In the competitive shooter Valorant, developed by Riot Games, there is a variety of game modes that provide players with unique experiences and gameplay. To choose the optimal game mode, it is important to understand their features and rules.

 In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the Valorant game modes, providing players with a complete overview of each and explaining their essence. Whether you are a novice or an experienced player, this information will help you better navigate the variety of opportunities in the project from Riot Games.

This material can also be called "Valorant game modes explained" which is a detailed guide aimed at helping both newcomers and those who have been playing the game for a long time but have focused exclusively on one mode. Its goal is to help understand the game modes, which will help you find something that matches your personal preferences and get a unique gaming experience and emotions.

Unrated

Unrated mode in Valorant is one of the main modes available from the very beginning of its release. Most players start their journey with it, as it is a normal, balanced, and competitive mode, ideal for beginners. In Unrated Mode, you can not only enjoy the game but also feel the thrill of competition, as its settings are as close as possible to those used in the professional scene.

Unrated is a clash between 10 players, who are automatically divided into two teams: "attackers" and "defenders," with each participant choosing their favourite agent. Players switch sides after 12 rounds. The first team to reach 13 wins is the winner.

Strategies in this Valorant mode involve eliminating the enemy team or neutralizing one of the points on the map using Spike within a specified time, playing as an attacker. Defenders, on the other hand, have the task of eliminating enemies or preventing them from planting the bomb within the allotted time.

Ranked

Ranked mode in Valorant is considered by players to be the main mode in the game, due to its great popularity among players. This mode brings the most enjoyment and sense of competition, as the outcome of each match affects your rating. A loss or victory in Ranked Mode significantly influences your position on the leaderboard, making each match meaningful. Compared to the Unrated Mode, where the result does not carry weight, Ranked Mode provides an additional incentive for players to improve their game.

This mode differs from Unrated only in a few features, such as a different map pool, and an extra rounds system, and it is a competitive mode in Valorant. In Ranked Mode, players vote independently to continue the match or decide on a draw if the first overtime round does not allow determining an advantage between the teams.

READ MORE: All Ranks in Valorant

Swiftplay

Another team mode that, at first glance, may seem similar to the "Unrated" or "Ranked" modes, but by the second round, you'll notice all its unique features.

Swiftplay in Valorant is a mode with similar rules to the first two competitive modes in our article but with the distinctive feature of a significantly faster pace of gameplay. This mode consists of just 9 rounds, and the first team to reach five wins is declared the winner. Swiftplay is distinguished not only by its reduced number of rounds but also by an increased economy, allowing players to purchase a Vandal or Phantom as early as the second round. In the following sections, you will find explanations of other game modes.

Spike Rush

Spike Rush is the first mode in our list that is more focused on fun than on the competitive aspect, ideal for players who want maximum enjoyment in a short time, avoiding complex strategies and tactics, as each round has a set of unique rules.

Spike Rush in Valorant is a competitive 5-on-5 mode where players choose their agent. Each round has its own rules, meaning all players use the same weapon. As the game progresses, the weaponry becomes more advanced. The team that first reaches four wins is victorious. Features of the mode include each player having a Spike, the presence of orbs on the map with unique abilities, and starting each round with a full set of abilities, except for the ultimate ability.

Deathmatch

Deathmatch is a mode for individual players, designed for players to warm up and prepare their hands and minds before starting a game in Ranked Mode. It's not only an opportunity to warm up but also a great way to improve shooting skills and reaction times.

The winner of Deathmatch in Valorant is the single player who first reaches 40 kills. In this mode, abilities are absent, players spawn randomly in different parts of the map and can choose any weapon they like by pressing the B key. After each death, red marks appear on the mini-map indicating the locations of other players, and your goal is to reach them and eliminate them.

Team Deathmatch

Team Deathmatch, although it shares the name Deathmatch, only resembles it in the respawn after death and the goal of accumulating a certain number of kills. However, all other aspects of these modes are quite different, and we will now examine this in more detail.

The essence of the Team Deathmatch mode in Valorant is to be the first to reach 100 kills with your team. In this mode, agents play an important role, as their unique abilities can be used. Team Deathmatch is divided into four stages, in each of which players can choose one of two to four presented types of weapons.

All this unfolds on unique and compact maps exclusive to Team Deathmatch. Exploring the map will lead you to spheres of healing and weapons that are a level higher than in the current stage of the match.

Escalation

The Escalation mode in Valorant, in our opinion, is one of the most enjoyable, as it successfully combines elements from several other modes. Escalation is a typical team-based arms race, but with unique types of weapons, which we will now explain.

Escalation is a 5v5 team mode that unfolds on familiar maps for players. In this mode, it doesn’t matter which agent you play, as they lack abilities. Each team uses the same type of weapon, and to move to the next level, a certain number of kills must be achieved. The side that first successfully completes all the challenges or advances the furthest within a set time wins.

A unique feature of the mode is its unconventional arsenal, which includes weapons such as the Big Knife, agent abilities, snowballs, and other unique elements. This makes the Escalation mode distinctive among other game modes in Valorant.

Premier

Premier mode in Valorant is a path for players who have a set to try their hand at esports. Riot Games recently officially announced the completion of this mode's testing and informed that it will become an integral part of the competitive Valorant scene starting next season. This mode is intended for players who have ambitions and aim to play at a professional level.

The mode, which concludes our overview of Valorant's game modes, is similar to Ranked, but you need to create a team of five players in advance, and you can only play two matches per week. To have the opportunity to perform on the tier-2 and tier-3 scene in Valorant, in addition to becoming one of the best teams in the region, you also need to meet certain requirements: being at least 16 years old, having a rank of Immortal 3, and other details that can be found on the official Riot Games website.

READ MORE: Valorant Team Deathmatch Mode: How to play, Tactics, and Tips

Quick Guide to Modes

For newcomers or those who have been playing Valorant for a while but have not yet tried the new game modes, it can be difficult to navigate the variety of options. Therefore, we have created a section - a guide to Valorant's modes. In this section, we will categorize the game modes into several categories such as competitive, entertainment, skill development, which will ultimately help you choose the one that best suits your preferences.

Competitive

• Ranked
• Premier
• Unranked

Entertainment

• Spike Rush
• Escalation
• Team Deathmatch
• Swift Play

Skill Development

• Unranked
• Swift Play
• Deathmatch
• Team Deathmatch

New Game Mode

Although the game already has enough modes for even the most demanding player to find something to their liking, Riot Games does not intend to end the list of game modes. Dataminers have again found traces of other modes in the code, and the company itself "accidentally" demonstrates their development. One of the new game modes in Valorant will be a "1v1" mode, the existence of which was inadvertently shown in one of the videos.

After receiving information about each of the game modes presented in Valorant, you can confidently start practising. Choose one or several modes that you like and enjoy the gameplay. However, do not forget about the importance of gameplay strategy in Valorant, which not only brings enjoyment from the game but also helps achieve success in matches and move closer to your goal.