Valorant is a game where every second—and every step—can mean the difference between victory and defeat. While the game’s movement system is designed for tactical play, mastering how to move fast (and smart) is essential for both aggressive plays and quick rotations. Here’s how to maximize your speed and outmaneuver your opponents.
The Basics: Movement Speed Explained
- Running: The fastest standard movement is running with your knife equipped. This gives you maximum speed, ideal for rotating between sites or escaping danger. However, running is noisy and makes you easy to detect.
- Walking: Holding the Shift key lets you move silently but at a slower pace. Use this for stealth, not speed.
- Crouching and Jumping: Both slow you down and should be used situationally for dodging or accessing higher ground.
Advanced Techniques to Move Faster
- Knife Out for Maximum Speed: Always switch to your knife when crossing open areas or rotating—this increases your movement speed compared to holding a gun.
- Bunny Hopping: Bunny hopping involves chaining jumps while strafing (using A/D keys) and syncing your mouse movement. While it doesn’t increase your maximum speed past running with a knife, it makes you harder to hit and can help maintain momentum after a jump. Timing is crucial: jump just as you land, and move your mouse in the direction of your strafe.
- Air Strafing: After jumping, use A or D plus subtle mouse movement to adjust your trajectory mid-air. This can help dodge bullets and move unpredictably.
- Peeking and Strafing: Use A and D to strafe around corners rather than walking straight out. This minimizes your exposure and can help you quickly retreat if you spot an enemy. Jiggle peeking (quickly tapping A or D to peek and retreat) is a staple for gathering information without fully exposing yourself.
- Agent Abilities: Some agents have movement abilities that dramatically boost speed:
- Jett: Dash and Updraft for rapid repositioning.
- Neon: Sprint ability for the fastest ground movement in the game.
- Raze: Satchel jumps for explosive speed bursts.
- Omen: Teleportation for instant map traversal.
- Environmental Movement: Use map knowledge to find shortcuts, climbable ledges, and parkour routes. Efficient pathing can shave seconds off your rotations and help you surprise enemies.
Fast Movement: Pros and Cons
| Method | Speed | Noise Level | Use Case |
| Knife Running | Fastest | Loud | Rotations, escapes |
| Bunny Hopping | Slightly less than running | Loud | Evasion, unpredictability |
| Walking (Shift) | Slow | Silent | Stealth, sneaking |
| Agent Abilities | Varies | Varies | Aggressive plays, escapes |
Pro Tips
- Don’t run blindly: Fast movement is great, but running into enemy crosshairs will get you killed. Use speed when the coast is clear or to reposition quickly.
- Practice bunny hopping and air strafing in custom games to build muscle memory.
- Coordinate with your team: Fast rotations are only effective if your team is on the same page.
Final Thoughts
Moving fast in Valorant isn’t just about raw speed—it’s about knowing when to sprint, when to strafe, and how to use advanced techniques to stay unpredictable. Mastering these skills will make you a harder target, help you rotate efficiently, and give you a crucial edge in every match.
Written by:
Christian