The console Valorant beta has been out for almost two weeks, and it’s time to dive into everything you need to know. If you’ve played or seen Valorant on PC, you might think it wouldn’t translate well to a controller. However, after playing over several hours in the beta, I’m pleasantly surprised by how well it runs on consoles.
This guide will help you get started, improve your skills, and enjoy Valorant on your console. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned gamer transitioning from other shooters, these tips will help you make the most of your Valorant experience.
Adapting to Console Controls
Aiming and Shooting
One of the main concerns for console players is aiming and shooting. While new players may need some time to adjust, experienced controller gamers will find their skills translate fairly quickly.
The key is to learn the maps and player abilities as quickly as possible, especially if you plan to play ranked. The maps released in the beta are some of the best from the PC version, making it easier for new players to adapt.
Remember that your accuracy drops significantly when you shoot on the move. Valorant players should stop their movement whenever possible before firing their weapons. You can get another accuracy boost by crouching, but this will reduce your movement speed if you need to reposition.
Movement and Keybinds
Valorant’s controls on console are mostly intuitive, but you’re limited in the number of keybinds compared to the PC version. You may need to rebind some of your buttons, but here’s a quick rundown of some key inputs:
- Slow Walking: Move your left analog stick halfway forward to slow walk. This prevents you from making noise and gives you a tactical advantage by catching enemies off guard. Sound cues are very accurate, and you can hear enemies through walls if you’re close enough.
- Crouching: Unlike other games, the crouch button in Valorant is down on the left stick. This change was made to free up buttons for other functions, and you can customize it to your preference.
- Aiming Down Sights (ADS): To aim down sights, click LT and then press down on the right stick to fully zoom in. Use full ADS for long-range fights and hip-fire for close encounters. For holding angles, using LT for a more precise aim is recommended.
- Customizing Keybinds: You can change any of your keybinds, and while the default settings are well thought out, feel free to adjust them to suit your playstyle.
You’ll notice that the left trigger doesn’t enter ADS, as it would in most other shooters. Instead, LT (or L2 on Playstation) will enter ‘Focus mode’ in Valorant. You’ll receive a slight improvement in weapon accuracy coupled with a decrease in movement speed. I recommend firing from the hip as much as possible or ADS-ing down long sight lines.
Sensitivity Settings
Surprisingly, the console beta’s default sensitivity settings are quite comfortable. If you’re struggling, try sticking with the default settings before adjusting.
I made some slight tweaks to my own sensitivity settings. I increased the horizontal sensitivity a bit and decreased the vertical sens one point. In Valorant, you end up keeping your crosshair at head height for most of a round, and I find having a lower vertical sensitivity prevents me from accidentally moving the cursor too far from head level.
Gameplay Tips
Holding Angles
A crucial tip for improving in Valorant is holding angles where you know enemies will push. Keep your crosshair at head level to maximize your chances of landing headshots. This is essential for both new and experienced players, as proper crosshair placement can make a significant difference in your gameplay.
At the same time, you need to keep your head on a swivel to check for flanks. You won’t always be in a position where the enemy has line of sight in one direction. Sometimes, you will hold an angle that could put you in the middle of crossfire from two sides. In this instance, try to regularly check your sides and ask your team to call out any enemies rotating around the map.
Sound Cues
Sound cues in Valorant are highly accurate, allowing you to hear enemies through walls if you’re close enough. Use this to your advantage by slow walking and listening for footsteps and abilities. This can help you flank enemies or prepare for incoming attacks.
Additionally, you can sprint in a direction to alert an enemy then slow walk in a different direction to try to catch them off guard. Valorant is as much about mind games as it is about game mechanics!
Some of the Best Settings for Console Valorant
General Settings
Let’s start with the basics. For the map settings, I prefer to have “Rotate with Player” turned on and “Keep Player Centered.” I also adjust the size and zoom to my preference. These adjustments are personal and may vary for each player.
Controls and Button Mapping
For the button controls, I keep most settings the same. If you can afford it, having back paddles on your controller makes a huge difference in Valorant. You can map buttons like jump and crouch to the paddles so you can keep your thumb on the joysticks without sacrificing your mobility.
If you don’t have paddles, try assigning your jump and crouch to shoulder buttons. It’ll feel weird at first, but the benefit is significant once you get over the initial learning curve.
Dead Zone Settings
Dead zones are crucial for ensuring accurate input without unintended movements. Here’s a breakdown:
- Inner Dead Zone: This setting determines how much pressure you need to apply to the thumbstick before it registers an input. A smaller dead zone makes the controls more sensitive but can lead to stick drift. I recommend keeping it moderate.
- Outer Dead Zone: This setting calculates how much you need to press the stick to reach maximum speed. It should also be moderate to ensure fast input without excessive sensitivity.
- Movement Dead Zone: Keep this around the default or slightly lower. Lowering it too much can cause accidental movements, which can give away your position.
- Trigger Dead Zone: Set this to the lowest possible value. It determines how quickly the game registers your trigger input, which is vital in a 1v1 situation.
Advanced Settings
In the advanced settings, you can find the option to disable walking while in Focus mode. I prefer to walk as much as possible, so I opt to press L3 to run instead of having run as my default movement.
This is also where you should set your trigger dead zone to the lowest for faster input registration.
Mastering Valorant on Console
Valorant on console is an exciting new way to experience the game. You can improve and climb the ranks with proper practice and the right strategies.
While the tactical concept is close to that of games like Rainbox Six Seige, but the game mechanics are very different from anything I’ve played on console. It’ll probably be rough initially, but this game is so much fun when you start to get the hang of things!
