When it comes to ranking up in Valorant, game sense is every bit as important as aim training. And while there are no shortcuts to improving your teamwork and knowledge of the game beyond simply playing and watching more of the game, there are a few sneaky tricks you can keep in your back pocket. Here we’re running through 12 Valorant gameplay tricks you might not know but definitely should.
Fake Defuse Step
In a clutch situation in which you have to defuse the spike, baiting out a peek from the enemy is normally the go-to strategy. But did you know that pros don’t fake? Of course, you’ve heard that one before. But did you know about this technique to fool the enemy into thinking you’re not really on the spike?
By jumping onto the spike and hitting the defuse button mid-air, you will start to defuse the spike a few milliseconds before you land. This means the step actually comes just after the defuse noise, and so if the enemy is hiding around a corner waiting to hear you tap the spike they’ll often be fooled into thinking you’re not really defusing. Why? Because the step noise suggests you tapped and then accidentally ran when in fact you have performed a successfully fake defuse step.
Ascent Wallbang Through A Heaven
Ascent is basically wallbang city, and if you’ve played the map even a handful of times then you’ll be well aware of the popular wallbang spots. B Garage, for example, is a favorite for Sova mains to wallbang with an Ares or Odin after using a recon dart. There are all sorts of other tricky spots around the map, too, which make for some hilarious clips.
The wallbang through A Heaven, though, is a lesser-known spot that’s actually insanely OP, and it consistently catches enemy players off-guard. The timing you’re going for is the rotation of B/Mid players rushing up to A Heaven to begin their retake. Simply shoot the wall with a high penetration weapon, such as a Guardian, to wreak havoc on them.
Don’t forget to check out our guide on the best KAYO lineups for Ascent if you haven’t already.
Hiding Chamber Trips Behind Astra Stars
Chamber’s trip is one of the most useful flank-watching utilities in Valorant, and it can be even more potent when combined with an Astra star. Well, if you can find an Astra in ranked, that is!
So, how do you do it? Well, it’s not quite as simple as hiding the trip in the star itself but rather behind it. You want to make sure the star conceals the trip from the enemy team based on the angle they’ll be approaching from. In the above example, you can see we’ve placed it in a spot that doesn’t look conspicuous; enemy teams will believe the star is for a Gravity Well or Smoke. But it’s also hiding a trip!
Raze’s Boombat Can Open the Bind Teleport
Raze’s Boombot is super useful for clearing Hookah on Bind, and it also has a ton of better uses than this if we’re being honest. That said, this trick is one worth keeping in the back pocket just in case a situation ever arises in which getting into the teleporter might give you a mega advantage.
Perhaps, for example, you’re in a 2v5 situation and your teammate has planted on B when the entire enemy team thought you were both A. A teleport is coming, surely? Open the doors and wait for them using this trick.
All you have to do is use the lineup shown above. It’s a bit finicky, so we recommend practicing in a custom.
Hidden Jett Updraft Spots
Jett’s mobility allows her to find unique angles to attack enemies, and exploiting this is a large part of what makes many of the best Jett players so good. Speaking of exploit, we’re not entirely sure if this particular updraft spot is supposed to be in the game — we’ve seen maps like Split taken offline before due to strange updraft locations offering her too much advantage.
So far, there’s been no response from Riot Games after this one was discovered so you’re fine to use it as far as we know. Simply double updraft from pipes on Icebox’s A site and you’ll land on a small… ledge? It’s an angle no enemy is pre-aiming!
Easy Door Breaking
Breaking the doors on Ascent’s two Spike Sites is an under-used strategy for many defending teams. If you’re planning on playing a re-take strategy, consider breaking them as quickly as possible after the round begins (there’s a short delay before you’re able to), but don’t waste valuable bullets! All you need to do is stand underneath the door, then walk into the door after it pushes you either left or right as demonstrated in the above clip.
Viper Orbs Stick to Icebox Containers
Viper has been a meta controller on Icebox since the map launched, and despite some tweaks and changes to its design, she’s still the most popular Agent choice. For that reason, the most popular Viper walls, orb locations, and Snake Bite lineups are all pretty well-known. But did you know the notches on the containers can be used to create unique oneway smokes? We’ve used these in high elo Valorant games to devastating effect, and nobody ever seems to expect or know of them. Well, now you do.
We’re demonstrating one cool oneway here, but there are others you can find yourself across the map.