Riot Games’ free-to-play 5v5 tactical team shooter Valorant has boldly set out to knock the crown off veterans Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch. Given its mercenary gameplay and the highly competitive edge needed for victory, you might be wondering what the best crosshair settings in Valorant are.
It’s a bold move, taking on the tactical team-based titans of CS:GO and Rainbow Six Siege, but Riot have created a fast-paced combat game that will make waves in the eSports community. As such, gamers are vying for every tactical advantage available. One of these tactical advantages is the ability to customise your crosshairs.
What Settings Can I Change?
You can edit colours, outlines, length, thickness, opacity and more using the crosshair settings. You can also add a centre dot. More options may be added as the game develops, but for now these are your key modifications.
Colour
You have a small colour palette to choose from. At full opacity, some colours are more prominent than others. You might want to consider choosing a colour that will always be noticeable on-screen, but not vibrant enough to be distracting.
Opacity
You can slide the scale from opaque to fully transparent, making the crosshair invisible. If you have opted for a vivid colour, lowering the opacity is a good way to tone it down, so it doesn’t get in the way of what you’re aiming at.
Length
For those struggling to keep track of where the crosshair is on screen, you can lengthen the vertical and horizontal arms of the cross. Conversely, if you’re finding the cross dominating too much of your screen, shrinking the arm length can help.
Thickness
Like with length, changing the thickness can help with the reticule’s prominence. Boldening it will certainly help keep it more visible, but you run the risk of obscuring the environment if you make it too thick.
Outline
Adding an outline to your crosshairs pronounces them further. The outline can also be customised in the same way (colour, opacity, thickness) as the crosshairs themselves. Adding an outline is useful if you like to keep your targeting reticule small, but sometimes lose sight of it in the heat of battle.
Centre dot
The centre dot adds a bullseye. Its settings are independently customisable from the crosshair, so one option could be to dispense with the crosshairs entirely, and simply show a single dot of the size and opacity of your choosing.
Movement error
Setting ‘movement error’ to on will make the crosshair shift, depending on your character’s movements. As your aiming is affected when you fire while moving, the crosshair tries to compensate for where your aim is at that exact moment. This is a very useful setting for those without much FPS experience, as it will help you get used to how movement affects your marksmanship.
Firing error
Holding down the fire button increases the spread of your weapon’s firing spray, and negatively affects your aim (which is why you should always fire in short bursts!) Having ‘firing error’ enabled gives you a visual cue as to just how much your weapon’s precision drops the longer your burst is. Like ‘movement error’, this is a good setting to help those get a good handle on how the game’s firing mechanics work.
What Crosshair Settings Are Best For Me?
Given the wide range of customisable options, the short answer is there are no universal ‘best’ crosshair settings for Valorant: otherwise everyone would be using them. Crosshair settings are purely down to personal preference and playing style.
However, it’s good to ask yourself questions as you play, which will help you settle on the perfect balanced settings for your playing style. This is a trial-and-error approach, which could take a long time to hone. Fortunately, you’ll be spending that time having fun and improving your skills at Valorant, so it’s worth it.
Some things to consider, as you play around with your settings:
Are your crosshairs always visible, even in the heat of battle?
If you’re struggling to locate your line of fire when under pressure, you might want to consider increasing your crosshair’s opacity, length, or thickness, or playing around with the outline settings. Equally, get a feel for the maps you regularly play. Valorant has a distinctive colour palette, and you might find some colour choices stand out more clearly than others.
Are your crosshairs getting in the way? Do they obscure the target?
Larger, bolder crosshairs might make sure you never lose sight of them, but they sure can take up a lot of valuable screen space. Lowering the prominence or outline to a level that suits you will help strike a balance between your aim and seeing the target you’re firing at. Hitting that sweet spot takes some tinkering, but it’s just a case of trying out what works, and then fine-tuning that to a level that feels comfortable and right for you.
Are you having trouble hitting targets, even if they’re right in your sights?
You might want to consider turning the movement/firing error settings on. These adjust your crosshairs depending on your motion and fire-bursts, and will help you attune your marksmanship skills.
Ultimately, it’s important to follow your own judgement and instincts when it comes to personalising your crosshairs in Valorant. Start with what looks good for you, then fine-tune it until you’re hitting bullseyes every time.