Part 4
Mechanics and fundamentals
Crosshair, shooting, peeking, movement, duels, repositioning and playing in pairs.
Aim matters, but "raw" aim matters less than people think. Duels are mostly won before you shoot: with your crosshair already in the right place, stopping at the right moment, choosing which duel to take and with whom beside you. This part covers the core mechanics and, above all, when to use them.
Chapters
Crosshair placement
Always keep your crosshair at head height and on the edge of the corner an enemy can come from: when they appear you only need to click, instead of searching for them.
Shooting: counter-strafe, spray, burst, first shot
In VALORANT bullets are only accurate when you stand still: stop before you shoot, make your first shot count, and choose between taps, short bursts and sprays based on distance.
Peeking and angles
Every peek has a purpose: to see, to kill or to make the enemy shoot. Pick the kind of peek based on what you want and where the enemy is waiting.
Movement and noise
Running makes noise and hands the enemy information; walking is silent but slow. Move so the enemy only hears what you want them to hear.
To take a duel or not
Before fighting, ask four things: what do I know, how is my position, what utility do I have and how much time is there. Take duels where you have at least one edge; otherwise delay, wait or go another way.
After shooting: repositioning
Every time you shoot, the enemy learns where you are. After a kill or a duel, change your position or at least your angle instead of waiting in the same spot for the next enemy.
Trades, crossfires and spacing
Playing in pairs at the right distance turns every lost duel into a trade: if your teammate dies, you instantly kill whoever shot them. It is the foundation of all teamplay.