ADS: What does aiming down site mean in Valorant?

In Valorant, "aiming down sights" (ADS) refers to the action of looking down the sights of a weapon to improve accuracy. Unlike some other shooter games where aiming down sights is a default mechanic, in Valorant, not all weapons have an ADS option. Generally, only certain weapons, such as sniper rifles like the Operator, offer this feature.

As a rule of thumb, pistols and some shotguns don’t have the option to aim down the site. Fortunately, guns like the Vandal and Phantom do, along with Outlaw, the recent addition to the Valorant armory.

When a player aims down sights in Valorant, their field of view narrows, providing a zoomed-in view of the target. This can make it easier to hit enemies at longer distances, as it increases precision and reduces bullet spread. However, aiming down sights also reduces movement speed and increases the time it takes to transition between aiming and shooting, so it's important for players to use it strategically depending on the situation.

When should you ADS in Valorant?

In Valorant, there are several situations where aiming down sights can be beneficial for you, although things mostly depend on the circumstances of your match.

• Long-range engagements: ADS can significantly improve accuracy when engaging enemies at longer distances, especially with weapons like sniper rifles. The zoomed-in view helps players to precisely target enemies' heads or other critical hit areas.
• Holding angles: When holding a specific angle or angle-holding position, using ADS can help players maintain accuracy while waiting for enemies to peek or push. This is particularly useful when using weapons with lower recoil and higher precision.
• Peeking corners: When peeking around corners or entering areas where enemies might be present, ADS can help players quickly acquire targets and increase the chances of landing accurate shots, especially if opponents are holding long sightlines.
• Burst firing: ADS can be effective when burst firing or tapping at medium to long distances. It allows players to maintain better control over their shots and ensure each bullet hits the target.
• Engaging stationary targets: When engaging stationary or predictable targets, such as enemies holding angles or defusing the spike, ADS can help players land precise shots with higher consistency.

On the other hand, there are also scenarios where aiming down the site of your gun might be a bad idea. These scenarios include:

• Close-quarters combat: In close-quarters combat situations, aiming down sights can limit peripheral vision and reduce mobility, making it harder to react quickly to fast-moving enemies. In these situations, it's often better to hip-fire for better mobility and situational awareness.
• When mobility is crucial: If a player needs to move quickly or reposition frequently, ADS can slow them down and make them more vulnerable to enemy fire. In such cases, maintaining mobility by hip-firing is usually preferable.
• When facing multiple enemies: If facing multiple enemies at once, ADS can make it difficult to track and engage multiple targets efficiently due to its reduced field of view. It's often better to hip-fire and prioritize mobility and situational awareness in these situations.