Valorant is a tactical shooter that requires more than just aim and reflexes. To truly excel, mastering the in-game economy is essential. Proper credit management can make or break a match, and knowing when to spend, save, or force buy can give your team the edge over your opponents. In this guide, we'll dive into everything you need to know to manage credits like a pro.
Understanding Valorant’s Economy Basics
Before mastering the economy, it's important to understand how Valorant’s credit system works. Every round, you earn credits based on your performance, the outcome of the round, and your actions within the round. Here’s a quick breakdown:
On top of this, you begin each game with 800 credits, and the maximum you can hold is 9,000. Keeping track of these numbers and knowing when to spend or save is key to long-term success.
The Buy Phases Explained
Valorant’s economy operates around specific “buy phases” where players make decisions to purchase weapons, armor, and abilities. There are a few common strategies used by top-level players to maximize their resources.
Full Buy
A full buy occurs when players can afford rifles (like the Phantom or Vandal), full shields, and their key abilities. This is your ideal setup. Full buys usually occur after winning a round or accumulating enough credits during consecutive losses.
When to full buy:
Eco Round
Eco rounds are meant to save credits, allowing you to afford a full buy in later rounds. This means you’ll typically stick with pistols or very cheap SMGs, often with minimal or no armor.
When to eco:
Your team has less than 3,000 credits each.
You’re planning to go for a full buy next round and need to save up.
You’ve lost several rounds in a row, and stacking economy is essential for a comeback.
Force Buy
A force buy is a calculated risk where you spend all or most of your credits on suboptimal equipment, usually after losing a round. It involves purchasing cheaper weapons, light armor, and some abilities in hopes of winning a pivotal round.
When to force buy:
The enemy team is low on economy as well, making it a winnable round.
It’s a crucial round (e.g., match point or map point).
You believe you can surprise the opponents with a bold move, disrupting their economy.
Half Buy
A half buy is similar to a force buy, but with the intention of saving enough credits for a full buy next round. You’ll typically see players purchase SMGs, pistols, or light armor during a half buy, hoping to do some damage or win a surprise round while still building economy.
When to half buy:
Strategies for Effective Credit Management
Beyond simply understanding when to buy or save, there are deeper strategies to managing credits like a pro in Valorant.
Track Enemy Economy
Understanding the enemy’s economy can give your team an advantage. If you know they’re saving or forcing, you can adjust your strategy to exploit their weaknesses. For example, if you know the enemy is on an eco round, you might want to avoid over-committing with expensive weapons, since they’ll likely try close-quarters fights with shotguns or pistols.
Coordinate with Your Team
Valorant is a team game, and individual credit management is only part of the picture. Always communicate with your team about the state of the economy. If one player is too poor to buy, it’s often worth having the whole team eco or half-buy instead of trying to force a scattered buy. A team that buys together fights better together.
Tip: Some high-level players opt to “drop” weapons for teammates to ensure everyone has the best equipment possible for a round. This can often make the difference in pivotal rounds.
Weapon Upgrades: A Risk or Reward?
Sometimes you’ll find yourself in a situation where you can upgrade your weapon mid-round by picking up an opponent’s rifle. This is a great way to boost your firepower without spending credits. However, be cautious – going for a weapon upgrade in the open can leave you vulnerable, so weigh the risks before charging into a dangerous situation.
Play for the Spike
Especially on eco or half-buy rounds, playing for the spike plant as attackers is a great way to ensure your economy stays healthy. The additional 300 credits per player can be the difference between a force buy and a full buy in the next round, so always prioritize planting when possible, even in a losing round.
Common Economy Mistakes to Avoid
Even seasoned players can make costly errors in managing their economy. Here are a few mistakes you should steer clear of:
Forcing too often: While force buys can occasionally win rounds, doing them too frequently can cripple your long-term economy, leaving you constantly under-geared in later rounds.
Not buying abilities: Many players focus too much on their weapons and armor and forget to buy key abilities, which can be the difference between winning and losing a round. Always factor in your abilities when deciding on your purchase.
Over-buying in early rounds: Spending all your credits in the first few rounds, especially on weapons like the Operator, can leave you with no economy if you lose. Be cautious with heavy investments early in the game unless you're confident in a win.
Adapting to Pistol and Bonus Rounds
Pistol Round: Both teams start with 800 credits, making the pistol round a critical opportunity to get ahead in economy. Common purchases include the Ghost or Frenzy with light armor or abilities, depending on your playstyle. Winning the pistol round gives you a strong economic advantage moving forward, so take this round seriously.
Bonus Round: After winning the pistol round and following it up with a second-round win (often against eco’d opponents), your team is likely to have weaker weapons like Spectres or Bulldogs. You can either choose to keep these weapons for the third round or upgrade to rifles. Keeping the bonus weapons can be a gamble that pays off if you win the round while saving credits for future buys.
Final Thoughts: Play Smart, Win More
Mastering Valorant's economy is about playing smart, not just playing hard. Proper credit management allows your team to maintain pressure, adapt to different situations, and seize victory even when things look grim. Pay attention to your credits, communicate with your team, and adjust your buys based on the current state of the game. With practice and discipline, you’ll find yourself managing your economy like a pro and turning tight matches in your favor.