About Valorant
Valorant is a free-to-play tactical shooter developed by Riot Games, released in June 2020. The game combines precise gunplay similar to Counter-Strike with unique agent abilities, creating a distinctive competitive experience.
Despite being relatively new, Valorant has rapidly grown into one of the most popular eSports titles, with Riot investing heavily in its competitive ecosystem through the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT).
What Makes Valorant Unique
- Agent Abilities: Each of the 25+ agents has unique abilities that affect gameplay
- Tactical Gunplay: Precise shooting mechanics similar to CS2
- Round-based: First to 13 rounds wins (MR12 format)
- Economy System: Buy weapons and abilities each round
VCT Structure
VCT Champions
The World Championship at the end of each season. The best teams from all regions compete for the title of world champion. Champions 2024 was held in Seoul, South Korea.
VCT Masters
Mid-season international events where top regional teams face off. Two Masters events per year provide crucial circuit points for Champions qualification.
Regional Leagues
- VCT EMEA: Europe, Middle East, and Africa - Known for tactical depth
- VCT Americas: North and South America - High firepower teams
- VCT Pacific: Asia-Pacific region - Aggressive, innovative playstyles
- VCT China: Chinese league - Growing competitive scene
Top Teams
Fnatic
EMEA
Sentinels
Americas
LOUD
Americas
Paper Rex
Pacific
DRX
Pacific
Team Heretics
EMEA
Game Format
- Teams: 5v5 (Attackers vs Defenders)
- Objective Attack: Plant and detonate the Spike
- Objective Defense: Defuse Spike, eliminate attackers, or run out time
- Format: First to 13 rounds (MR12), overtime if 12-12
- Agents: Each player picks a unique agent with abilities
- Roles: Duelist, Initiator, Controller, Sentinel
Agent Roles
- Duelists: Entry fraggers, create space (Jett, Raze, Phoenix)
- Initiators: Gather info, set up plays (Sova, Fade, Breach)
- Controllers: Block vision, control areas (Omen, Astra, Viper)
- Sentinels: Defensive anchors, watch flanks (Killjoy, Cypher, Sage)
Valorant vs CS2
While both are tactical shooters, Valorant's agent abilities add an extra layer of strategy. Teams must consider agent compositions alongside traditional tactical elements. This creates unique betting opportunities but also more variables to analyze.