Can you play Valorant with a controller?

Aakrit Sharma
Reyna hiding behind a box in Valorant

Valorant is one of the most popular shooter games out there and precise aim is key to winning matches. Although controllers make aiming slightly complex, many players prefer them over a keyboard and mouse. So, here’s everything to know about playing Valorant with a controller.

Since its release in June 2020, Valorant has amassed a massive player base despite launching exclusively on PC like Counter-Strike 2. It isn’t a huge surprise that Riot’s shooter game requires you to have precise aim, and it is common for keyboard and mouse to be considered a better setup for the same.

Having said that, plenty of shooters in the market like Overwatch 2, Fortnite, and Call of Duty allow you to play with controllers. Thanks to features like aim assist, zoom snapping, and camera magnetism, aiming with a controller isn’t too hard, and at times, players even complain about aim assist being too strong and providing an unfair advantage.

On that note, let’s take a look at whether you can play Valorant with a controller.

Does Valorant support controllers?

No, Valorant doesn’t support controllers officially. The game is solely available on PC because the developers consider a keyboard and mouse the best setup to play it.

Having said that, if you’re a passionate console gamer, you might feel more comfortable playing shooters like Valorant with your favorite controller, and there’s a workaround to help you do so. Keep in mind that lack of official support means you won’t get access to features like aim assist and aiming can become a lot harder than anticipated.

A few exceptions naturally exist, as famous pro player Dasnerth could reach Radiant while using a controller and he primarily relied on the shotguns for this.

Omen aiming with Outlaw in Valorant

How to play Valorant with a controller

You can play Valorant with a controller through third-party key remapping software like JoyToKey and reWASD. While JoytoKey is a free software, reWASD is paid. Here’s how to use them:

  1. Visit the official JoytoKey or reWASD website. From here, you can download JoytoKey for free and reWASD’s 7-day free trial. The latter costs 7 USD once the trial is over.
  2. Create a profile and remap the keys you use to move around and implement abilities in Valorant.
  3. Double-check the controls, save, and exit.
  4. Open Valorant with the controller connected and you should be able to play the game without a keyboard and mouse.

Can you get banned for playing Valorant with a controller?

Yes, your Valorant account can be banned if you use third-party software to remap controls and create multi-key binds letting you trigger movements and playstyles that are impossible on a standard PC setup.

However, if your gameplay on a controller doesn’t break any rules or in-game mechanics, it’s rare to get a ban.

Should you play Valorant with a controller?

Ideally, playing Valorant with a controller can be too much of a hassle and it also involves the risk of being banned. Doing so is only recommended if you’re supremely confident about your skills or losing every other gun fight can easily lead to frustration.

Well, this was everything to know about playing Valorant with a controller. For more on the game, check out:

Is Valorant on Xbox & PlayStation? | Can you play Valorant on macOS? | All Valorant skin bundles: Weapons, tiers, prices | How to remake in Valorant | Next Valorant Night Market 2023 | How to change your display name in Valorant | How to uninstall Valorant

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