Mastering Quick Switching in Valorant: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking to improve your gameplay in Valorant?

Quick switching may be the key to gaining an advantage in the game.

In this article, we will explore what quick switching is, why it is important, and how you can incorporate it into your gameplay.

We will discuss the mechanics of quick switching, the benefits it offers, common mistakes to avoid, and how you can master this technique.

If you want to level up your skills in Valorant, keep on reading!

What is Quick Switching in Valorant?

Quick switching in Valorant refers to the strategy where a player alternates between weapons or switching between knife and weapon, during a game to gain rapid mobility. This is done by the player quickly tapping the 3 (default) or 1 key on the keyboard during a game. This is often used to quickly travel during rounds or when trying to quickly get to an advantageous location on the map. This can also prevent being an easy target to an enemy in an unfavorable firefight. To ensure that you are not an easy target while using this tactic to benefit from and expand your games, you should quick switch only when you are outside the effective range of an enemy’s weapon, since switching the weapon to engage in a combat situation can be a bit slow, and they may defeat you if they quickly target you.

Why is Quick Switching Important in Valorant?

Quick switching is important in Valorant because it can help you avoid weapon reload speed penalties, maintain your weapon’s crosshair, give you a handy and quick sidearm transition option, provide a limited movement boost, and provide a visual or audio distraction option. During elseb’s Complexity and randomrambo breakdown of When and Why to Quick Switch Valorant, elseb notes that if you are engaging in a timer battle in which another player is peeking a corner and hiding, quick switch rate of fire is a pivotal advantage. To do this, press your reload button while firing and switch back and you are now firing immediately.

How to Quick Switch in Valorant?

To quick switch in Valorant, primary weapons and most abilities have to be taken out or switched out after their usage times are up. Abilities with long animation times such as Omen’s Dark Cover (Smoke), Brimstone’s Stim Beacon, Viper’s Wall of Toxicity, and Jett’s Updraft or Updraft Operator all have times Valorant players will be stuck in place with their weapons. When this happens players can press one of the numbers corresponding to their weapon to create a quick switch state if they feel they are in immediate need of access to those weapons.

For weapons, simply clicking to a knife, sidearm, sniper, or rumor, Valorant will put it in quick switch state. Quick switch is a habitual process in Valorant because removing the ‘carry weapon’ after ending the animation of a reload is critical when additional shooting must take place. Many scenarios require a quick switch to a secondary weapon after an initial aggressive firefight with the AR or SMG primary weapon. The art of fake peeking often requires quick switching as well. Popular with players in sites such as A-Haven on Ascent, where after throwing the fake peek, they can quickly move and shoot with sidearms or permit faster agility with the use of their knives.

Understanding the Mechanics of Quick Switching

Quick switching, also known as Q-scope or quick scoping is the act of switching from any weapon to an Operator and then immediately scoping in while maintaining accuracy. Quick switching is a gaming term and the concepts behind keysmashing may be familiar to those who regularly click their mouse keys.

The quick switch maneuver is quite simple and even the most amateur or error-prone players can somewhat adequately perform it with adequate training in a short time. However, its purpose is to destabilize the enemy’s ability to shoot by constantly hiding the player’s body. By approaching the enemy with quick switching rather than exposing their whole body and becoming an easy target, it becomes possible to shoot down the enemy with a single headshot, given that the charge time will be very short in most cases due to a previous shot or two. With quick switching, rather than fading away and shooting again in a usual process, the charge time for the headshot will be zero as the weapon will be looped already. Regardless of whether you play on PC or Console, understanding the mechanics of quick switching is essential to being successful.

Practicing with Different Weapons

Switch in Valorant by practicing with rifles, SMGs, and pistols. Since a rifler’s starting weapon is either the Vandal or the Phantom, and they use sniper rifles or the Bulldog at times, they are most likely to have money to buy weapons for teammates. In contrast, since dualists often use SMGs and shotguns, they frequently spend only a small amount of money on weapons. Jett and Reyna may frequently buy the Operator since they have the money.

Using the Right Key Bindings

The default keybindings for quick switching weapons in Valorant are Q(previous weapon) and E(next weapon). If you find yourself struggling to change guns quickly or accidentally quick switch too often, you may want to consider using different keys that are more comfortable to press. Both Q and E are easy to reach, so if you change your weapon loadout frequently, it is convenient to continue to use the default settings.

However, if you frequently change weapons and find it makes moving and dodging more difficult, remapping to your mouse wheel may be preferable. You press down the scroll wheel to quick switch by scrolling down through your weapons. This leaves both your moving and looking fingers free to do their job while allowing easy and direct access to all your weaponry.

Mastering the Timing

In many games, movement has a consistent cadence of timing, but Valorant is more about the deliberate timing of abilities and scopes. This does not mean that Valorant does not have a consistent rhythm to its motion. mastering this rhythm will give you a better sense of when to quick switch.

Don Haci at the middle of the Ninja Schedule graph linked above gives an example of this. He quick switches just before the ring represents a pause in his movement. He inevitably dies immediately after quick switching but what the graph does not show is that he only did this in a moment where it could not hurt the round outcome. He only used the quick switch tactic when he could afford to die, just before he paused in his step, because this gave him the smoothest gameplay.

The spacebar acts as a pause button which enables a player to access and/or put away the knife at virtually any point during their stride, making the process smooth. Even in a right-facing headshot angle at medium range, the quick switch will keep fluid movement as you strafe out of the danger zone. Whether you are planting the spike, strafing around corners, or prepared for a gunfight demand a pause in movement or have an extended engagement, quick switching enables a smooth transition between the knife and a gun’s scope.

What are the Benefits of Quick Switching in Valorant?

The benefits of quick switching in Valorant are that it maintains player accuracy and mobility while using multiple weapons and aids in a fast recovery of player readiness between weapon switch. The utility of quick switching in Valorant as noted by Daekwon Bezio and other players seeing it as similar to crouch-jiggle macro is great as it improves gameplay and helps players get ready quicker after switching the weapon.

Faster Weapon Swapping

You can quick switch in Valorant for faster weapon swapping. Quick switching refers to the action of quickly pressing the primary gun and secondary gun buttons (most often 1 or 2 or the scroll wheel) to quickly switch back and forth between guns.

By rapidly switching between both your primary and secondary gun, it can cut down on the time between taking alternate shots, as the alternate gun is ready to be fired almost immediately. This is normally done to shorten the reload time of the primary gun to a secondary gun. You should press the reload button and then switch to another weapon. Playing with the AWP and switching to a handgun is most typical for valorant quick switching.

Better Movement and Positioning

Your movement and positioning affect your ability to quick switch in Valorant. Always stop completely before attempting a quick switch because stopping while moving has a 3-round moving-inaccuracy penalty. Moving after you switch will impair your aim as well.

Your speed when moving affects when you should attempt a quick switch. Most weapons in Valorant have a 0.25-second delay on the first shot, so you will need a very brief period of time between switching and firing in order not to lose the initial shooting opportunity. If moving constantly is your preferred method of disruption, strafe back and forth to switch up your movement pattern. Continual lateral movement makes it more difficult for enemies to predict where you are going, and strafing is one of the fastest ways to adjust your position.

The ultimate goal with any given switch is to outmaneuver your opponent’s crosshair placement. This means using cover and positioning to your advantage in order to not be exposed while quick switching and to outsmart your opponents. The best way to practice this is to play Deathmatch and aimlabs scenarios that encourage movement. To train proper positioning, use the Reyna agent. Her aggressive playstyle teaches you how to move and take new positions better and how to control the break-neck pace that is fast-switching.

Increased Accuracy

The accuracy of players also significantly increases when they quick switch in Valorant. They are able to achieve optimal damage timing using AWP and Operators. Since these weapons come with a long cooldown time between each fire, quick switching can help decrease the time taken for the cooldown phase. For other weapons, accuracy can be improved by quick switching immediately after firing. Changing weapons or abilities for accumulating accuracy is generally implied during reloading slots.

What are the Common Mistakes in Quick Switching?

The following are some common mistakes that players make when trying to quick switch:

1. Players moving too quickly. A milisecond is all you need to do a quick switch, if you move too quickly you may make additional errors.
2. Jumping while trying to quick switch. A much less common mistake but can be detrimental when made.
3. Forgetting that they have lost accuracy in firing according to Valorant’s game mechanics. So some mistakenly think a quick change will give them a better vantage.
4. Forgetting to switch back. Some players may decide to quick switch too early rather than risk staying in the middle of the animation and not get into cover. This is a mistake if it could have helped to stay on the gun.

These are easily corrected through practice and focus during games. Remembering to not overthink quick switching to weapons is important, as overanalysis of when to do it can confuse your muscle memory. Relaxed and continuous practice is the best way to reduce these errors.

Not Understanding the Mechanics

When players quickly switch weapons in Valorant, the accuracy of accurately swapping from shooting to aiming and vice versa is lowered and there is even more of a time delay between when a player can begin shooting and when they can begin aiming. This lack of understanding will doom players as they will be left without the ability to kill other players and will be dispatched quickly. For ideal accuracy and reaction time when already in a fire fight, the Yoru Eye recommends only quickly switching weapons before beginning to fire. This is to guarantee the switch happens in accordance with the accuracy and fire rate calculations that account for time and accuracy during and prior to a firefight.

Using the Wrong Key Bindings

The default key binding for quick switching in Valorant is the Q key.

If a player finds that using the Q key for quick switching becomes difficult due to the locus of control while using it, they may wish to change to a different key. Finding a different key command to use as a quick switch is essential to improving quick switch reflexes for an individual’s existing game mechanics, even if it may take time to adjust at first.

To modify the key binding, players should go to the SETTINGS and go to CONTROLS on the SCREEN and modify the key to a different setting. Commonly used key bindings that players use to quick switch include Spacebar, F, and Mouse4 or the mouse’s Wheel Click.

Not Practicing Enough

Players who wonder how to quick switch guns in Valorant often do not practice enough. This slows down reaction time as players have to think about the keystrokes required to switch guns instead of automatically performing this action. Regularly practicing simple switch commands in the practice range or against real opponents keeps this necessary action fresh and second nature.

Quickswitching should only be practiced against non-player characters in the training range or by aiming at an inanimate object that can absorb repetitive shots so that a player does not develop a potentially harmful habit of switching weapons while under gunfire. Quickly switching guns in Valorant is meant to increase the speed and efficiency of weapon-based actions and to add fluidity and dynamism to movement-based gameplay.

How to Incorporate Quick Switching into Your Gameplay?

You can incorporate quick switching into your Valorant gameplay through a sequence of actions that create timing windows for a more specific effect than just saving a few fractions of a second. Quick switching allows you to follow up an attack directly after giving away your inaccuracy or suspicion of your location.

Quick Switching can only be done when the attack to be followed up is prepared in terms of having a wielded weapon, a sizeable amount of ammunition spared, and a favorable if not superior position or advantageous angle. Quick Switching is therefore a motion, that when properly carried out, actually improves your gameplay through the specific effects that it creates.

The exact method of incorporating quick switching into your gameplay changes on a round-by-round basis, depending on your opponents’ skills and your teammates’ performances. To use quick switching to your advantage, wield one of your weapons while moving tactically around the site. If you suspect the location of your enemy, flick to the location and preaim. The moment your crosshair is positioned at a sliver angle where the enemy could possibly be, immediately begin the quick switching between your knife and main weapon. This ensures that you can quickly switch to a weapon while throwing off the opponent’s understanding and causing inaccuracy in your peeker’s advantage. Your quick switch between your knife and primary weapon can protect you from immediate attacks, give your static or walking accuracy more time to even up ensuring there’s no long peak such as against an awper, and that you can stop unnecessary reloading of your weapon when there is no immediate attack.

Practice and Familiarize Yourself with the Mechanics

Known by its Russian label of AKM (Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy) the VK stretches far beyond Russia and is one of the most widely used rifles on the planet, adopted by forces in 55 countries on every inhabited continent. This 7.62×39 mm gas operated assault rifle is intended for use in minor tactical units and designed for individual combat and front-line service operators. It can be aimed accurately at 800 meters, with its standard iron sights and further with an optical scope.

Use Quick Switching in Different Situations

Quick switching can be useful in multiple different situations in Valorant. The two most common ways to use it are against SMGs and Snipers.

1. Assault Rifles vs SMGs: Quickly switching can help with spraying SMGs at short range and helps players be more versatile and accurate at changing distances.
2. Rifles vs Snipers: Quick switching provides players with an excellent way to combat the long pull-out time that comes with sniper rifles and staying mobile.

Watch and Learn from Pro Players

Pro players play games an unhealthy amount to keep their skills fresh and their stats competitively superior. Watching and learning from their live streams, YouTube channel clips, Twitch highlights, or referential guides are good methods to pick up tips for games in a short time.

There are a few sources to learn from the pros quickly. Here are a few players and channels to check out if you’re a beginner or looking to expand your knowledge quickly. Shrouded, Officer Tiggles, Crashies, 100Thieves Hiko, and Sen Bugha2k Highsky are all big influencers on YouTube and Twitch who often stream Valorant. Additionally, Jeremy Wang who goes by the name of Disguised Toast is another player who also streams and uploads episodes of his version of his in-game learning journey in Valorant on YouTube.

For experts who just want to see how the pros play, three of the top current pros to watch on Twitch are TenZ, Cronex22, and niosah.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Quick Switch in Valorant?

To quick switch in Valorant, you can press the weapon swap key (default key is Q) twice in quick succession. This will quickly switch to your secondary weapon and then back to your primary weapon.

Can I customize the weapon swap key in Valorant?

Yes, you can customize your weapon swap key in the settings menu. Simply go to the controls tab and look for the “Weapon Switch” option.

Why is quick switching important in Valorant?

Quick switching allows players to quickly switch between weapons, which is crucial in fast-paced situations. It can also be used to cancel out the weapon’s reload animation, giving players an advantage in gunfights.

How do I know if I successfully quick switched in Valorant?

You will know that you have successfully quick switched when you see a brief animation of your character swapping weapons. You will also hear a sound cue indicating the switch.

Can I quick switch between any weapons in Valorant?

No, you can only quick switch between your primary and secondary weapons. Additionally, quick switching does not work with abilities or utility items.

Are there any tips for mastering quick switching in Valorant?

Yes, one tip is to practice the timing of your weapon swap key presses. Another tip is to use it strategically, such as when you are out of ammo or need to quickly switch to a more suitable weapon for a certain situation.