Valorant dev says ranked only considers player wins and damage

In a recent developer Q&A session, Valorant’s ranking methodology faced scrutiny when players questioned which in-game statistics actually influence competitive progression. The revelation from Riot Games’ senior producer Ian Fielding delivered unexpected news that reshapes how support-focused players approach ranked matches.

Fielding’s disclosure indicates that players specializing in supportive roles need to fundamentally adjust their gameplay approach if they aim to climb the competitive ladder. When specifically addressing whether reconnaissance assists—such as Sova’s Recon Bolt revealing enemy positions that lead to eliminations—affect ranking calculations, the response confirmed Valorant’s evaluation framework exclusively measures tangible damage output.

“Your performance rating extends beyond simple elimination counts, though frags remain significant. We additionally assess harm delivered to opponents, meaning collaborative takedowns where you participate in damaging enemies get factored in, alongside utility that inflicts direct harm,” Fielding explained during the discussion.

Valorant ranking system doesn’t consider vision assists or support abilities

This clarification delivers a significant blow to competitors who primarily utilize information-gathering agents like Sova, area-denial specialists such as Cypher, and tactical controllers including Brimstone. Since these characters excel at territorial dominance and intelligence gathering for their squads, Fielding’s statement suggests their strategic contributions receive no recognition in post-match performance assessments.

Consequently, when Sova’s reconnaissance dart identifies a concealed Omen positioning on Haven, only teammates dealing actual harm receive credit for the subsequent elimination. Even Sage’s restorative abilities, which can swing round outcomes by preserving teammate survivability, appear excluded from individual ranking considerations.

The reality likely disappoints support-oriented players. In the pursuit of the elite Radiant designation, offensive output and damage-assisted kills emerge as the primary performance indicators.

Fielding expanded on his initial comments by noting that Valorant’s ranking algorithm does acknowledge ability-inflicted damage alongside conventional firearm damage. This means eliminations distributed among multiple participants who collectively apply damage—such as targets suffering persistent damage from Viper’s toxic capabilities—do contribute toward personal ranking advancement.

Successful support players in Valorant’s current ecosystem must master hybrid approaches that blend traditional supportive functions with consistent damage output. One common mistake involves over-prioritizing utility usage without securing follow-up damage, resulting in excellent team contribution but poor personal performance metrics.

Advanced optimization involves timing aggressive plays to coincide with utility deployment. For example, following a Sova recon dart with immediate peeking to capitalize on spotted enemies, or using Cypher’s camera to secure damage on revealed targets rather than purely for intelligence.

Strategic positioning becomes crucial—support players should identify angles where their utility provides value while simultaneously creating damage opportunities. This dual-purpose positioning typically requires 15-20 hours of dedicated practice to master but can significantly improve both combat scores and win rates.

Team coordination remains the support player’s greatest asset. While individual performance metrics may suffer, well-executed supportive play dramatically increases match victory probability, which Fielding confirmed remains the dominant ranking factor. Understanding class-specific strategies from other tactical shooters can provide valuable cross-game insights for maximizing effectiveness.

Fortunately, Valorant’s development team actively investigates methods to integrate intelligence-based assists like Cypher’s Neural Theft ultimate into individual performance scoring.

“Looking ahead, we’re developing systems to include non-damaging assists within your combat evaluation,” Fielding stated regarding future enhancements.

However, this development timeline offers limited consolation to dedicated support specialists who have invested substantial time mastering optimal placements for Cypher’s surveillance tools, Sova’s reconnaissance equipment, or Brimstone’s tactical smokes.

Support-focused competitors must currently find satisfaction in Fielding’s assertion that match outcome exerts the strongest influence on ranking movement. This creates an interesting dynamic where support players contribute significantly to victory while receiving minimal individual performance recognition.

The anticipated improvements, expected within 2-3 major updates based on historical development cycles, should better recognize the strategic value these agents provide. Until then, incorporating damage-dealing responsibilities alongside supportive functions represents the most effective approach for ranking advancement, similar to how comprehensive game guides often recommend balanced approaches to character mastery.

Players seeking to maximize their competitive performance should consult our weapons optimization guide to enhance damage output capabilities regardless of agent selection.

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