In Valorant, not every pre-game lobby feels like a winning setup. Maybe the map is your least favorite, the team composition is unbalanced, or a disruptive teammate is already spamming chat. That’s where “dodging” comes in—a practice players use to escape a match before it begins. But while dodging is simple, it carries consequences.
How to Dodge a Match
Dodging refers specifically to leaving during the agent select phase, before a round ever starts. There are three common methods:
- Don’t Select an Agent: The easiest approach is to let the selection timer run out. When the clock hits zero, the game automatically removes you from the queue.
- Force Quit (ALT+F4): Pressing ALT+F4 closes the client instantly, dropping you out of the lobby.
- Exit the Game Client: Manually closing Valorant from the desktop or taskbar has the same effect.
All three methods result in removal from the queue and trigger the same penalty system.
Penalties for Dodging
Dodging isn’t without cost. Riot Games has put systems in place to discourage abuse:
- Cooldown: A first-time dodge usually triggers a 3–5 minute queue lockout, preventing immediate re-entry into matchmaking.
- Ranked Penalty: In Competitive, dodging deducts -3 to -12 Ranked Rating (RR) per dodge. The exact penalty depends on frequency.
- Repeat Offenses: Excessive dodging stacks penalties, leading to longer lockouts (up to 4 hours) and even temporary suspensions if abused.
Why Players Dodge
Despite the drawbacks, many players dodge strategically:
- To avoid unfavorable maps.
- To escape toxic teammates before the match begins.
- To fix bad agent compositions, especially in solo queue.
It’s a controversial but sometimes necessary decision, particularly in ranked play.
Etiquette and Community Views
While dodging can feel like damage control, it disrupts matchmaking for others. Overusing the tactic is frowned upon by the community and can quickly escalate penalties. If you’re considering dodging:
- Communicate first—sometimes teammates are open to role swaps or strategy discussions.
- Save it for rare cases, not as a routine solution to map or team preferences.
The Bottom Line
Dodging in Valorant is as simple as letting the timer run out or force-quitting the client, but every dodge carries a cost. With cooldowns, RR losses, and escalating punishments, it’s best reserved for extreme cases—not everyday queue management.
Written by:
Christian