In Riot Games’ tactical shooter Valorant, precision aiming is the foundation of every duel. New players often wonder what sensitivity settings they start with—and whether those defaults are competitive. The answer is straightforward: Valorant’s default aim sensitivity is set to 0.5 when the game is first installed.
This value is found in the General Settings tab and determines how far the in-game crosshair moves in relation to physical mouse movement. It serves as a baseline, giving beginners a neutral starting point before they adapt the settings to their own hardware and comfort.
Default Sensitivity Details
The 0.5 default sensitivity is not an arbitrary number. Riot Games designed it to strike a middle ground that feels manageable across a wide variety of gaming mice. For new players, this setting provides enough responsiveness to look around freely without being so fast that it feels uncontrollable.
Alongside this, scope sensitivity—which governs aim-down-sights (ADS) movement—is set to 1.0 by default. This means there is no change in sensitivity when aiming through scopes compared to hip-fire, keeping the transition simple for beginners.
DPI and eDPI Context
In practice, how 0.5 sensitivity feels depends heavily on the player’s mouse DPI (Dots Per Inch). Many gaming mice are set at 400, 800, or 1600 DPI. In Valorant, players combine DPI with in-game sensitivity to calculate effective DPI (eDPI).
For example:
- 800 DPI × 0.5 sens = 400 eDPI
- 400 DPI × 0.5 sens = 200 eDPI
Most professional players fine-tune their eDPI between 200 and 400, allowing precise crosshair control while still enabling quick flick shots. This often means lowering in-game sensitivity below the default 0.5, particularly for those playing at higher DPI values.
Resetting to Default
If players adjust sensitivity and regret their changes, they can manually return to the 0.5 baseline. Valorant does not currently include a dedicated “reset to default” button for sensitivity, so users must re-enter the number in the slider field themselves.
Why Professionals Rarely Stick to Default
While 0.5 sensitivity works for most casual players, it is rarely the choice of competitive athletes. Esports professionals prioritize precision, often reducing sensitivity for steadier aim—especially in long-range duels. Desk space also plays a role: players with large mousepads can afford to use lower sensitivity since they have more room for wide swipes.
The Bottom Line
- Default aim sensitivity: 0.5
- Default scope sensitivity: 1.0
- Professional range: Typically lower, with eDPI between 200–400
Valorant’s default sensitivity provides a neutral and accessible entry point, but it is designed to be customized. As players become more comfortable with their mouse, desk space, and playstyle, adjusting sensitivity becomes one of the most important steps in improving consistency and precision.
Written by:
Christian