For new Valorant players, hitting account level 20 is more than just a milestone—it’s the gateway to Competitive mode. Without it, ranked play remains locked, leaving many eager recruits searching for the fastest path forward. The key lies in efficiency, making smart use of time rather than grinding endlessly.
Prioritize Spike Rush and Fast Match Modes
Among all Valorant’s game modes, Spike Rush stands out as the best choice for leveling speed. Matches typically last around 8 minutes, far shorter than standard Unrated or Competitive games, yet the Account Points (AP) earned per minute is nearly identical. This makes Spike Rush ideal for stacking levels quickly, especially in shorter play sessions.
Other quick modes—such as Escalation—can also contribute efficiently, but Spike Rush remains the community’s gold standard for a time-to-AP ratio.
Maximize “First Win of the Day” and Early Boosts
One of the biggest accelerators is the First Win of the Day bonus, which provides a large chunk of AP once every 22 hours. Even if you only log in for a single match, securing this bonus consistently is one of the fastest ways to push through the early levels.
Additionally, new accounts benefit from boosted AP between levels 1–10. During this window, players earn up to 40 AP per minute played and 200 AP per win, dramatically cutting down the time needed to progress. For anyone starting fresh, this early advantage can halve the grind to level 20.
Complete Daily and Weekly Missions
While winning games earns AP steadily, the real game-changer is missions. Daily and weekly tasks often deliver large AP rewards for relatively simple objectives—like using specific abilities, getting kills, or planting the spike.
Prioritizing missions ensures that every session contributes to long-term progress. Logging in each day just to finish a few quick tasks can add thousands of AP over the course of a week, far surpassing what random matches alone would yield.
Play with Friends and Win More
Winning consistently provides additional AP, making teamwork a vital shortcut. Queueing with friends can drastically improve win rates, both by increasing coordination and by reducing the chances of running into disruptive teammates.
Group play also accelerates mission completion, especially those tied to spike plants, assists, or round wins. The more efficiently a squad works together, the faster the AP stacks up.
Essential Tips Recap
- Grind Spike Rush for the best AP-per-minute ratio.
- Secure the First Win of the Day daily.
- Capitalize on early-level AP boosts from levels 1–10.
- Focus on daily and weekly missions for big rewards.
- Play with friends to increase win rates and complete objectives faster.
The Bottom Line
Reaching level 20 in Valorant doesn’t have to take weeks. By combining Spike Rush matches, daily bonuses, and mission efficiency, players can unlock Competitive mode in just a few days of dedicated play. The grind may be unavoidable, but with smart planning, it becomes far shorter—and much more rewarding.
Written by:
Christian