When you’re setting up your Valorant account, your username is your identity. Too often, new players go with random names like “Player12345” or something overly generic like “ShooterPro.” These might seem like placeholders, but they stick. You’ll be known by that name in matches, on leaderboards, and potentially in the community. Once set, changing your Riot ID is limited and has restrictions.
Pick something you can stick with, something that reflects you or your style of play. Avoid inside jokes or temporary obsessions—names based on current trends or memes age fast. What seems funny or clever today might feel cringey in six months.
Including Offensive or Controversial Terms
Valorant has strict rules against offensive usernames, and Riot is not shy about issuing penalties. Anything hateful, violent, discriminatory, or suggestive will likely get flagged. It might fly under the radar at first, but you’re risking a forced name change or even a temporary ban. Keep it clean, creative, and safe for all ages.
Registering With the Wrong Region
Region Locks Matter
When you sign up for Valorant, Riot assigns your account to a specific region based on your IP. This region determines which servers you can access and who you can play with. A lot of players don’t realize this and end up locked to a region far from their actual location. That means higher ping, bad matchmaking, and a poor gameplay experience.
There’s no easy in-client fix. If you register under the wrong region, you’ll need to go through Riot’s support to request a region transfer—which isn’t always approved quickly. Double-check your VPN settings, location, or anything that might affect IP detection before signing up.
Playing With Friends in Other Regions
If your friends are in a different region, you won’t be able to join their matches unless your regions match. Many new players overlook this, especially if they met their gaming friends online. To avoid being stuck in different ecosystems, talk to your squad before creating your account and make sure everyone is aligned.
Skipping Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Your Account Is a Target
Valorant accounts are valuable, especially as you rank up or collect rare skins. Hackers know this. If you’re only relying on a simple password, you’re inviting risk. Enabling 2FA adds a much-needed layer of security. If someone tries to access your account from an unrecognized device, you’ll get an alert or code request.
Not enabling 2FA is like locking your front door but leaving the key under the mat. It’s easy to set up and pays off in peace of mind. Don’t wait until your account gets hacked to take security seriously.
Recovery Without 2FA Is a Pain
If your account ever gets compromised, recovery is much faster with 2FA enabled. Without it, you’ll have to go through support, provide proof of ownership, and possibly wait days. Save yourself the hassle and set it up from day one.
Reusing Old or Weak Passwords
Brute Force and Credential Stuffing Are Real
Using the same password you’ve used on ten other sites is a terrible idea. If even one of those other sites gets breached, your Valorant account is suddenly exposed. Hackers often use automated tools to try leaked passwords on different platforms—this is called credential stuffing.
Pick a strong, unique password for your Valorant account. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Better yet, use a password manager to generate and store it. Your future self will thank you.
Avoid Easy-to-Guess Words
Your username, birthday, pet name—none of these should be in your password. Don’t go for “Valorant2023” or “PhoenixMain.” It takes less than a second for brute force tools to crack weak combinations. Treat your account security with some respect, especially if you plan to invest time or money into it.
Ignoring the Riot ID and Tagline Format
They’re Not Just for Looks
Your Riot ID is your in-game name, and the tagline is a short code that allows you to share the same name with someone else. New users often don’t understand this format and either ignore the tagline or confuse it with a clan tag or status message.
This system helps avoid name conflicts. So if “Shadow” is taken, you can still be “Shadow#0099.” But don’t treat the tagline like an afterthought. It can make your name easier to remember or share with friends.
Don’t Set a Random Tagline
Some users go with a random string like “#ASD1” just to complete registration. That’s fine until they realize it’s hard to remember or communicate. Use something meaningful—maybe your birth year, a lucky number, or initials. Just make sure it’s something you’ll remember.
Creating Multiple Accounts for the Wrong Reasons
Smurfing Hurts Everyone
Some players create secondary accounts—often called smurfs—to play at lower skill levels. While it might seem like a harmless way to “have fun” or “practice,” it ruins the experience for others. It throws off matchmaking and leads to unbalanced games.
More importantly, smurfing violates the spirit of fair play. If you’re good enough to rank up, then play with people at your level. That’s how you improve and compete.
Dodging Bans or Cooldowns
Creating a new account to get around bans, chat restrictions, or queue timeouts is not only a bad look, it’s risky. Riot tracks behavior patterns and hardware IDs. If you’re caught evading penalties, your new account could also get flagged or banned. It’s a short-term fix with long-term consequences.
Overlooking Age Requirements
Valorant Is Not for Younger Kids
There’s a minimum age requirement for creating a Valorant account. Depending on your region, it’s usually 13 or older. Some players try to fake their age to get in early, but this can cause issues later—especially if Riot tightens enforcement or requests verification.
Beyond legal policies, Valorant accounts is a competitive shooter with mature voice chats and intense gameplay. It’s not designed for young kids. If you’re underage, wait until you’re eligible. If you’re a parent setting up an account for your kid, understand what they’re getting into.
Getting Locked Out Later
If you lie about your age during sign-up, it might not be an issue right away. But if Riot asks for ID verification down the road—for account recovery or security reasons—you could be in trouble. Always be honest with your info from the start.
Not Verifying Your Email
It’s Your Lifeline for Recovery
One of the first things you should do after creating your account is verify your email. It’s the main way Riot can reach you for recovery, updates, and alerts. Too many players skip this step and regret it when something goes wrong.
If you ever forget your password, need to reset 2FA, or confirm a login attempt, that email is your safety net. Verify it early, and make sure it’s an address you check regularly.
Avoid Temporary or Fake Emails
Don’t use burner emails just to rush through registration. These addresses often expire, and once they’re gone, you lose your main recovery method. If you’re serious about playing, use a legit email and keep it updated.
Failing to Understand Riot’s Terms of Service
What You Agree to Actually Matters
Most people scroll past the Terms of Service and click “Accept” without a thought. But that agreement outlines your responsibilities as a player, Riot’s rules, and what can get your account suspended or banned.
Ignorance won’t protect you if you break those terms. Things like buying accounts, using third-party software, exploiting bugs, or toxic behavior can all result in punishment. If you’re investing time and possibly money into Valorant, it’s worth knowing the boundaries.
Buying or Selling Accounts Is a Trap
It might seem tempting to buy a high-ranked account or sell yours, but it’s strictly against Riot’s policy. Purchased accounts often get flagged and banned. And if you get scammed—which happens a lot—you have no protection. Stick with your own account and earn your progress the right way.
Rushing Through Setup Without Customizing Settings
Ignoring Game and Sensitivity Settings
Once you’re in, it’s easy to jump straight into matches without tweaking settings. But default controls might not suit you. Spend time in the range adjusting your mouse sensitivity, crosshair, graphics, and keybinds. Comfort and control matter more than you think, especially in a tactical shooter like Valorant.
Accessibility Features
If you need colorblind modes, voice-to-text, or other accessibility options, Valorant has them—but they’re often skipped during initial setup. Explore the settings menu fully. Customize your interface so you’re not at a disadvantage before the game even starts.
Not Linking to Riot Mobile or Social Connections
Added Security and Social Tools
Linking your account to Riot’s mobile app or authorized social accounts can boost your account security and make it easier to manage. You can enable mobile verification, track updates, and see what your friends are playing.
While not mandatory, these connections can help you stay in control of your account. Just make sure you’re using trusted platforms and not giving access to third-party sites or services.
Forgetting to Choose the Right Display Language
It Affects Your In-Game Experience
During account creation, you choose your default language. If you pick the wrong one or rush through this step, it can mess with your game UI and communication. Changing it later is possible but not always obvious.
Select the language you’re most comfortable with—both for reading settings and for interacting with teammates. Misunderstanding a mission, objective, or instruction because of a language issue can cost you in ranked games.
Also Read-Sylvie Bermann: Architecte de la Diplomatie Française et Pionnière des Relations Internationales
