Optimizing Your View: How to Change Resolution in Valorant

In the competitive arena of Valorant, optimizing your game settings can be just as crucial as honing your aim. Among these settings, resolution plays a significant role in visual clarity, performance, and even how player models appear on your screen.

While Valorant offers standard resolution options within its in-game settings, many players, particularly those seeking a competitive edge or a unique visual experience, explore ways to implement “stretched resolutions” or custom settings.

Understanding Valorant’s Resolution Basics

Valorant’s native resolution is typically 1920×1080, adhering to a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is standard for most modern monitors. However, players sometimes prefer “stretched resolutions” (like 4:3 or 16:10) where the native image is stretched to fit a different aspect ratio. 

This can lead to player models appearing wider, potentially making them easier to target for some players, and can also provide a slight boost in frames per second (FPS) on lower-end systems by reducing rendering load.

Changing Resolution In-Game

For standard resolution changes, Valorant provides straightforward options within its client:

1. Access Video Settings: Launch Valorant and navigate to the “Settings” menu (usually accessible via the gear icon).
2. Go to Video Tab: Select the “Video” tab, then the “General” sub-tab.
3. Choose Resolution and Display Mode:
   • Resolution: Here, you’ll find a dropdown menu to select your desired resolution. For optimal visual quality, it’s generally recommended to set this to your monitor’s native resolution and refresh rate.
   • Display Mode: Set this to “Fullscreen” to maximize your frames per second (FPS) and ensure the game takes up your entire screen.
4. Aspect Ratio Method: For non-native aspect ratios (like stretched resolutions), you’ll also find an “Aspect Ratio Method” option. This typically includes “Letterbox” (which adds black bars to maintain the original aspect ratio) and “Fill” (which stretches the image to fill the screen).

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Exploring Stretched Resolution (Advanced Methods)

Achieving a “true stretched resolution” in Valorant, where player models themselves appear wider (similar to how it works in games like Counter-Strike), often requires adjustments outside of the game client, as Valorant’s in-game settings primarily stretch the HUD and crosshair if a non-native resolution is chosen.

Methods for true stretched resolution often involve:

1. Graphics Control Panel Adjustments (NVIDIA/AMD):
   • Disable Monitors (Temporary): Some methods suggest temporarily disabling your monitor(s) in Device Manager.
   • Create Custom Resolution: Open your graphics card’s control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software). Navigate to display settings and look for options to “Change resolution” or “Create Custom Resolution.” Here, you can define specific resolutions (e.g., 1280×960, 1440×1080 for 4:3 stretched).
   • Scaling Settings: Ensure that your display scaling is set to “Full-screen” or “Full Panel” in your GPU control panel to prevent black bars and allow the image to stretch.
   • Test and Apply: Test the custom resolution and apply it. Then, select this new resolution in your graphics control panel before launching Valorant.
2. Config File Editing (Use with Caution):
   • While some older methods involved editing Valorant’s GameUserSettings.ini file (found in %LocalAppData%\Valorant\Saved\Config\[Your Account ID]\Windows), Riot Games has made changes that can make direct editing of resolution quality less effective or even problematic. Modifying game files is generally not supported by Riot and could lead to unexpected issues. If attempting this, always back up your files.

Important Notes and Cautions:

• Competitive Advantage vs. Visual Preference: Stretched resolutions are a matter of personal preference. While some professional players use them, claiming benefits for aiming and target visibility, others stick to native 16:9 for clearer visuals and less distortion.
• Performance Impact: Lowering your resolution, even when stretched, can sometimes result in higher FPS, which is beneficial for competitive play, especially on less powerful hardware.
• Not Officially Supported (True Stretched): Riot Games does not officially support or endorse methods that involve manipulating system or graphics driver settings to achieve “true stretched” resolution that affects player models. While generally not a bannable offense if no third-party tools are used, be aware that game updates might break these methods or cause unexpected behavior.
• Experimentation is Key: The best resolution for you will depend on your monitor, personal preference, and PC performance. It’s advisable to experiment with different settings to find what feels most comfortable and effective.

Changing your resolution in Valorant can be a powerful way to tailor your gameplay experience. Whether you stick to native 16:9 or venture into the world of stretched resolutions, understanding these settings allows you to optimize your visual clarity and potentially enhance your competitive performance.