VALORANT Economy Guide by VPEsorts

Mastering the economy is arguably the most crucial aspect of success in a tactical shooter like VALORANT. Knowing when and how to spend your hard-earned cash on weapons, armor, and abilities can quite literally mean the difference between victory and defeat for your team.

The basics are fairly straightforward – at the start of each round, you’re given a set amount of money to work with. You can then use this to purchase your loadout for that round. At the end, your earnings are determined by your team’s performance, such as getting kills, winning the round, or even surviving. These funds then carry over to the next round, allowing you to gradually build up your economic strength.

However, the economic system in VALORANT is far more nuanced than it might initially seem. There are optimal spending patterns, clever investment strategies, and even psychological factors to consider. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help players of all skill levels navigate the intricacies of the game’s economy. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a firm grasp on how to efficiently manage your resources, make informed purchasing decisions, and utilize your economic advantage to give your team the best chance of success, round after round. VALORANT’s economy may seem daunting, but with the right knowledge and approach, it can become a powerful tool in your arsenal.

How much money do you earn from kills and rounds in VALORANT?

At the start of each half in VALORANT, every player is given 800 credits to work with. This is known as the “pistol round,” and it’s a critical juncture where teams need to carefully consider their loadout choices. Should you go for the standard issue pistol, or try to scrape together enough for a submachine gun or shotgun? The decision can have major implications for the entire first round. For every kill you secure, you’ll earn an additional 200 credits, no matter which weapon you used or if the elimination came from an ability. The attacking team also receives a 300 credit bonus for each player who successfully plants the spike. These kill and objective-based earnings are crucial for building up your economic strength over the course of a match. As for the round outcome, the winning team will receive a flat 3,000 credits per player. However, the amount you earn for a loss is a bit more nuanced. If it’s your first round defeat, you’ll get 1,900 credits. Lose a second round in a row, and that increases to 2,400. Three or more consecutive losses will net you 2,900 credits per round, plus any individual performance earnings. And if you happen to be the lone survivor on a losing team, you’ll only receive 1,000 credits.

Things change up a bit in the “additional” rounds that follow the initial pistol round. In these scenarios, each player starts with 5,000 credits, no matter what. This opens up far more loadout flexibility, as you can now afford higher-tier weapons, armor, and powerful abilities. However, it also means that economic mistakes or overspending can have much more severe consequences. The VALORANT economy can seem complex at first, but understanding these fundamental mechanics is crucial to making smart purchasing decisions and keeping your team’s finances healthy. With the right strategy, you can leverage your economic advantage to devastating effect.

One key principle is to avoid “ego purchasing” – splurging on expensive gear that might make you feel powerful in the moment, but ultimately leaves your team at a disadvantage if things go poorly. It’s often better to take a more conservative approach, buying solid weapons and utility that provide consistent value, rather than gambling on an unchecked spending spree. Similarly, you’ll want to pay close attention to your team’s overall economic situation. If your squad is struggling and running low on credits, it may be worth sacrificing your own purchasing power to ensure everyone has enough to buy essential gear. Selfless economic plays like this can pay huge dividends in the long run. Timing is also critical. In the early rounds, it’s usually a good idea to save your credits rather than overspending. The extra funds can give you a big economic advantage in subsequent rounds, allowing you to afford upgraded guns, armor, and abilities that provide a significant power spike. Knowing when to save versus when to splurge is a delicate balancing act that separates the good VALORANT players from the great ones.

Of course, the economic meta is always evolving, and savvy players will need to stay on top of the latest trends and strategies. Certain weapons or equipment may fall in and out of favor, and teams will need to adapt their spending patterns accordingly. Careful analysis of the current economic landscape, as well as an understanding of how your opponents are approaching the system, can give you a major edge. Ultimately, mastering the VALORANT economy is about more than just understanding the raw numbers. It’s about developing an intuitive feel for how credits flow across a match, anticipating your team’s needs, and making smart purchasing choices that give you the best chance of victory. With practice and the right mindset, the economic system can become a powerful tool in your tactical arsenal.

How to spend credits in VALORANT? What to buy?

Deciding how to spend your precious VALORANT credits can be a real head-scratcher. The right choice often depends on a number of factors – what round it is, what happened in the previous round, and the current economic state of you and your teammates.

Before you even consider your own loadout, it’s crucial to Tab over and check the funds of the rest of your squad. Are they flush with cash and ready to invest in heavy hitters? Or are they scraping the bottom of the barrel, in dire need of a economic boost? Understanding your team’s overall financial situation is key to making smart purchasing decisions.

Pistol Round

When the first round of each half rolls around, you and your teammates will only have 800 credits to work with – not a whole lot to play with. So how do you make the most of those precious few resources?

There are a few reliable options to consider:

The Ghost (500 credits) – This is one of the best all-around pistols, with great range, low recoil, and a high rate of fire. Pair it with one or two of your agent’s abilities, and you’ve got a solid loadout that can help secure those crucial early kills. Half Armor (400 credits) – Rather than upgrading your pistol, you could invest in some extra protection with half armor. This can give you a better chance of surviving those initial skirmishes, especially if the enemy team is also on a budget. Then round it out with one or two abilities. The Sheriff (800 credits) – This heavy-hitting pistol can instantly kill an enemy with a well-placed headshot. If you’ve got the aim for it, the Sheriff can be a game-changer, allowing you to punch above your weight class. However, it does require a lot of precision, so it’s not the best choice for every player.

Full Purchase

If you and your team are flush with cash – say, 4,400 credits or more per player – you can go all out with a “full buy” round. That means grabbing a high-powered rifle like the Phantom or Vandal, full armor, and whatever abilities you need to round out your loadout. This is the best way to assert your economic dominance and put serious pressure on the enemy.

Save or Eco?
On the other hand, if your team is looking a bit strapped for cash, you may need to consider an “eco” round. That’s when you either buy nothing at all or just a few basic items, in order to save up for a full purchase next round. Eco rounds can be risky, as you’ll be at a significant equipment disadvantage. But they can also pay off if you manage to pull off some unexpected kills and start building your team’s economy back up.

Semi-Purchase
A “half-buy” is a middle ground – you’ll have enough to compete, but you’ll still be saving up for a proper loadout in the next round. This is common when you’re getting a bonus from a loss streak, which can boost your available credits. With a half-buy, you might opt for an SMG or shotgun, first armor, and one or two abilities. It’s not as powerful as a full buy, but it’s better than going in completely naked.

Force Buy

Sometimes, when your team is desperate and facing match point, you’ll need to do a “force buy” – spending every last credit you have to give yourselves the best possible chance of turning things around. This is a high-risk, high-reward strategy, as you’ll be going all-in with limited resources. But if you can pull it off, it can swing the momentum of the match in your favor. The pistol round is all about making the most of limited resources. With a little creativity and strategic thinking, you can find ways to punch above your weight class and gain the early advantage. Do you go for the reliable Ghost? The high-risk, high-reward Sheriff? Or do you prioritize survivability with half armor? The choice is yours, but it can have a big impact on the rest of the round.

Subsequent Rounds
Once you get past the initial pistol round, the economy opens up considerably. Each player now starts with 5,000 credits, allowing for much more flexibility in your purchases. However, this also means that economic mistakes can have even greater consequences. Carefully weigh your options, and consider the needs of your team rather than just going for personal power. For example, if your team is doing well and has a healthy economic lead, you might opt for a more expensive, high-powered weapon like the Vandal or Operator. But if your team is struggling, it might be better to invest in more utility-focused items like smokes, flashes, and stuns to help secure crucial map control. The key is to maintain a holistic view of your team’s resources and needs. A player who selfishly spends all their credits on a flashy rifle while their teammates are scraping by with basic loadouts can end up hurting the team’s chances. On the other hand, a savvy player who makes smart, collaborative purchasing decisions can elevate the entire squad. Managing the VALORANT economy is a delicate dance, requiring constant awareness of your own resources and those of your squad. With practice, you’ll develop a sixth sense for when to hold back, when to go all-in, and how to maximize your earning potential. It’s a skill that can truly elevate your gameplay to the next level.

Let’s dive into some more specific scenarios and how you might approach them:

Consecutive Losses
Losing multiple rounds in a row is a surefire way to find yourself cash-strapped. Fortunately, the game’s economic system provides a safety net – each additional loss nets you more credits, up to 2,900 per round. In this situation, your best bet is to wait it out, save up, and try to make a big play when you’ve got the financial advantage. This is where patience and discipline come into play. It can be tempting to try and force a win with a risky “hero play” when your team is struggling. But more often than not, that’s just going to dig your economic hole even deeper. Instead, focus on playing cautiously, securing whatever map control you can, and banking as many credits as possible. Then, when you’ve built up a substantial war chest, you can unleash a devastating full-buy round and turn the tide of the match.

Lone Survivor
If you’re the sole remaining member of your team in a losing effort, your earnings will be severely limited to just 1,000 credits. This is a tough spot, as you’ll be at a significant equipment disadvantage compared to the victorious opponents. Your focus should be on stretching those limited funds as far as possible, perhaps opting for a more utility-focused loadout. In this scenario, you’ll want to avoid anything too expensive or ambitious. Instead, consider grabbing a budget weapon like the Spectre or Stinger, and then invest the rest in utility that can help you play for information and map control. Smokes, flashes, and trip wires can be invaluable for a lone wolf, allowing you to slow the enemy’s momentum and potentially catch them by surprise. It’s all about making the most of your meager resources and trying to survive long enough to make a difference.

Of course, the ideal outcome is to not find yourself in this position at all. Strong team play and coordinated economic management can help prevent your squad from being whittled down to a single survivor. But when the chips are down, knowing how to eke out the most value from a limited budget can be the difference between a heroic last stand and a swift defeat.

Comeback Opportunities
While falling behind on the scoreboard is never ideal, VALORANT’s economic system does provide some avenues for staging a comeback. The most obvious is the loss bonus – each consecutive round your team loses, the more credits you’ll earn the next time you’re able to buy. This can snowball quickly, turning a cash-strapped squad into one with substantial purchasing power. Additionally, there are certain map-specific mechanics that can help even the playing field. For example, on Icebox, the Snowball objective provides a sizable economic boost to the team that captures it. Paying attention to these types of opportunities, and coordinating with your team to exploit them, can be a game-changer.

Of course, none of this matters if you can’t actually capitalize on the economic advantages you’ve built up. That’s where strong fundamentals come into play – disciplined positioning, intelligent utility usage, and the ability to land those crucial kills and control key areas of the map. An economically empowered team that can’t translate that into winning rounds isn’t doing themselves any favors. The VALORANT economy is a delicate dance, requiring constant awareness of your own resources and those of your squad. With practice, you’ll develop a sixth sense for when to hold back, when to go all-in, and how to maximize your earning potential. It’s a skill that can truly elevate your gameplay to the next level.