In Riot Games’ popular tactical team-based shooter, VALORANT, many players will want to find the fastest way to level up both their account and Battle Pass. After all, you need to put in the effort to get all those shiny rewards.
Take a seat, Agents, and learn how to level up quickly in VALORANT, alongside the differences between Account Points (AP) and Experience (XP).
Fastest Way To Level Up In VALORANT
Difference Between AP & XP in VALORANT
Before we get to the best ways to level up in VALORANT, we first want to explain the differences between XP and AP. In VALORANT, you will earn AP and level up your account to unlock Competitive mode at level 20. Then, you’ll earn account border cosmetic upgrades every 20 levels and a new color scheme for your account profile border every 100 levels. AP only goes towards your VALORANT account level and does not affect Agent Contract XP or your Battle Pass.
XP is used to level up your current Battle Pass and Agent Contract, allowing you to unlock many rewards. Further, when a new Agent is released, you can participate in a four-week Agent Recruitment Event to earn XP and eventually unlock the new character.
During an Agent Recruitment Event, the ability to purchase the new character with Kingdom Points is disabled, so it’s up to you to earn enough XP.
How To Level Up VALORANT Account With AP
To level up your VALORANT account, you must acquire AP. You must reach account level 20 to unlock Competitive, so it is no surprise that many players want to level up their VALORANT account as quickly as possible. Don’t worry, we’ve got some tips below that will get your VALORANT account to a higher level as soon as possible.
Win At Least One VALORANT Match Per Day
The most important tip we can give you is to win at least one VALORANT match a day. The reason is simple: you get 1,000 bonus AP for your first win of the day. This bonus resets every 22 hours, so if you want to get the most out of it and level up as quickly as possible, with the least effort, you can attempt to win one match every 22 hours, even going as far as to set a timer. Consistency is vital since the 1,000 AP bonus is massive.
Play Unrated VALORANT Matches
Even after you unlock Competitive in VALORANT, we still recommend spending much of your game time in Unrated matchmaking. It’s less tense, and frequently, matches last longer as a result. You’ll want to play matches that last longer, as you will earn 1 AP plus 1 AP for every 6 seconds on a high-level account. For accounts level 10 or lower, you’ll earn 4 AP plus 4 AP for every 6 seconds of play.
You’ll also find that winning an Unrated match, primarily if you practice with your favorite Agents, feels easier to achieve than a Competitive match. More wins, a less stressful environment, and potentially longer matches make Unrated the best mode to earn AP in VALORANT.
Create A Farming Team
We recommend joining a group of like-minded friends who hunger for wins and jumping into as many matches as possible. The more matches you win, the faster you will earn AP. Accounts level 10 or below get a whopping 200 AP per win. Even higher-level accounts still get 50 AP per win.
We recommend combining our three tips: Play until you win at least one Unrated match every day with some like-minded friends, and farm more Unrated matches if you have the time to spare.
How To Quickly Earn XP in VALORANT
We’ve got some essential tips for earning as much XP in VALORANT as quickly as possible and for easily leveling up your current Battle Pass or Agent Contract.
Take Advantage of Squad Boosts
Whenever a Squad Boosts event occurs, we suggest you take full advantage. Squad Boosts is an occasional feature that runs for two to four weeks in VALORANT, rewarding players with an XP boost based on their party size. You’ll find the Squad Boost bonus XP details below:
- 2-player party: 8% XP boost
- 3-player party: 12% XP boost
- 4-player party: 16% XP boost
- 5-player Party: 20% XP boost
Even when Squad Boosts is inactive, we recommend playing with friends. It makes farming XP in VALORANT more fun as you develop tactics together and possibly even win more matches.
Complete Daily & Weekly Missions
One of the easiest ways to earn XP in VALORANT is to play consistently and complete daily missions. You can complete four checkpoints for dailies in VALORANT and earn 1,000 XP per checkpoint. That’s a lot of XP already, but completing weekly missions nets you even more.
Each Act in VALORANT features its unique weekly missions. You get three missions per week. Completing each mission in the first week of a new Act earns you a whopping 14,720 XP. This impressive number increases the further you progress into an Act, with weekly missions awarding 27,600 XP each at the end of an Act.
If you’re starting a bit later into an Act, you’ll be glad to know that there’s a catchup mechanic. For example, if a VALORANT Act is in its third week, you can complete the first, second, and third weeks’ missions in succession.
Don’t Quit a VALORANT Match
No matter which game mode you play, do not quit before the match ends. Quitting in VALORANT is the best way to lose out on XP you would have otherwise received. The more rounds you actively participate in, the more XP you will receive when a match ends. In Competitive, Unrated, Premier, and Swiftplay, you get 200 XP per round won and 100 XP per round that you’ve participated in.
You get 1000 XP for completing a match of Spike Rush or Team Deathmatch. In Deathmatch mode, you get 900 XP upon completion and 800 XP when completing an Escalation match. If you quit before a match is complete, you won’t get XP!
Bonus tip: Never overdo it when trying to earn XP or AP. Take a break if it starts to feel like a second job. Above all else, always remember to have fun. If you enjoy VALORANT and play at your own pace, you will eventually reach your desired level.
Additional VALORANT XP Boosts
Look for more ways to boost your XP? You can start by purchasing the Premium Battle Pass of an Act, which provides you with a 3% XP boost until the Act ends. Plus, if you have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription, you’ll get a 20% XP boost for your current Battle Pass, active Agent Contracts, and Event Passes.
Fast-Tracking Your Leveling in VALORANT
Amidst all the advice we’ve provided in this guide for increasing both your AP and XP, our best recommendation is to try and play with your buddies as often as possible. This will ensure you feel comfortable about communicating with your teammates—because you already know them!—and you’ll have a higher likelihood of having a good time. At the same time, it will likely lead to you seeing more matches through to the end, which is crucial for accruing XP. Remember: you will lose out on XP if you quit the match early, so don’t make it a habit!
Looking for more ways to enjoy your favorite team-based shooter? Be sure to check out our VALORANT betting odds on Thunderpick!
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