Piyathida Somsrimee
4 min readOct 14, 2023

“Valorant: Personal Journey From Iron 3 ”

Hi there, fellow gamers! Last time, we talked all about the vibrant community and thrilling gameplay of Valorant. If you missed it, you can catch up on the post here: “Valorant: Road to Radiant or Radiant at Heart”. Today, let’s dive deeper into where the culture of competitive gaming in Valorant comes from and I’m excited to share more about my personal experience, especially my humble beginnings in the Iron rank, where I faced some unique challenges and learned valuable lessons along the way.

Where It All Started

Credit: Riot Games/ Valorant

The competitive spirit in Valorant has been there right from the beginning. When Riot Games launched the game in June 2020, they wanted to create a thrilling experience that challenges players to strategize and think on their feet. Inspiring the development of a game from the world of professional gaming, they believe it will provide players with the opportunity to improve and compete at their highest level.

The Joy of Competition

credit: Riot Games/Xbox.com

What makes Valorant’s fanbase so special is their love for competitive gaming. Players are constantly striving to become better, and this drive for improvement adds an extra layer of excitement to the game. It has been incredibly helpful for me to learn from professional players, as I love the thrill of competition.

Starting from the Bottom

credit: Piyathida somsrimee

My first rank in Valorant was Iron. To say the least, it was eye-opening. Those were the days when my gameplay wasn’t perfect. My reaction time was slow, and I often found myself staring at the ground, oblivious to the enemies lurking around. My shooting technique was what they call “spraying” in the Valorant community — mindlessly holding down the shooting buttons without taking the time to aim properly. It was a habit that didn’t bode well for my performance, as it led to missed shots and an inability to eliminate opponents efficiently. Don’t worry if you’re starting in the same place as me, it’s just the beginning! It’s possible to become anything you want if you put in the work and train consistently. You’re more capable than you think and your efforts and consistency will help you be the best you can be.

The Path to Improvement

credit: Tracker.gg

Realizing that I needed to up my game, I made a conscious effort to enhance my aiming skills. I spent quite a bit of time practicing my aim in range mode by taking aim at bots continuously. Moreover, I watch many youtube videos that show how to improve your aim. One of the recent videos from “Rem” about this topic covered majorly all the skills that we need. This dedicated practice not only helped me develop a more consistent and accurate shooting style but also instilled in me a sense of discipline and perseverance. The amount of “spraying” in the game gradually decreased with each lesson, as I became more adept at reacting quickly and aiming with precision.

Tips and Tricks from the Pros

credit: Riot Games/ Valorant

One of the coolest things about the Valorant community is how much professional players share their tips and tricks. Their experience and knowledge are like a treasure trove for those of us who want to get better at the game. By following their advice, I’ve been able to make real progress and improve my gameplay. For example, from one of the professional players “ Jollztv” and content creator, he posted the tips and tricks of how to get out of Iron rank, mentioning various points that help improve your skill.

Progressing with Confidence

credit: Piyathida somsrimee ( This is one of my improved game play)

In just a few weeks, I improved my reaction time, and my ability to land accurate shots also increased. I no longer found myself fixated on the ground, and my approach to combat evolved from mindless spraying to calculated and strategic shooting. I found new confidence and motivation after my gradual progression, encouraging me to aim higher and try challenges that lay ahead. In the upcoming posts, I look forward to sharing more about the specific strategies and techniques that helped me overcome the obstacles in the Iron rank. I’ll discuss how my time in the range mode transformed my approach to the game and empowered me to embrace the art of precision shooting in Valorant. Feel free to join me on this exciting journey of personal growth in Valroant. Also, I started streaming on popular platforms for gamers such as Twitch. Feel free to follow and watch my gameplay sometimes!

Piyathida Somsrimee
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Hello, everyone. My name is Piyathida Somsrimee. I'm from Thailand and I'm an undergraduate at UC Davis. I love anime, playing video games, and I love dogs.