According to the latest Valorant Mobile leaks, casual and competitive mobile gamers have much to look forward to in terms of the eSports title’s long-awaited mobile port. The game is currently undergoing a closed beta test exclusively in China and won’t be the first mobile port from developer Riot Games. In the past years, the company has seen success in League of Legends: Wild Rift as well as the autochess game Teamfight Tactics, which supports cross-platform on both PC and mobile.
While Valorant Mobile won’t support any cross-platform interaction between PC and mobile players, Riot has stated that there would be cross-progression in the game, allowing players to transfer skins and cosmetic items from PC to mobile and vice versa. Riot has also teased other mobile-exclusive elements and features currently not present in the original PC version, such as post-match MVP animations and an integrated aim-training mode to help get beginners acclimated.
Of course, Valorant is only one of many popular PC and console titles trying to dominate the mobile market. In a previous post, we discussed Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which many industry experts deem a crucial turning point for the future of mobile gaming. For one, Activision Blizzard’s properties include Call of Duty: Mobile, which became many Call of Duty fans’ favorite CoD game upon its release.
Still, while both are shooters, Call of Duty is a different ballpark than Valorant. Whether you’re new to the tactical shooter or mobile gaming in general, there’s undoubtedly some much-needed adjustment. After all, playing on a mobile screen is different from playing with a mouse, keyboard, or controller. While no official release date has been announced, Riot has previously pointed towards an early 2024 release. Below, we’ll be sharing some helpful tips for beginners to get warmed up and ready for the release of Valorant Mobile:
Let Go of Run-and-Gun
Above, we emphasized that playing Valorant Mobile would be an entirely different experience than the existing Call of Duty: Mobile. This is because the two titles — both on mobile and PC — are different subgenres of shooters. Call of Duty is a fast-paced shooter where players can run, sprint, jump, and slide around while shooting without losing much gun accuracy.
On the other hand, Valorant’s gunplay is more similar to fellow tactical shooter Counter-Strike 2, where guns are significantly less accurate when your character is in motion. Still, there are a few key differences between Valorant and CS2. For one, while both games have spray patterns for their respective guns, Valorant employs randomized spray patterns for its guns, whereas CS2 and its predecessor, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, are known for standardized spray patterns that experienced players take time to memorize and perfect. So, if you’re used to sliding and bunny-hopping around in CoD: Mobile lobbies, you’ll have to learn to be more disciplined to frag out in Valorant Mobile.
Keep Up with Valorant’s eSports Scene
Another key difference Valorant has over other mobile shooters is its growing roster of diverse characters, each with special abilities and skills that can make or break crucial rounds. For those new to Valorant, figuring out which characters are best for your playstyle and skills can be overwhelming. The best way to learn is to watch the professionals at work.
Since its release, the Valorant eSports scene has grown tremendously over the past few years. As detailed in this Valorant betting guide, fans have been following official leagues and tournaments held annually, where professional eSports athletes compete at the highest possible level of Valorant. The official Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) consists of Masters and Champions, where teams from regional leagues like the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China compete on an international stage, as well as the Challengers series, where non-franchised teams compete for Ascension and regional tournaments. By watching pros play, you can familiarize yourself with the game’s ever-changing meta, such as which characters are most viable on specific maps and how these players use character abilities and ultimates to ensure round wins.
Learn Mobile Controls
Finally, if you’ve had experience playing other mobile shooters like Call of Duty: Mobile, this may not be as much of a hurdle. However, remember that Valorant is a game with various elements, including character skills and other in-game elements, like opening doors, taking ziplines, and activating bombs.
Controlling these in-game elements can be overwhelming on a touchscreen compared to playing on a keyboard and mouse. You can check out professional mobile eSports players’ setups like AquaNox’s claw control setup, whose unique “thumb-less” HUD layout has helped him win three MVP titles and the OR Championship for Battlegrounds Mobile India.
Of course, it’s important to experiment with various HUD layouts once Valorant Mobile officially releases, as what works for other players may not work for you. Valorant’s official PC port is also widely known for being movement-heavy, as good movement makes it harder for opponents to shoot you accurately and can help get you onto advantageous spots on various maps. Learning how to achieve these movement tricks on mobile can reward you with crucial ranked wins.
