Riot Games have transformed the trajectory of E-Sports and professional video gaming with their favorite titles, Valorant and League Of Legends. However, despite millions of people playing Valorant every day, there are still elements of the game that are misunderstood or unknown by the wider gaming community – today, we’re going to run through the top 5.
5 Misunderstood for Valorant
1 – Valorant Betting Markets Exist
Professional video gaming betting markets have exploded to life over the last decade. It’s not a surprise, really. Valorant tournaments have gone from the fringes of the gaming world to selling out stadiums in less than a decade.
So long as there is significant competition in a professional market in the modern digital age, you can guarantee that a betting company is putting together markets for it. Valorant is different because it is such a visible market, and the betting markets that underpin the leagues are becoming increasingly popular. Betting on Valorant games at Thunderpick provides access to these gambling markets but allows a route for people who want to use cryptocurrency as an alternate payment option.
They work like any traditional betting market; you use your cryptocurrency wallet instead of your conventional payment systems. While they are pretty new, they quickly establish themselves alongside some more conventional betting markets.
2 – Don’t Take Agent Tier Lists As Gospel
Tier lists depend on authentic in-game data, such as a high win rate in ranked matches and performance in pro-play; there is a ceiling to dissecting this information. We know tier lists are considered a vital research tool in Valorant, but they should be used as a guide, not as information that changes your gaming strategy.
If you do well with an agent and have succeeded playing online with them, why change it? Debating which advanced agents suit specific roles is a different argument, but how will you master one agent or refine your skills if you are constantly swapping it around based solely on tier lists?
3 – Aggressive Play Only Applies To Duelists
When duelists aren’t playing for early picks, this can be one of the most infuriating parts of playing Valorant. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t step up and play that role. There is a belief and misconception that it’s down to the duelists to push offensively into space and play more aggressively. It depends on the role.
Obviously, in defence, skilled duelists use a dash or dismiss to escape danger while looking for quick peeks. You can still do this from other positions within the game, picking up vital map information and earning a kill or two as you push the other team back.
Pair a sova recon with your push, and don’t rush head-first into the enemy’s territory – it’s not the sort of tactic any of the Sentinels employed when they won the Valorant Masters in 2024 – and it’s not going to benefit you or your team either.
4 – Communication Is Not A Requirement To Climb
We know this one might ruffle some feathers, but from our experience playing Valorant, this is true. We’ve all encountered those duelists who go into a hyper-introverted bubble and have zero contact with the rest of the team.
However, believe it or not, there are ways and means to win a game of Valorant without constantly communicating with the rest of the team. Of course, it makes it more difficult, but climbing up the ranks is not a prerequisite.
If your team has players unfamiliar with the game or require somebody else to help map their way around, your gaming experience will ultimately be frustrating. But if you work better without having to narrate your way around the map constantly, then there’s no point in forcing communication, either.
5 – How Popular The Game Is Globally
Current eSports rankings put Valorant in third place, ahead of Counter-Strike, Dota 2 and Fortnite. Now, this won’t be a shock to those who play Valorant and see how busy the tournament rooms get and the astonishing number of people who watch live streams of the top eSports tournaments. It is undoubtedly one of the biggest eSports tournaments.
Although it does not have the standing or stature of League Of Legends, which recently sold out a 20,000 capacity at the O2 in London, it still has a colossal audience throughout Europe and Asia. While it might not have enough to take the top spot, it’s still a game that generates eye-watering sums of money and genuine global interest.
Of course, all Valorant gamers understand that the game has substantial global popularity and a burgeoning, buzzing betting market that helps to inject more intrigue and visibility into some of the biggest tournaments and competitions.
However, some of the game-specific advice is worth considering —these changes can help improve your game and dispel some of the myths that can hold back even the most experienced and ardent Valorant players.