From Iron to Plat: Neat Tips That Will Help Your Gameplay

Let’s be real—getting stuck in Gold/Plat is a universal experience at this point. I’ve been hovering in that elo for a while now, and while it's frustrating, I've recently started applying a few key tips to sharpen my gameplay. And you know what? It’s safe to say they are helping. Improvement isn’t always instant, but with practice and consistency, the climb feels less impossible.

I still remember the first time I played Valorant—my very first FPS ever. My first placement? Iron. I had zero experience with aiming, utility, or even the basic mechanics of shooters. That was a huge reason I was so hesitant to play it in the first place. But little by little, I climbed to Bronze, then Silver.. and somehow, within the year, I landed in Gold and then Platinum. *mindblown*

I’ve been playing for about 2 years now, which I know sounds like a lot, but in the FPS world? I’m still a baby. 👶

That said, I’ve picked up some 21 practical tips that helped me improve—not just mechanically, but mentally too. Here are tips:

1. Utilize Your Ultimates Wisely
   Use your agent's ultimate abilities strategically to maximize their impact. For example, some ultimates can secure crucial rounds when used at opportune moments.
   
   
2. Active Aim During Fights
   Maintain precise aim by practicing active aiming techniques, such as tracking and flick shots, to enhance accuracy during engagements.
   
   
3. Passive Aim and Crosshair Placement
   Keep your crosshair at head level and anticipate enemy positions to reduce reaction time and increase headshot probability.
   
   
4. Avoid Bad Aim Habits
   Refrain from excessive crouching, unnecessary spraying, and overusing scopes, as these can hinder accuracy and movement.
   
   
5. Proper Movement Techniques
   Learn counter-strafing and jiggle peeking to make yourself a harder target while maintaining shooting accuracy.
   
   
6. Set a Goal for Every Round
   Define clear objectives each round, such as collecting orbs, securing a site or gathering information, to guide your actions and contribute effectively to the team's strategy.
   
   
7. Optimize Settings and Build Muscle Memory
   Adjust in-game settings to your preference and practice consistently to develop muscle memory for aiming and movement.
   
   
8. Focus on One Aspect During Practice
   Concentrate on improving a specific skill, like recoil control or map awareness, during practice sessions to enhance overall performance.
   
   
9. Adapt to Situations
   Be flexible in your role and strategies, adjusting to the evolving dynamics of each match.
   
   
10. Team Strategies and Improvisation
    Coordinate with teammates and be prepared to improvise strategies based on the opponents' different tactics and behaviors.
    
    
11. Mental Game and Performance Psychology
    Maintain a positive mindset and manage stress to perform consistently under pressure.
    
    
12. Attacker Trades
    Stay close to teammates during attacks to effectively trade kills and maintain numerical advantage.
    
    
13. Defense Positions and Crossfires
    Set up crossfire positions with teammates to cover multiple angles and increase defensive effectiveness.
    
    
14. Jump Peeking for Information
    Use jump peeking to gather information on enemy positions without exposing yourself to significant risk.
    
    
15. Know When to Take a Break
    Recognize signs of fatigue or frustration and take breaks to maintain focus and prevent burnout. You don't want to go on a red-carpet.
    
    
16. Establish Protocols for Common Situations
    Develop predetermined plays for frequent scenarios, like retakes or eco rounds, to improve team coordination.
    
    
17. Master a Role for Efficient Ranking
    Specialize in a specific role or agent to enhance effectiveness and contribute more significantly to team success.
    
    
18. Plan Progress Ahead of Time
    Set long-term goals and outline steps to achieve them, ensuring continuous improvement and motivation.
    
    
19. Avoid Predictable Utility Usage
    Vary the placement of util setups to prevent opponents from anticipating and countering your strategies.
    
    
20. Taking Gambles When Short of Time
    When the time in rounds run short and you need to plant, take the risk and hope for the best. Remember to still check angles!
    
    
21. Monitor Opponents' Ultimates
    Keep track of enemy ultimate statuses to anticipate their strategies and adjust your gameplay accordingly.

Here's the video that helped connect a lot of these dots for me:

What tip helped YOU improve the most in Valorant? Or what rank are you stuck in right now? Leave your comments below 💬👇