Valorant on PC: Complete Download, Settings & Beginner Guide (2026)
Valorant is Riot Games' free-to-play tactical shooter — a 5v5 game that blends Counter-Strike-style gunplay with character abilities (called "Agents"). Since its 2020 launch, it has grown into one of the world's most-played competitive games: 25 million+ monthly players, multi-billion dollar esports ecosystem, and a player base that runs from total beginners to professional athletes. And it's free. This guide covers how to get it, how to run it on any PC, and how to start building competitive skills from day one.
System Requirements
Valorant is designed to run on almost any PC — Riot explicitly targeted the 30fps minimum on a 2012 era laptop. The game engine (a modified Unreal Engine 4 variant) prioritizes framerate stability over visual fidelity.
Minimum (30fps, lowest settings)
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 / AMD Athlon 200GE |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| GPU | Intel HD 4000 (integrated) |
| Storage | 22 GB HDD |
| OS | Windows 7/8/10/11 64-bit |
Recommended (60fps, Medium settings)
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i3-4150 / AMD Ryzen 3 3300U |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti / AMD RX 570 |
| Storage | 22 GB SSD |
High-End Competitive (144fps+, all settings Low)
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-9400F / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 3060 / AMD RX 6600 |
| Storage | 22 GB SSD |
Key insight: In Valorant, a high framerate matters more than visual quality. Competitive players run everything on Low to maximize FPS — 144fps on a GTX 1060 is better for competitive play than 60fps at max settings on an RTX 4090.
Is Valorant Free? How to Download
Yes, Valorant is fully free-to-play. Riot Games sells cosmetic items (gun skins, player cards, etc.) but nothing that affects gameplay.
Download Steps
- Go to playvalorant.com and click Play Free
- Create a Riot Games account (or sign in if you have one from League of Legends)
- Download and install the Riot Games client (small launcher, ~100MB)
- Within the Riot client, find Valorant and click Install (downloads ~22 GB)
- On first launch, Vanguard anti-cheat installs automatically — this requires a system restart
Vanguard Note: Vanguard is Riot's kernel-level anti-cheat. It runs at boot (you'll see an icon in your system tray). Some users disable it and re-enable it when they want to play Valorant, but it's required to play. If you're uncomfortable with kernel-level anti-cheat running at boot, Vanguard can be stopped from the system tray when you're not playing.
Best PC Settings for Valorant
In Valorant, frame rate is everything. Every setting should be tuned to maximize stable framerate — especially at 144fps+ for competitive play.
Video Settings (the important ones)
| Setting | Competitive Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Display Mode | Fullscreen | Lowest input lag; Windowed Fullscreen adds ~1 frame delay |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 (native) or 1280×960 stretched | Stretched res is a preference — see below |
| Limit FPS on Battery | Off | Irrelevant on desktop |
| Limit FPS in Menus | 60 | Menus don't need high FPS; saves GPU heat |
| Limit FPS Always | Off | Let your GPU push as high as possible |
| NVIDIA Reflex | On + Boost | Reduces input lag on NVIDIA GPUs — always on |
| AMD Anti-Lag | On | AMD equivalent of NVIDIA Reflex |
Graphics Quality Settings
For competitive play, set ALL of these as low as possible:
| Setting | Competitive Value | Visual Quality Value |
|---|---|---|
| Material Quality | Low | High |
| Texture Quality | Low | High |
| Detail Quality | Low | High |
| UI Quality | Low | Medium |
| Vignette | Off | Off (always — reduces visibility) |
| VSync | Off | Off (adds lag) |
| Anti-Aliasing | MSAA 4x | MSAA 4x (or FXAA for more FPS) |
| Anisotropic Filtering | 4x | 16x |
| Clarity | Off | On |
| Bloom | Off | Off (preference) |
| Distortion | Off | Off (reduces visual noise in fights) |
| Shadows | Off | Medium |
| Experimental Sharpening | 40–60% | 40% |
With all settings on Low/Off, a GTX 1060 6GB can sustain 120+ fps at 1080p. An RTX 3060 hits 200+ fps. That's why Valorant's competitive scene is very accessible hardware-wise.
Stretched Resolution (Advanced)
Some players use a 4:3 resolution (1280×960 or 1024×768) stretched to fill the monitor. This makes characters appear wider on screen, which some players find easier to aim at. To use this:
- Set your GPU control panel to "GPU Scaling" mode
- Set in-game resolution to a 4:3 resolution (1280×960 is most popular)
- In Video settings, set "Fullscreen Stretch" appropriately
This is personal preference — many top pros play native 16:9. Try it, but don't assume it's required.
Understanding Valorant: How the Game Works
The Core Loop
Valorant is a 5v5 tactical shooter with two sides:
- Attackers: carry the Spike (bomb); win by planting on A, B, or C site and letting it detonate, or by eliminating all 5 Defenders
- Defenders: prevent the Spike from detonating; win by eliminating all Attackers, defusing a planted Spike, or running out the round timer (100 seconds)
First to 13 round wins the match (with a side-swap at 12 rounds). Overtime starts at 12–12.
Economy
You buy weapons and abilities at the start of each round with Credits (the in-game currency — NOT real money):
- Killing enemies earns you Credits
- Winning rounds earns you Credits
- You start each game with 800 Credits
- Rifles (Phantom, Vandal) cost 2,900 Credits — you usually can't afford one in round 1
Round types:
- Pistol round (Round 1): Only Classic pistol is free; most buy a Shorty or Ghost (+800 Credits)
- Eco round: Team can't afford rifles; buy cheap weapons and hope to save or upset
- Half-buy: Afford a rifle but skip armor; risky
- Full buy: Full rifle + armor + abilities
Weapons — What to Know First
| Weapon | Cost | Damage | When to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | Free | Low | Pistol rounds only |
| Shorty | 150 | Very high close-range | Eco rounds |
| Ghost | 500 | Good | Pistol round |
| Sheriff | 800 | Very high (1-shot headshot) | Eco rounds, risky |
| Spectre | 1,600 | Good | Half-buys |
| Phantom | 2,900 | Very consistent, silenced | Main rifle of choice |
| Vandal | 2,900 | 1-shot headshot at all ranges | Alternative main rifle |
| Operator | 4,700 | 1-shot body shot | Sniper/AWP equivalent |
| Marshal | 950 | 1-shot headshot | Budget sniper |
| Ares LMG | 1,600 | Spray weapon | Eco rounds |
Phantom vs Vandal: The core debate. Phantom has lower one-tap damage (can't one-shot headshot at range) but a tighter spray pattern and no tracers (harder for enemies to see where you're shooting from). Vandal one-taps at all ranges but has a more erratic spray. Many players start with Phantom for learning spray control.
Agents: Choosing Your First Character
Valorant has 25+ Agents (as of 2026), each with 4 abilities. You start with 2 free Agents and unlock others by completing tutorials or purchasing in the shop.
Agent Roles
| Role | What They Do | Beginner-Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Duelist | Entry fragger — take fights first, create space | Yes |
| Sentinel | Defense anchor — hold sites, gather info, heal | Yes |
| Controller | Smoke to block sightlines, control space | Medium |
| Initiator | Gather information, flash enemies, enable entry | Medium |
Best Starter Agents for Beginners
Sage (Sentinel): Heals teammates and herself; places a wall to block/boost; can resurrect one teammate per round with her Ultimate. Very useful to any team without requiring deep game knowledge. Start here if you want a support role.
Reyna (Duelist): Self-sustaining — when she gets a kill, she heals herself or goes into overheal + invincible mode temporarily. Great for practicing aim in a forgiving way. Her kit is very simple: dismiss (go invulnerable briefly), devour (heal after kill), flash (Leer), and ult (enhanced version of all abilities). Punishes good aim.
Brimstone (Controller): Deploys smokes via a tactical map — easiest Controller to learn. No mobility, straightforward abilities. Good for learning Controller role fundamentals.
Sova (Initiator): Arrow that bounces around corners to reveal enemy positions. High skill ceiling but extremely powerful — reveals enemies through walls. Better after 20+ hours when you know map layouts well.
Map Knowledge: The Foundation of Improvement
Valorant's maps are compact and designed so that every angle matters. Learning common angles (where enemies tend to hide) is more impactful than raw aim improvement for the first 50 hours of play.
Key concepts:
- Peeking vs holding: Peekers have an inherent advantage due to network latency ("peeker's advantage"). Hold angles at extreme distances; don't wait too long at mid-range.
- Crosshair placement: Keep your crosshair at head level and aimed at where enemies will appear. This is the single most impactful skill to develop — good crosshair placement means you need minimal mouse movement to land a headshot.
- Economy denial: Kill enemies in eco rounds and keep their rifles. Eco rounds are winnable when Defenders hold the line without overextending.
- Callouts: Learn the map callout names (A-Main, Mid, CT, etc.) — communicating enemy positions using correct callouts makes you an immediately better teammate.
Map rotation for beginners: Start on Haven (3 bomb sites — teaches site defense balance), Split (vertical map, teaches close-range combat), and Bind (teleporters, teaches site-taking fundamentals).
Crosshair Settings (Often Overlooked)
Your crosshair directly affects aiming accuracy. Go to Settings → Crosshair.
Recommended starter crosshair:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Color | Cyan or Green (visible on all maps) |
| Outlines | On, Opacity 0.5, Thickness 1 |
| Center Dot | Off |
| Inner Lines | On, Opacity 1, Length 4, Thickness 2, Offset 2 |
| Outer Lines | Off |
| Movement Error | Off (hides crosshair spread indicator; learn spray separately) |
| Firing Error | Off |
This is a clean, small crosshair. Many players start with a large default crosshair and improve when they switch to a smaller static one — it forces more precise aiming.
FPS Issues and Common Errors
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Low FPS despite good hardware | Set all graphics to Low; check Task Manager for background CPU processes; ensure game is using dedicated GPU (NVIDIA Control Panel → manage 3D Settings → set Valorant to High Performance GPU) |
| VAN 1067 (BIOS + Secure Boot) | Vanguard requires Windows 11 Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 since June 2023. Enable Secure Boot in BIOS (UEFI → Security → Secure Boot) |
| VAN 9001 (Vanguard not running) | Restart PC; Vanguard should auto-start at boot. If not: search "Vanguard" in Start, open as administrator |
| VAN 68 (Anti-cheat violation) | Third-party software conflict. Common causes: GameGuard games, cheats for other games, some overclocking tools. Close all overlay software (Discord overlay, RTSS, FPS counters) |
| Can't hear teammates | Settings → Audio → Enable Team Voice Chat; check Windows default microphone device matches your actual mic |
| High ping / latency | Valorant uses regional servers. Settings → General → check server region matches your location. Wired ethernet reduces jitter vs WiFi |
| Game crashes after round | Check for Windows updates pending. DirectX 11 errors: add -dx11 to Valorant launch options |
| Vanguard blocked after Windows update | Windows updates occasionally conflict with Vanguard's kernel driver. Reinstalling Riot Client + Vanguard usually resolves |
Valorant vs Other Tactical Shooters
| Valorant | CS2 | Rainbow Six Siege | Overwatch 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Ability system | Heavy (4 abilities/ult) | None | Operator gadgets | Heavy (hero abilities) |
| Shooting feel | Precise, punishing | Very precise | Precise, slower TTK | Less precise |
| Skill floor | Low | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Skill ceiling | Very high | Extremely high | High | High |
| Competitive scene | Very large | Very large | Large | Large |
| Best for | Beginners wanting esports track | CS veterans | Methodical play | Hero shooter fans |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Valorant really free? A: Yes, completely. You never need to spend real money to access all gameplay content. Riot sells cosmetic skins (gun skins, knife skins, player cards, sprays) in the shop. Nothing is pay-to-win.
Q: Do I need a good PC to play Valorant competitively? A: Not particularly. Valorant runs at 144fps+ on hardware as old as a GTX 1060 6GB with settings on Low. You need a 144Hz+ monitor to benefit from those framerates. A 60Hz monitor with 60fps is still very playable.
Q: What's the ranked system in Valorant? A: Iron → Bronze → Silver → Gold → Platinum → Diamond → Ascendant → Immortal → Radiant. You place with placement matches and your MMR (matchmaking rating) determines rank. Radiant is the top 500 players per region. The global average is low Gold/Plat.
Q: How long does a Valorant match take? A: Typically 30–45 minutes for a full 25-round game. Surrenders can end matches earlier. Unrated matches allow shorter 20-round formats.
Q: Is Valorant available on consoles? A: Yes — Valorant released on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2023–2024. There is NO crossplay between console and PC (console players match with other console players only). If you're on PC, you're playing PC-only lobbies.
Q: Can I use a controller on PC Valorant? A: Technically, but it's not recommended. Valorant is designed for keyboard + mouse — the aiming mechanics heavily favor mouse precision. Controller players on PC face keyboard+mouse opponents. Use a mouse.
Q: What's the best Agent for beginners? A: Sage and Reyna are consistently cited as the best starting Agents. Sage because her utility (healing, wall, rez) benefits teams regardless of individual skill level. Reyna because her kit rewards getting kills — great motivation loop for learning aim.
Q: Does Vanguard anti-cheat affect my privacy? A: Vanguard runs at kernel level (Ring 0), which grants it deep system access for cheat detection. Riot has published technical documentation about what it does and doesn't do. If you're concerned, you can stop Vanguard from the system tray when not playing Valorant — it doesn't run persistently when Valorant isn't open, though it is set to start on boot.
Last updated: September 2026. Covers Valorant with current patch and Agent roster.