Mastering Valorant's Economy: A Complete Guide

In games such as Valorant and Counter-strike, understanding the game's economy is one of the factors in winning a round. Knowing when to buy or save and what type of weapon to use for each situation separates the newbie from the experienced player. This guide aims to help you understand the Valorant economy, what to do in each situation, and what type of weapons to buy, whether a win or a loss round.

Players have been discussing the Valorant economy and what type of Buy is the best for each situation on Reddit: "Valorant Economic Guide - How much do you make after each round?"

Highlights

Understanding Creds and Economic Strategy
Weapon and Ability Costs Breakdown
Types of Buys - Full, Half, Eco, and Force

Understanding Creds: The Currency System in Valorant

Each game has its currency; in this case, the Valorant currency is called Creds. Players can buy weapons, abilities, and armor during the buy phase

At the start of each match, every player begins with 800 Credits. As the game progresses, players can accumulate more Creds based on their kills and the results of each round. The maximum amount of credits a player can hold is 9,000; any excess earnings beyond this limit will not be counted. When the half ends and teams switch sides, all players' Cred totals reset to 800. In the case of overtime, each player will have 5,000 Credits per round.

Valorant Buy Menu Breakdown: Weapon and Abilities Costs

Valorant Buy Menu

The buy menu allows players to purchase guns and abilities with accumulated credits. The player must know roughly how much each weapon costs to be able to save for the next round, so here is a breakdown of how much each gun costs:

Sidearms:

Classic: free

Shorty: 300 Creds
Frenzy: 450 Creds
Ghost: 500 Creds
Sherif: 800 Creds

SMGS:

Stinger: 1100 Creds
Specter: 1600 Creds

Shotguns:

Bucky: 850 Creds
Judge: 1850 Creds

Rifles:

Bulldog: 2050 Creds
Guardian: 2250 Creds
Phantom: 2900 Creds
Vandal: 2900 Creds

Sniper Rifles:

Marshal: 950 Creds
Outlaw: 2400 Creds
Operator: 4500 Creds

Armor:

Light Sheild: 400 Creds
Heavy Sheild: 1000 Creds

Abilities:

Each agent's ability costs are different, but they generally range from 100 Credits to 400 Credits.

How to Earn Credits in Valorant

At the beginning of each Buy Phase, players receive new Creds based on their performance in the previous round.

In the first round of each half, all players start with 800 Credits.

Players can earn Creds in the following ways:

200 Credits per kill.
Spike Plant (Attacker side): 300 Credits per team member.
Round Win: 3,000 Credits per player.

Creds Allocation During a Losing Streak:

1st Round Loss: 1,900 Credits per player.
2nd Consecutive Loss: 2,400 Creds per player.
3rd Consecutive Loss or More: 2,900 Creds per player.

Surviving in a Lost Round:

Players who survive a lost round receive only 1,000 Creds.
Surviving players can carry their weapons and armor into the next round.
If your equipment is worth less than 1,000 Credits, getting down in a losing round is advisable.

Different Types of Buys

Full Buy

Full Buy Round

In gaming, "full Buy" means entirely investing in your weapons, armor, and agent's abilities, capitalizing most of your budget. This type of Buy generally happens after a successful round; a Full Buy allows teams to maximize their chances of winning the round.

A full Buy allows teams to invest in high-tier weapons such as the vandal, Phantom, and Operator, heavy armor, and a complete set of abilities.

This tactic becomes particularly vital after a round loss, as a successful full buy can help the team level the playing field and regain momentum in the match. Some teams may opt for full buys during pivotal moments in the game to maximize their advantages and turn the tides in their favor.

Half Buy

Half Buy Round

This type of Buy usually happens when your team loses a round after a full buy in the previous one. To half buy, you only need to buy a Sidearm like a sheriff or a stinger and some abilities. The chances of winning these rounds are low, but they will help you regain your money in the next round. In a situation like this, don't try to 1v1 enemy; the best play is to play slow and collect as many orbs as you can; by doing this, you are guaranteed to buy the next round, and you are one orb closer to your ultimate.

Eco Round

An eco-round is a decision made by the team to save money and not purchase any expensive weapons and abilities. This round usually happens after the team loses a round, leaving them with insufficient Creds for a full Buy. During an eco-round, players typically aim to buy more subtle weapons such as sidearms and shotguns or not buy at all and complete the round with a Classic.

The primary purpose of the action is to collect your money and save up for a full Buy next round. Most pro teams do this method after a pistol round loss or when they cannot convert a full Buy round into their own.

Force Buy

A Force Buy is when you use all your cred to buy as many weapons and abilities as possible to deny the enemy from winning the round. The Force Buy is helpful in situations like the last round before the swap or the previous round to win the match. Also, it advised Force Buy to equip a light shield instead of a heavy shield. The money difference is significant enough to Buy a decent weapon with some utilities,

The Importance of the Pistol Round:

The first Round is vital as it establishes the economic momentum for your team.
Winning the pistol round allows for a considerable buy-in in Round Two, leading to a significant early-game advantage.

Decisions for Round Two:

Winning the pistol, Round allows your team to purchase heavy armor, a specter, or a light shield with a bulldog.
Losing the pistol round leaves you with two decisions: to save for Round Three or to force buy and try to win the second Round. However, the favorable decision is to save and fully buy the next Round.

Surviving vs. Saving:

If you have valuable weapons and are about to lose a round, think about holding onto your weapon and armor for the next Round instead of risking them for a slim chance of victory.

Monitoring Opponent's Economy:

Keep an eye out for the enemy's purchasing patterns. If they have been losing, brace yourself for a potential save or force buy. It may help you formulate a more aggressive game plan against eco rounds or a more cautious approach against full buys.

Will This Help You Rank Up?

Securing more victories and enhancing your gameplay in Valorant largely depend on your ability to comprehend and master the game's economy. You give yourself and your team a significant advantage by using these economic strategies, making wise purchases, and adjusting to the game's constantly shifting financial landscape. These tips will surely advance you and raise your ranking, whether it's determining when to make a Full Buy or when to save strategically during an Eco Round.