How to Create a Valorant Account Expert Guide for New Players

How to Create a Valorant Account: Expert Guide for New Players

By Jackober, Diamond 2 Valorant Player with 1,000+ hours of gameplay

Valorant has taken the competitive gaming world by storm since its release by Riot Games in 2020. As a tactical first-person shooter that blends precise gunplay with unique agent abilities, it offers a fresh take on the competitive FPS genre. With over 1,000 hours in Valorant and having climbed to Diamond 2, I’ve helped numerous friends and fellow gamers create their accounts and get started on the right foot in this incredible game.

Creating a Valorant account might seem straightforward, but there are several important considerations that can impact your gaming experience from day one. From choosing the right server region to setting up proper security measures, the decisions you make when creating your account can have long-lasting effects on your Valorant journey.

In this experts guide, I’ll walk you through every step of creating a Valorant account, from basic registration to advanced setup options. I’ll also share insider tips on optimizing your account for the best possible gaming experience based on my extensive time with the game. Whether you’re completely new to Valorant or looking to create an alternate account, this guide will ensure you start your Valorant journey properly.

Why Play Valorant in 2025?

Before diving into account creation, let’s briefly discuss why Valorant continues to be one of the most compelling competitive shooters available today:

Tactical Depth with Unique Agent Abilities

Valorant combines traditional tactical shooter elements with unique agent abilities that create diverse gameplay opportunities. Each agent brings something different to the battlefield, from Jett’s mobility to Killjoy’s defensive setup capabilities. If you’re interested in learning specific agents, check out our guide on How to Use Clove in Valorant, one of the newer additions to the roster.

Regular Updates and New Content

Riot Games consistently delivers new content, including agents, maps, and game modes. The game receives balance updates every few weeks, ensuring the meta stays fresh and evolving. For competitive players, the VCT 2025 promises exciting developments in the professional scene.

Accessible Yet Deep Gameplay

Valorant is designed to be accessible to newcomers while offering tremendous depth for dedicated players. The gunplay rewards precision and tactical thinking, while agent abilities add layers of strategy that keep the game engaging for thousands of hours.

Strong Anti-Cheat System

Vanguard, Valorant’s anti-cheat system, has proven effective at maintaining competitive integrity. While no system is perfect (and you can learn legitimate ways to improve your aim in our Aimbot Valorant guide), Valorant generally offers a fair competitive environment.

Thriving Community

With millions of active players globally, Valorant boasts a vibrant community across all skill levels. From casual players to professionals, there’s a place for everyone in the Valorant ecosystem.

Now, let’s get into the details of creating your Valorant account!

Prerequisites for Creating a Valorant Account

Before beginning the account creation process, ensure you have the following:

A functional email address you have access to (for verification)
Stable internet connection for the registration and download process
A computer that meets the minimum system requirements:

Windows 7/8/10/11 (64-bit)
4GB RAM
1GB VRAM
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 / AMD Athlon 200GE or better

While these are the minimum requirements, I recommend at least:

8GB RAM
Modern quad-core processor
Dedicated graphics card with 2GB+ VRAM
SSD storage for faster load times

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Valorant Account

Step 1: Creating a Riot Account

Navigate to the Riot Games website

Open your web browser and go to riotgames.com
Click on “SIGN IN” in the top-right corner
Select “CREATE ACCOUNT”

Enter your account details

Choose a username (this will be your Riot ID)
Enter your email address
Create a strong password (more on this later)
Select your date of birth

Verify your email

Check your email inbox for a verification message from Riot Games
Click the verification link to confirm your email address
If you don’t see the email, check your spam folder

Complete your account setup

After verification, you’ll be prompted to finish setting up your account
Choose your display name and tagline (the format will be Name#Tag)
Your display name is what other players will see in-game

Pro Tip: Your Riot ID and tagline combination must be unique. If your preferred combination is taken, try different variations or numbers. Choose something memorable but not personally identifying.

Step 2: Downloading the Valorant Client

Navigate to the Valorant website

Go to playvalorant.com
Click “PLAY NOW” or “DOWNLOAD”

Run the installer

Once downloaded, run the installer file
Follow the on-screen instructions
The installer will download the Riot Client first

Install Valorant through the Riot Client

After the Riot Client installs, log in with your new account
Valorant should begin downloading automatically
If not, select Valorant from the game library and click “Install”

Wait for the download and installation to complete

Valorant is approximately 20GB, so this may take some time depending on your internet speed
The client will also install Vanguard, Valorant’s anti-cheat system

Pro Tip: Install Valorant on an SSD rather than an HDD if possible. This significantly improves load times and can reduce in-game stuttering.

Step 3: Setting Up Vanguard Anti-Cheat

Vanguard is Valorant’s kernel-level anti-cheat system. It requires special attention during setup:

Allow Vanguard installation

During Valorant installation, you’ll be prompted to install Vanguard
This is mandatory to play Valorant
You’ll need to restart your computer after Vanguard installs

Understand Vanguard’s functioning

Vanguard runs at system startup
It operates at kernel level for maximum cheat detection
You can temporarily disable it from the system tray if needed (but you won’t be able to play Valorant until you re-enable and restart)

Troubleshooting Vanguard issues

If you encounter “Vanguard not initialized” errors, try:
- Restarting your computer
- Running the Riot Client as administrator
- Checking for Windows updates
- Temporarily disabling other anti-virus software

Security Note: Vanguard’s kernel-level access has raised privacy concerns for some users. Riot has been transparent about its functionality and has implemented safeguards. If you’re concerned, research Vanguard’s security implications before installing.

Launch Valorant

Open the Riot Client
Select Valorant and click “Play”
The game will verify files and initialize Vanguard

Complete initial setup

On first launch, you’ll need to accept the Terms of Service
You’ll be asked to select your preferred server region
The game will run a brief system check to recommend graphics settings

Configure display name (if not done earlier)

If you haven’t set your display name yet, you’ll be prompted to do so
Remember, this is what other players will see in-game

Complete the tutorial

Valorant will guide you through a basic tutorial
This introduces movement, shooting, and ability mechanics
I highly recommend completing this, even if you have FPS experience

Pro Tip: Your server region selection is crucial as it determines your ping and who you’ll play with. Choose the region closest to your physical location for the best experience. Changing regions later is possible but may require contacting Riot Support.

Step 5: Securing Your Account

Given the time and potentially money you’ll invest in Valorant, securing your account is essential:

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Go to account.riotgames.com
Log in with your credentials
Navigate to the “Security” tab
Select “Two-factor authentication”
Follow the instructions to link your phone number or authentication app

Create a strong, unique password

Use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
Make it at least 12 characters long
Avoid using personal information or common words
Don’t reuse passwords from other services

Keep your email secure

Ensure your email account has strong security measures
Consider using 2FA for your email as well
Regularly check for suspicious activity

Security Warning: Never share your account credentials, even with friends. Account sharing violates Riot’s Terms of Service and can result in penalties or bans.

Understanding Valorant Account Regions and Transfers

Valorant operates on a shard-based system with separate servers for different regions. This is a critical consideration when creating your account:

Available Server Regions

North America (NA)
Europe (EU)
Korea (KR)
Asia Pacific (AP) – Further divided into sub-regions
Brazil (BR)
Latin America (LATAM)
Turkey (TR)
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Oceania (OCE)

Choosing the Right Region

Select the region closest to your physical location to minimize ping and ensure the best gameplay experience. Here are some considerations:

Ping/Latency: Lower ping means more responsive gameplay. Generally, you want to be under 50ms for optimal performance.

Player Base: Some regions have larger player bases, which can mean faster queue times but potentially more varied skill levels in matchmaking.

Language: Consider which regions will have more players speaking languages you’re comfortable with for team communication.

Playing Hours: If you typically play during off-peak hours in your local region, you might consider a region with more activity during your play times.

Region Transfers

It’s important to note that Valorant doesn’t currently offer an automated way to transfer accounts between regions. If you need to change regions:

Create a support ticket through Riot Games Support
Provide justification for your region transfer request
Wait for manual review by Riot support staff

Region transfers are typically only granted for permanent relocations, not for temporary travel or to play with friends in other regions.

Pro Tip: If you frequently travel between regions or have friends across different servers, consider creating separate accounts for each region. Just be aware that your progression, purchased items, and competitive rank won’t transfer between accounts.

Setting Up Your Valorant Profile

After creating your account and completing the initial setup, it’s time to personalize your profile:

Player Card and Title Selection

Access your collection

Click on “Collection” from the main menu
Select the “Player Cards” tab
Choose a player card that represents you

Select a player title

In the Collection menu, navigate to “Player Titles”
Choose a title that will display beneath your name
New players have limited options, but you’ll unlock more as you play

Customizing Your Crosshair

A personalized crosshair can significantly impact your aim precision:

Access crosshair settings

Go to “Settings” from the main menu
Select the “Crosshair” tab

Choose a preset or customize

Valorant offers preset options for beginners
For custom crosshairs, adjust color, opacity, thickness, and center dot settings

Import professional crosshairs

Valorant allows importing crosshair codes
Many pros share their crosshair codes online
Enter these in the “Import Profile Code” section

Pro Tip: As a Diamond 2 player, I recommend starting with a simple crosshair (like a small dot or a minimal “+” shape) in a high-contrast color like cyan or green. This maximizes visibility across all maps and doesn’t obstruct your view of enemy heads.

Setting Up Keybinds

Personalizing your keybinds can improve your reaction time and comfort:

Access keybind settings

Go to “Settings” from the main menu
Select the “Controls” tab

Customize movement and action keys

Standard WASD movement works well for most players
Consider rebinding ability keys to mouse buttons or nearby keys for faster access

Adjust specific agent keybinds

You can set different keybinds for specific agents
This is helpful if certain agents have abilities you want to access differently

Pro Tip: Bind “Walk” to Shift rather than toggling walk mode. This gives you more precise control over your movement sound. Also, consider binding “Drop Spike” to a key far from your normal movement keys to avoid accidental drops.

Understanding Valorant’s Currency Systems

Valorant features multiple currency systems that you should understand from the start:

Valorant Points (VP)

Premium currency purchased with real money
Used to buy skins, battle passes, and agents
Various bundle options available, with better value at higher purchase amounts
Watch for special promotions on Valorant Night Market for discounted skins

Radianite Points (RP)

Secondary premium currency
Used to upgrade weapon skins with special effects and variants
Obtained through battle pass progression or purchased with VP
Use strategically on skins you frequently use

Kingdom Credits (KC)

Free currency earned through gameplay
Used to unlock agents and certain basic items
Earned by completing daily and weekly missions
Also awarded for account level progression

Pro Tip: If you’re on a budget, prioritize battle passes over individual skin purchases. They offer the best value, providing multiple skins, Radianite Points, and other items for a relatively low VP cost. For skin enthusiasts, the Kitty Valorant Skins collection offers some of the most popular options in the game.

Unlocking Agents in Valorant

When you first create a Valorant account, you’ll have access to a rotating selection of free agents, with others requiring unlocking:

Initial Agent Access

New accounts permanently unlock five basic agents: Brimstone, Sage, Sova, Phoenix, and Jett
Two additional agents are available in a rotating free pool

Unlocking Methods

Contracts

Each agent has a contract with 10 tiers
Reach tier 5 to unlock the agent
Progress by earning XP through gameplay
Activate the specific agent’s contract you want to unlock

Direct purchase

Agents can be unlocked instantly using:
- 1000 VP (premium currency)
- 200 Kingdom Credits (free currency)

New player rewards

New accounts get two free agent unlocks after completing introductory missions
Choose wisely based on your preferred playstyle

Agent Selection Strategy: As a new player, I recommend unlocking a diverse set of agents covering different roles. A good starter selection might include:

A controller like Omen or Brimstone
A sentinel like Killjoy or Sage
A duelist like Jett or Reyna
An initiator like Sova or Fade

For more specialized agent guides, check out our articles on How to Use Tejo in Valorant and How to Use Clove in Valorant.

Setting Up Game Settings for Optimal Performance

Proper game settings can significantly impact your Valorant experience:

Graphics Settings

For competitive play, I recommend these settings even on powerful systems:

General

Resolution: Native resolution for your monitor
Display Mode: Fullscreen (offers best performance)
Limit FPS: Based on your monitor’s refresh rate

Graphics Quality

Material Quality: Low
Texture Quality: Low
Detail Quality: Low
UI Quality: Low
Vignette: Off
VSync: Off
Anti-Aliasing: MSAA 2x or 4x (balances clarity and performance)
Anisotropic Filtering: 2x or 4x
Improve Clarity: On
Bloom: Off
Distortion: Off
Cast Shadows: Off

These settings maximize framerate and visibility, which are crucial in competitive play.

Audio Settings

Clear audio cues are vital for spatial awareness:

HRTF: Enable for better directional sound
Master Volume: 100% (adjust system volume instead)
Sound Effects: 100%
Voice-Over: 30-50% (enough to hear agent callouts without distraction)
Music: 0-10% (minimal distraction)

Audio Equipment Tip: While not strictly related to account creation, investing in decent stereo headphones significantly improves your ability to hear footsteps and ability usage.

Network Settings

Optimize your connection for the best experience:

Network Buffering: Minimum
Raw Input Buffer: On
Stats: Display network stats to monitor your connection

Pro Tip: For the most stable connection, use a wired ethernet connection rather than Wi-Fi whenever possible. This reduces packet loss and ping fluctuations.

Understanding Valorant’s Ranking System

As a new account, you’ll need to understand how Valorant’s competitive system works:

Competitive Unlock Requirements

Account Level 20: Required to access competitive mode
Complete placement matches: Initially 5 matches to receive your first rank

Rank Tiers

Valorant’s competitive ranks are structured as follows (from lowest to highest):

Iron (1-3)
Bronze (1-3)
Silver (1-3)
Gold (1-3)
Platinum (1-3)
Diamond (1-3)
Ascendant (1-3)
Immortal (1-3)
Radiant (single tier, top 500 players per region)

Rank Rating (RR)

Each match won or lost affects your Rank Rating (RR)
Typically gain 10-30 RR for wins and lose 10-30 RR for losses
Need 100 RR to promote to the next rank tier
Drop below 0 RR to demote to the previous rank tier

Competitive Mindset Tip: Focus on improvement rather than rank. As someone who’s climbed to Diamond 2, I can tell you that consistent improvement in fundamentals is more important than worrying about short-term RR gains.

Account Maintenance and Security Best Practices

After creating your Valorant account, these ongoing practices will keep it secure and in good standing:

Regular Security Checks

Periodic password changes every 3-6 months
Login verification of recent account activity
Email security maintenance (your email is the key to your account)

Behavior Guidelines

Maintaining good standing in the community is important:

Communication practices

Use voice and text chat constructively
Avoid toxic behavior which can lead to penalties
Report genuine instances of cheating or abusive behavior

Fair play

Never use third-party tools or cheats
Avoid account sharing or boosting services
Don’t attempt to exploit game bugs

Community Note: Valorant has a relatively strict automated system for detecting toxic behavior. Voice and text chat are monitored, and penalties range from chat restrictions to permanent bans for severe or repeated offenses.

Troubleshooting Common Account Creation Issues

Even with a clear guide, you might encounter some issues when creating your Valorant account:

Registration Errors

“This email is already in use”

You may have previously registered with Riot Games
Try the “Forgot Password” option
Check if you have accounts for League of Legends or other Riot games

Age verification issues

Valorant has age restrictions in certain regions
Ensure your birth date is entered correctly
Some regions have specific requirements for underage players

Installation Problems

Vanguard installation failures

Run the installer as administrator
Temporarily disable antivirus software
Ensure your Windows installation is up to date

“Something unexpected happened” error

Clear browser cookies and cache
Try a different browser
Use a private/incognito browsing window

“There was an error connecting to the platform”

Check Valorant server status
Verify your internet connection
Try connecting via mobile hotspot to rule out ISP issues

Region access problems

Ensure you’re logging into the correct regional shard
VPNs may cause connection issues with Valorant
Some regions have restricted access from certain countries

Pro Tip: For persistent technical issues, the official Valorant support page offers specific troubleshooting guides and the ability to submit support tickets.

Multiple Accounts and Smurfing Considerations

Some players create multiple Valorant accounts for various reasons:

Legitimate Reasons for Multiple Accounts

Playing in different regions with friends
Testing different playstyles without affecting main account MMR
Practicing agents you’re less comfortable with

Ethical and Policy Considerations

While multiple accounts aren’t explicitly forbidden, be aware of these factors:

Smurfing impacts on matchmaking fairness
Riot’s stance on intentionally manipulating matchmaking
Community perception of alternate accounts

Personal Perspective: As someone who’s climbed through the ranks, I understand the temptation to create alternate accounts. However, I encourage focusing on your main account and embracing the challenge of improving at your true skill level. True growth comes from facing players at or above your skill level.

Valorant Account Integration with Other Platforms

Your Riot account connects to various platforms and services:

Twitch Integration

Link your Twitch account

Go to account.riotgames.com
Select “Connections”
Follow the steps to connect your Twitch account

Benefits

Eligible for Twitch drops during events
Access to exclusive content
Potential for channel points rewards

Discord Integration

Connect to Discord

In Discord, go to User Settings > Connections
Select the Riot Games icon
Log in with your Riot credentials

Benefits

Display your Valorant rank on Discord
Join game-specific Discord servers more easily
Access to certain Discord communities

Mobile App Connections

The Riot Mobile app allows you to:

Manage your account settings
Track your game history
Purchase Valorant Points
Stay updated on game news

Integration Tip: Linking your accounts enhances your overall experience but remember to use strong, unique passwords for each platform to maintain security.

The Future of Your Valorant Account

As you begin your Valorant journey, here’s what to expect for your account’s future:

Ongoing Content Updates

Riot consistently releases:

New agents approximately every 3-4 months
New maps on a similar schedule
Regular balance patches
Seasonal content like battle passes

Rank Resets and Act Progression

Competitive Acts last approximately 2 months
Minor rank resets occur between Acts
Major rank compression happens between Episodes
Your account maintains a hidden MMR even after resets

Collection Growth

Over time, your account will accumulate:

Agent unlocks and contracts
Weapon skins and collections
Player cards and gun buddies
Competitive act ranks and badges

Long-term Perspective: Valorant is designed as a long-term competitive game. Riot has demonstrated commitment to supporting the game for years to come, making your account investment worthwhile. For insights into the competitive future of Valorant, check our analysis of VCT 2025.

Conclusion: Starting Your Valorant Journey

Creating a Valorant account is your first step into one of the most rewarding competitive gaming experiences available today. While the process itself is straightforward, the considerations around region selection, security setup, and initial configuration can significantly impact your long-term enjoyment.

As someone who’s spent over 1,000 hours in Valorant and climbed to Diamond 2, I can attest that the time you invest in properly setting up your account will pay dividends throughout your Valorant journey. From the thrill of clutching a 1v3 to the satisfaction of executing a perfect team strategy, Valorant offers countless memorable moments.

Remember these key takeaways:

Choose your region wisely based on ping and play schedule
Secure your account with strong passwords and 2FA
Optimize your settings for competitive advantage
Focus on learning and improvement rather than immediate results
Be a positive community member to enhance everyone’s experience

The Valorant community welcomes you, and I hope to see you on the battlefield. For more tips on improving your gameplay once your account is set up, explore our guides on agent mastery, aim improvement, and professional strategies.

Good luck, and remember—in Valorant, precision is the difference between a killer and a butcher!

– Jackober, Diamond 2 Valorant Player