In Valorant, it is important to move quietly and stealthily. Because if your opponent can hear you, they can ambush you. But which actions can opponents hear well and what is more suitable for sneaking?
So why is being quiet so important? In Valorant, weapons are extremely deadly. Even weak weapons kill quickly, so camping or shooting through walls is extremely effective. However, this only works if you know where the opponent is located.
A simple method to find out the location of enemies is to just listen. Various actions make noise, and if you hear that an opponent is nearby, you can ambush them and gain an advantage.
But which actions are how loud? A reddit user named RoyGallant has compiled a list that outlines all the actions in the Beta of Valorant that make noise.
Besides some clear no-brainers like running around and shooting, there are several actions that are surprisingly loud or quiet. Especially the two major ninja agents, Jett and Omen, are particularly loud.
| Loud Actions | Quiet Actions (only you can hear) |
| Placing/detonating weapon/spike | Picking up weapon or item (whether running or walking) |
| Picking up ultimate orb | Aiming with scope/sights |
| Setting up or defusing spike | Switching weapons |
| Reloading weapon | Switching abilities |
| Voice lines when using ultimate | Voice lines when using a normal skill |
| Running | Walking (Shift key) |
| Jumping on the same level | Jumping to higher spots |
| Jumping to a lower level | Brimstone’s ability “Sky Smoke” |
| Using spray paint | Viper, when she picks up her poison cloud |
| Flailing with the knife | |
| All abilities with thrown projectiles | |
| Brimstone’s ability “Stim Beacon” | |
| Jett’s floating ability | |
| Jett’s ability “Updraft” | |
| Jett’s ability “Tailwind” | |
| Sage’s healing orb ability | |
| Sage’s resurrection ability | |
| Cypher, when he places or picks up his skills | |
| Cypher, when he activates/deactivates his spy camera | |
| Omen’s ability “Shrouded Step” | |
| Omen’s ability “From the Shadows” |
Your basic actions in Valorant are this loud
How loud is running? One of the first lessons learned in Valorant, which is also mentioned in our 11 Tips for Getting Started, is that if possible, you should always run while holding down the Shift key. Because those who run will be heard. Period.
But what you might not have known:
- Jumping makes noise only when you jump on your current level or jump from above to below.
- If you jump onto a box or something similar, it is quiet!
Make sure to remember this, so you aren’t surprised by a sneaky camper who quietly climbed onto a box and shoots you from an unexpected position.
What else makes noise?
- Pay attention that it makes noise when you place the spike.
- Also note that reloading weapons is quite audible. So don’t reload immediately after firing a few shots if you still have enough in the magazine.
Counter-Strike players beware: Unlike in CS:GO, aiming with sights or scopes here is completely silent. The same goes for picking up items.
Pay attention to “quiet” weapons: In Valorant, there are various weapons that are even quiet. The pistol Ghost, the SMG Spectre, and the rifle Phantom are hard to hear due to their built-in suppressors.
These agents are louder/quieter than I might have thought
In the agents’ skills, there are a few interesting peculiarities. Some of them are surprisingly loud, while others make no noise at all, contrary to expectations. As a general rule:
- All ultimates are announced loudly by the hero with a voice line. This is heard globally across the entire map!
- The voice lines of normal skills, however, are not heard by opponents.
- All skills that throw something, such as grenades or fireballs, are loud.
So loud are the “ninja agents”: The two agents Jett and Omen are actually designed to be stealthy infiltrators who sneak up on their enemies unnoticed. However, these two have skills that can be easily heard.
- Jett’s movement skills make noise, even when she is just floating in the air. Make sure to pay attention to this if you want to execute an unnoticed flank attack.
- Omen is also not as quiet as one might think. Especially his skills, which allow him to unexpectedly appear from the shadows, are easily audible and might not be as surprising. This is also one of the reasons why the otherwise useful hero ranks low in our tier list.
Jett is surprisingly loud! 
When Omen “suddenly” appears, the opponent is already alerted by the sound
So loud is the spy: The agent Cypher is a spy who uses cameras and other gadgets to surveil the enemies.
- But be aware that his camera makes noise when being turned on and off.
- It also makes noise when you place or pick up his abilities.
That’s why Brimstone is not so loud: Normally, thrown items like grenades are loud. However, the rough veteran Brimstone has a quiet ability with his smoke grenades launched from orbit. The smoke balls fall suddenly from the sky, and no one hears it until it’s too late and the area is completely obscured.
Do you want even more tips and tricks for Valorant? Then check out our article on a clever trick that allows you to spy on your opponents unexpectedly with the heroes Sova and Raze. Sova’s sonar dart actually has a few unexpected properties.
