VALORANT smurfs are a common part of playing the game. Players probably don’t realize they’re playing with or against at least one smurf account per match. Players use smurfs because it helps them solve some issues that are developed during their initial playthrough. In a time where players’ perception of VALORANT smurf accounts is at an all-time low, what is Riot Games doing to solve this problem? Let’s give you a better idea of how to detect VALORANT smurf accounts.
Riot Games has aggressively put its resources and attention into developing VALORANT as a top competitor in the FPS community. They have already invested so much in promoting the game and holding high-quality esports events that draw large crowds to appreciate the gameplay. Needless to say, they are trying to battle any malicious actions in the game such as cheating and botting. Although, players can rest easy knowing that smurfing in this game isn’t considered malicious.
How to Detect VALORANT Smurfs in the Game
VALORANT already set up a smurf detection system that tries to mark smurf accounts when they play the game. Once the system detects that an account is a smurf, its matchmaking lobby will be adjusted so that it won’t bother lower-tier players in the lobby. This is an extremely useful system because the main problem that players have with smurf accounts is that they often dominate lobbies since the player has more experience playing the game.
Players also have the ability to detect VALORANT smurfs by observing an account’s behavior in the game. While there are a lot of people who complain about how naturally skilled players are often smurfs, there are more reliable ways to detect VALORANT smurfs than throwing out wild accusations against every player who’s absolutely crushing a match with their own skills. Here are ways you can see if a high-level player is actually using a smurf account in your games:
- Performing advanced tactics smoothly like jump peeking or strafing.
- Unusual number of headshots per kill.
- Abilities and skill shots always landing in key areas. They may have memorized a lot of lineups.
- Overwhelming positive winrate with high KDA in their match history.
Now that you know how to detect VALORANT smurfs, it’s time to hear about the bad news. There’s very little a player can do about smurfs in their game. Players can send reports but Riot Games’ isn’t exactly known for having the best reputation for giving out penalties to people that deserve it. Even though smurfs can ruin a player’s experience (especially when they’re on the opposing team), there’s very little a player can do to contribute to the correction of this behavior.
Are Smurf Accounts Becoming a Problem in VALORANT?
Smurf accounts are annoying to deal with but they have never been a problem for VALORANT as a whole. Ever since Riot Games introduced their VALORANT smurf detection tool, the impact of smurf accounts ruining competitive rated lobbies have significantly decreased. People in the lower ELOs still encounter annoying smurf accounts dominating games but it’s no longer as bad as it used to be and will mostly likely only improve going into the future.
The main reason smurf accounts will never be a problem is because they are relatively harmless to the game’s overall experience. Smurf accounts are generally created for a positive reason such as improving their MMR or re-climbing the ranks on a new account. These reasons are the primary reason for most players to play the game so there’s no reason Riot Games should punish them. In fact, players who encounter smurfs often have something to gain since they get to improve.
How to Deal with Smurf Accounts in VALORANT
Dealing with smurf accounts should be left to Riot Games’ team. As a player, there will always be other players who are better than you in the game. There’s no point crying out that a player is maliciously smurfing your ranked lobby just because they have over 20 kills. However, there’s no excuse for any player to be toxic to other players in a lobby so make sure to report anyone who tries to contribute to toxic gaming culture after a match.
Always play a match with the goal of trying to win the game and it’s better not to make excuses. Instead, developing your skills at the game and taking coaching lessons or watching/reading guides will always be a more productive use of your time. It’s better to push yourself to the next level than trying to drag somebody down. If you think there are better ways to deal with a smurf account in the game, make sure to let us know by leaving a comment below!
