timings, what aim style actually works for you, and much more. Let's kick it off with the first tip that instantly boosted my win rate:
1Timing Your Movement
Most players autopilot their movement—mindlessly spamming "AD AD" between bursts. But the best players time their movement with intent. Watch pros like Less: in every fight, his head shifts just as the enemy fires, making it look like he's literally dodging bullets.
By syncing your movement with enemy shots, you force them to react to unpredictable shifts—something even top players struggle to hit mid-flick. You can practice this in Deathmatch: focus on baiting shots and timing your movement so enemies miss completely.
2Crosshair Placement Over Raw Aim
It's easy to blame "bad aim" every time you lose a duel. But often, it's not your mechanics—it's your crosshair placement. Even the world's best aimer, MattyOverwatch, hits close targets 30% faster than spread-out ones. That's how much positioning matters.
Clean crosshair placement means less flicking, faster shots, and more consistent wins. The key is to keep your crosshair slightly off the wall or angle you're holding—giving yourself just enough reaction time. No amount of aim training can fix poor crosshair placement.
3Your Aim Style is Just a Style
Not every Radiant has "calm, perfect aim." Some thrive on fast reflexes and sharp flicks (like Something), while others rely heavily on crosshair placement and patience.
Instead of forcing yourself to copy trending styles, lean into what comes naturally. Find pros whose aim looks like yours and study them. The goal isn't to aim "correctly"—it's to aim effectively for you.
4Everyone Needs to IGL
I used to think, "I'm not an IGL, I'll just frag." Big mistake. Even aim gods like Scream and TenZ actively call for utility and plays. Aim wins fights, but team coordination wins games.
Every role has responsibility:
- Duelists should call for utility to take space.
- Sentinels must explain setups and rotations.
- Controllers/Initiators need to time abilities with teammates.
Even small calls make your team way more efficient.
5Agents Change the Game
Too many players play the same way regardless of comps. Don't. If the enemy doesn't run a Sova on Icebox, abuse every corner and off-angle. If there's no Killjoy, punish mid lurks relentlessly.
Adapt not just to your comp—but to theirs. Knowing what agents are missing gives you huge advantages.
6Angle Advantage
Valorant's POV sits at your body's center, meaning your shoulder peeks first. If you peek too close to a wall, the enemy holding from afar sees you before you see them.
The fix? Back up when holding or peeking. It lets you clear angles one by one, react faster, and avoid exposing yourself unnecessarily.
7How to Lurk Properly
Lurking isn't "sit still and go late." It's about understanding enemy reactions. Teams usually either rotate or push when pressured.
If they push:
Punish them.
If they rotate:
Catch the timing before they fill the gap.
True lurking forces utility, punishes rotations, and creates space. If nothing opens up, stop lurking and just hit site with your team.
8Pushing on Defense is Not Always Bad
You've probably heard, "Stop pushing, we're on defense!" But maps like Haven or Icebox don't let you just sit back. Sometimes, pushing early gives you info, forces utility, or even flips momentum when nothing else works.
Play to your comp's strengths. Double duelists? Take early fights. No stall utility? Don't turtle. Proactive defense wins rounds.
9Your Role Doesn't Define You
Forget "support" or "healer." Every agent can frag. Look at Grim's Sage—he plays it like a duelist and still dominates Radiant lobbies.
Your utility should enable your gunplay, not limit it. Don't box yourself in—mechanics come first. Pro players show us the same agent can be played in completely different ways.
10Crouch Jumping & Silent Drops
Movement mechanics like crouch-jumping and silent drops are game-changers. Crouch mid-jump to reach higher spots (like Icebox pipes), or uncrouch mid-fall to drop silently.
Learn these tricks and you'll unlock sneaky plays your enemies won't expect.
11Valorant is Just a Game
Finally—the most important tip. Chasing perfection can suck the fun out of Valorant. Radiant isn't some magical paradise; it's full of sweaty tryhards and cheaters.
You'll improve faster if you actually enjoy the process. Play your style, embrace mistakes, and remember why you started playing in the first place.