5 Takeaways from the T1 x Nerd Street Gamers VALORANT Invitational

This is to say that at the lowest ranks of play at Iron and Bronze, matches will be...

This is to say that at the lowest ranks of play at Iron and Bronze, matches will be chaotic, disorganized, players will have virtually no coordination, and buying rounds will yield completely different builds. This is normal, and it is where everyone starts to learn how to p

Omen’s teleport also allows him to get some cool vertical angles not available to many different characters. Being in an unorthodox spot can really throw an enemy off, as they have to choose where to look when they round a corner. If they choose wrong, and they usually will if you’re somewhere high that is generally inaccessible to most characters, then you’ve got another free kill, ripe for the tak

Sage takes the cake. Her healing orb is infinitely valuable in almost any situation. Shot in the body? Heal yourself. Teammate beat up? Heal them instead. Restoring lost HP is useful, and Sage can do it quic

Phoenix’s Blazewall is decent for blocking vision, but mainly a great way to heal up quickly. His fireball is capable of self-healing too, not to mention blocking and damaging foes. Lastly, Run It Back gives Phoenix a free chance to push into any room, instantly reviving him if taken down during its duration; His ultimate ability is unique and endlessly use

Jett is certainly a fan-favorite, so I imagine this is where I’ll get the most backlash. Heck, even I play Jett more than the other agents. Her abilities are endlessly fun, with speedy dashes and quick, versatile smokes. Jett’s primary function is to outmaneuver and overwhelm opponents, requiring clever movement and precise aim with her knives. In the right hands, she can run away with match MVP easily. However, aside from her less-than-unique smokes, her abilities are rather inward. That is to say, Jett doesn’t have a ton of avenues to assist her team, other than to slay

Twitch Streamer TenZ was the fist North American player to earn the Valorant rank in competitive mode, which is a massive accomplishment. Finding the best players and watching them can be invaluable to see how they handle early rounds, the buying economy, and how they treat the map. There is so much to learn in this game, and these players are the ones most firmly invested into reaching the top, so be sure to find the best and watch them master their ga

A great addition to VALORANT would be the recording of more stats, especially in relation to the Agent’s special abilities. Some stats that would be nice include how many heals a player has successfully completed and the number enemies they have slowed, shocked, or even caught in a tripw

The first of Omen’s abilities is his powerful Shadow Step. A move that allows Omen to teleport to an indicated location, allowing the character to escape to Bastion new perk cover, take high-ground, or simply escape the given danger. Using Shadow Step to take high ground is its primary function, as it allows the character access to some seemingly inaccessible locations. Be aware of Shadow Step’s long start-up period, and take this downside into account before you use the ability to either flank or escape a combat encoun

A little higher up is where players will notice that there is some coordination, players will be far more patient and less likely to charge into the opposing territory, and map knowledge becomes common as players have learned which routes are safer than others or useful for att

Gen.G, seemingly had the greatest understanding. Despite being arguably outclassed mechanically by Team Brax, Gen.G’s defense often seemed impregnable and their offense would steam roll through teams caught off guard. Michael « MkaeL » De Luca’s Cypher play was masterful, and the information he gained allowed Gen.G’s defense to become a brick w

Some players have noticed that walking and shooting don’t affect a player’s aim. This is so unrealistic since in real life, literally any movement can alter the aim of the weapon and its accuracy. As of now, skill seems optional since running at someone while your gun is on full auto somehow works better than methodically lining up a heads

Despite the tournament being loaded with legendary names and top talent, Gen.G proved that as spectators, we’ve seen nothing yet. The young squad in their first major VALORANT tournament went out and beat some of the most accomplished players in espo

Phoenix is unarguably one of the best offensive characters. His Curveball ability is quick and maneuverable, completely obfuscating opponents’ screens. If a Phoenix player knows where you are when attacking, surviving his « flash-peak-shoot » combo is very diffic

T1, with the help Nerd Street Gamers, hosted VALORANT ‘s largest event to date on Monday, which showcased legendary names such as Jay « sinatraa » Won, Michael « Shroud » Grzesiek, Spencer « Hiko » Martin and more facing off against a multitude of professional gamers, including many who have already declared their intention of playing VALORANT professiona