Many people don’t look at the settings past key binds, mouse sensitivity, and graphics settings. Let’s take a deeper look at what is in the settings menu that you can use to improve not only how your game runs, but your own gameplay as well. These changes might not be for everyone, but there are key setting changes that everyone who plays competitively uses. Try everything out and see what works best for you.

Improving Performance

Before we can improve our gameplay, we have to boost the game’s performance first. Settings to do this are mainly found in the video settings, but there are some changes outside of that page that need to be made as well:

Raw Input Buffer

(General > Mouse)

Raw Input Buffer allows your mouse to send information directly to Valorant instead of Valorant using Windows as a middleman to receive mouse information. This is mostly beneficial to high polling rate mice, so check what frequency your mouse uses. Anything over 1000Hz would benefit from this change.

Enable HRTF

(Audio > Sounds)

Enabling HRTF or Head Related Transfer Function allows for more precise audio information using spatial audio. It simulates surround sound, so you can more accurately identify where enemies are.

Now, for the video settings that will help you improve performance. If you don’t mind the graphics quality looking dingy, I recommend turning everything off and low, so that you can achieve higher frames and have less visual clutter on the screen. Other than lowering graphics settings, here are other settings to alter:

Display Mode: Fullscreen

(Video > General)

Enabling Fullscreen mode allows for the least amount of input lag possible.

NVIDIA Low Latency (On + Boost)

(Video > General)

If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, NVIDIA’s Low Latency setting allows for better GPU performance and less rendering lag. Turning this on with the Reflex Boost allows for the best performance.

Multithreaded Rendering (On)

(Video > Graphics Quality)

This setting allows Valorant to use all the cores available in your CPU so that your game can run smoothly. It’s similar to the meme of unlocking 100% of your brain when you’re only using 10% (not actual science.) This allows the game to use 100% of what your CPU offers without putting a limit on it.

Improving Gameplay

Now with performance settings done, let’s see what settings can help improve your gameplay. There are a few visual cues that may help with a few problems many players experience. Let's go through them and see if they can help you:

Shooting Error (Graph Only)

(Video > Stats)

Turning this on allows for a visual aid of when to shoot and when not to shoot. Even if only used when practicing in the Range or in Deathmatch, it can help you see if your counter-strafing or swings are effective.

Here we see a visual of your shooting. The large bars represent a spray and how inaccurate the latter shots of the spray are. The smaller bars to the right represent two tap shots with a Vandal. As you can see, they are more accurate to the spray. The yellow color represents that I am standing still.

Here we see blue bars, with yellow tips. As you can see, most every bar is tall, meaning the shots are inaccurate. The blue color represents the act of moving, with the yellow tips meaning my movement had come to an end. This is what strafing looks like without counter-strafing. At the end of my movement, even if I am standing still my shots are still inaccurate. This burst fire shows that I am not moving properly, in turn, it means I am not going to hit these shots in game.

Using this graph as a learning tool instead of in game on the fly assessment is best, but it is still valuable to have the information of why you missed your shot always at your disposal.

Enemy Highlight Color: Yellow

(General > Accessibility)

Many pro players use the yellow color as it stands out more to the eye than the default red. Play around with which colors best suit your eyes, so that you can identify enemies more quickly.

Firing Error (Outlines On)

(Crosshair > Primary > Outer Lines > Firing Error)

If you have a problem with spraying, this setting gives you a visual cue of when it’s time to stop shooting. The top of the crosshair will disappear when your firing becomes inaccurate due to spraying. This is a good visual cue for people learning when not to spray.

Show Blood (On)

(General > Other)

Showing blood allows for another visual cue for players. Seeing blood come out of your enemies shows you that you have hit your shot, rather than an audio cue being the sole messenger of that information.

Removing Clutter from the Screen

With gameplay and performance buffs down, it is now time for the smaller details in helping you focus on fragging. Removing clutter from your screen allows you to zero in on your target without distractions. These small changes can improve your clutching experience:

Show Corpses (Off)

(General > Other)

This removes the clutter of dead bodies on the battlefield. They might be covering up some important utility on the ground that you are unaware of. They can also be really distracting. The discs and holograms illustrating which agent you killed is much more noticeable for important information, without taking up a lot of space.

Show Spectator Count (Off)

(General > Other)

This setting is for those who get nervous when other people are watching. Worried about all the eyes on you as you’re one of the few left standing? Turn this setting off so you don’t have a constant reminder of everyone watching you try to win the round for your team. If we can’t see them, they’re not there!

Show Bullet Tracers (Off)

(General > Other)

This setting will only turn off your bullet tracers on your screen. This is not a cheat to turn the Vandal into a Phantom. This setting removes the clutter of bright lines spitting across your screen.

Conclusion

Improving Valorant’s performance and your performance all while removing clutter from your screen should help you, even the tiniest bit, to reach your full potential. Every bit helps. Whether it is cleaning up dead bodies on the floor or simulating surround sound in your headset, the game gives you the tools to be at your best. It is up to you to put in the effort of practicing your aim and improving your game sense, but hey, these settings should help you too. Good luck out there in Comp!