Logged in and started… Only with which weapon? Riot has finally released its tactical shooter Valorant – and here, besides the agent skills, the weapons are crucial. In our big weapons guide, we want to take a closer look at them. Today we continue with the Ares.

Currently there are 17 weapons in Valorant, but we can expect more in the future. The variety is great: from the sniper, to the shotgun, to the assault rifle… The shooter lives up to its name. But which weapon is suitable for which agent? Which strategy should be followed with which weapon? And what is the firing pattern, how high is the damage and the rate of fire? We reveal.

The Ares – a real heavyweight

It belongs to the so-called Light Machine Guns (LMGs) in Valorant, but unlike its counterpart Odin, the Ares costs only 1,700 credits – almost half of the Odin. It’s particularly well-suited for the more frugal early rounds, where it deals a lot of damage – especially as far as wall bangs are concerned. Its disadvantage: it is significantly louder than the similarly priced Spectre.

Damage, rate of fire, firing pattern

The art of dealing with the Ares lies in the distance. At shorter ranges, ideally within 30 meters, you can’t go wrong with the light machine gun – but beyond that, there’s a dropoff of damage. Each shot to a target’s head from 5 meters does 72 points of damage, while the same shot from over 30 meters only does 67 points of damage. For the body it’s 30 and 28 damage, a hit to the legs does 25 and 23 damage respectively. The rate of fire is remarkable: up to 13 shots per second and a proud 50 shot magazine make the Ares a real killing machine. Aiming isn’t too important here either, since it’s fully automatic and it’s more about mass than class – the rate of fire comes in handy here. It can keep up with anything up to 15 meters. There is a firing pattern, but it remains slightly alternating from right to left. The motto is to hold it and keep it pressed.

Ares Strategies

The Ares goes boom, literally, because it’s damn loud. If you prefer to sneak across the map and flank enemies, you should choose the Spectre. With the Ares, it’s best to secure certain points on the map and wait for enemies to come to you – into a trap. So the Ares is a good defender weapon. Since it also deals well through walls, hiding places in alleys or house entrances are perfect. Whoever gets lost here can then be greeted with a real rain of lead.

When should you buy the Ares?

With its 1,700 credits, the Heavy is a real lightweight. Perfect for early rounds where you need to dish out some serious damage (as a defender is best), but can’t yet afford the expensive better weapons. So, somewhere between pistol and full-buy rounds, the Ares particularly shines.

The Best Agents for the Ares

Agents with vision and overview especially benefit from this weapon, Sova for example. But the real king of the Ares is Cypher. With his camera and the Ulti, opponents are quickly spotted. Then you just have to find a good hiding place near them and wait for them there. The rest is done by the Ares.

Valorant Beginner’s Guide

Overwhelmed with Valorant? No wonder… Without experience in similar games (such as CS:GO or Overwatch) the start in Valorant is difficult. But don’t worry, we are here to help you with our Valorant Beginner Guide.

Valorant is a special game. Many think that getting into the game is easy, but without shooter experience, you’ll quickly be on the ropes. Even CS:GO veterans can get into trouble… In Counter Strike, there are no flying knife-throwing things-people. But that’s why we are here.

This beginner’s guide is meant to help you get started in Valorant and introduce you to the world of Valorant. After that, the most important features should be clear to you, so that the fun in Valorant is not lost.

Valorant Beginner Guide: Basics

Let’s start with the meaning behind the game. In other words: What is Valorant anyway? Valorant is a first-person shooter in which two teams consisting of five players face off. The first team to win 13 rounds wins. Both teams have a different role – attacker and defender.

The goal of the attackers is to place a spike and protect it until detonation. This must happen on one of the three spots (A/B/C). In turn, the defenders must prevent the attackers from doing so.

Each match consists of two halves. After the first half (12 rounds), the two teams switch roles. The attackers become defenders, the defenders become attackers. Easy.

Agents

Before the start of a match, each player must choose an agent. Agents have unique skills, which in most cases also require a certain playstyle (offensive, defensive, support, etc.). Currently there are 16 agents in total, but new agents have already been leaked and should be added soon.

As a new player, you can initially choose between 5 free agents: Brimstone, Phoenix, Sova, Jett and Sage. To unlock more agents, you will have to sign contracts, which is mostly done via Daily Quests or earning experience points.

Valorant Beginner Guide: The best agent to start with

Phoenix is by far the easiest agent to start with in Valorant. His skills are not too complicated, can be combined well in any situation. But watch out with the flashbangs (aka your Q skill)! You’ll probably flashbang yourself and your mates quite often in the beginning, but practice makes perfect!

Valorant Beginner Guide: The best mode to start with

Stay away from Unrated mode for the beginning. This may sound strange, but especially the beginning of Valorant might be hard for you. Frustration will lead to quick quits, which in turn will get you involved in penalties and XP loss. That’s why you should start with Spike Rush first. An average game here lasts 8 minutes, while other modes can easily go over 50 minutes. In Spike Rush, you’ll be quickly released from suffering without having to take any penalties.

In addition, you don’t have to do any eco rounds in Spike Rush. This means that you’ll be able to try out your agents’ abilities, as well as the most varied weapons. Spike Rush is a great mode to learn the basics of Valorant. When you feel like you’re firmly in the saddle, you can try your luck in Unrated mode. After 20 matches in Unrated mode, you’ll gain access to Competitive mode, where you can earn ranks.

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