Communication is at the center of what creates a team-based game. Without it, the focus of collaboration and achieving a common goal together fades. Chances are, if you’ve played enough ranked matches, you’ve probably had to play in a game where no one speaks to each other in game chat.
Communication is at the center of what creates a team-based game. Without it, the focus of collaboration and achieving a common goal together fades, with players acting only in their self-interest and not in the interest of the team they’re playing for.
Chances are, if you’ve played enough ranked matches, you’ve probably had to play in a game where no one speaks to each other in game chat. It can be frustrating, especially if the other team is playing in-sync with one another. What’s even worse is that you may even lose the match in the process.
So let’s start at the issue and try to figure out a solution that’ll create a fun and communicative environment. After that, the keys to winning are in your hands.
Before you even click on the “Start” button, sit through and check a few things. Most of these you’ll only need to check once and never again, but make sure they’re working.
First, check your microphone settings! Are you too loud? Are you too quiet? Have you been using the wrong mic this whole time? The quality of your microphone can affect your communication, so make sure it’s the best it can be and it’s ready for some teamwork.
Secondly, did you know that VALORANT has a setting for quick radio communication? For those out there who don’t necessarily feel comfortable using a mic, or don’t even have access to a mic, this setting can be super helpful.
If you press the “Comma” key, a menu in the bottom right will appear with dialogue options for you to choose. They can be as broad as a command that asks your team to Go to A Site, or as specific as telling your team to play for kills. My only gripe with this menu is that it can be a little complicated to go through, so a quicker way of having access to this menu is by using the Radio Command Wheel. If you press the “Period” key it will bring up a Radio Command Wheel in the middle of your screen that can be used for quick messages to your team. Remember to bind it to something comfortable and try it out in the practice range to see if you like it.
This is where you’ll meet your teammates! Give them a quick greeting! A “yo” or “what’s up” will suffice, but give them something that will let them know that you’re a communicative team mate. Usually after the first two people start talking, everyone else will join in. Make sure to communicate what agents you’re drafting before people insta-lock a character. If you’re good at multiple characters, offer to play other characters to assist your team. Once you’re all locked in, it’s time to get going!
Alright, it’s time to play out the match. Talk about where you’ll be going! What strategies will you be using? Are you rushing in or going slow? Typically players will like to run through things fast, but really come up with a plan and strategy. If you notice an enemy player that always likes to rush at a particular angle, tell your team so you can capitalize on it.
In a team based game with abilities, all comms matter, so make sure to call out when you’re throwing smokes, mollies, or even if you just got an ability recharged. Giving your teammates up to date info on the utility they have will let your team know what they’re working with and develop better strategies. Focus on helping create situations for your teammates through your communication.
If no one’s responding positively to it and aren’t communicating, try to ask for people to speak in game using other methods. If that won’t work then continue to communicate on your own.
There’s a difference between helpful communication and distracting communication. When you’re coming up with strategies or trying to assist your team, it may come off as a distraction especially during tense moments. Try to be aware of what’s going on within your team so you can best know when to interject ideas and when to keep them out. A good practice for this is to send a message in your team chat about what you were thinking to avoid speaking and distracting teammates.
People can find it frustrating for their teammates to talk over them when in a tense situation and can even make it hard for them to think. Make sure to be respectful of other players and their different playing styles when in matches for higher chances at success.
It’s the end of the match! Congratulations! Your communication at VALORANT has improved ten-fold! No matter if you won or lost, a skill in your toolbox of skills has improved. Keep honing those skills and figuring out new ways to help communicate with your team. Send a “GG” to your team and run through all of the tips we just mentioned so you can keep them in your memory for the next match.
Check those binds and your microphone! See if your teammates can hear you in the way that you want to be heard. Bind the radio commands list somewhere comfortable so you can have access to a quick chatting method. When you load into Agent Select, give your team a quick greeting and figure out a composition that’ll give you a winning edge.
When in game, communicate and figure out a winning strategy each round, all while keeping your teammates up to date about your utility and what your options are. However, remember to be respectful in your communication and to not be a distraction to your teammates when helping.
After it's all said and done, send a “GG” and do it all over again! Hopefully these tips help out, and Happy Communicating!
