Hey fellow Valorant agents, Ellie here,

I never thought I'd come to a point where my passion for Valorant would start to fade, but it seems like we're almost there. As much as I'd love to blame it on Jett dashing through my heart or Yoru mains... existing... it's actually the unbearable rise of toxicity and cheaters that's taking its toll. As a seasoned player, it's disheartening to see the level of toxicity and cheating in the game lately.

How do you all keep yourselves positive and how can I bring the enjoyment back to the game?

Being a female gamer, I've always faced my fair share of sexist comments, but the recent influx of brand new level 30 or below "throwaway" accounts has made things now worse than ever, despite Riot's supposed commitments to tackling toxicity. Before you say it, yes, we usually mute offenders right away.

These throwaway accounts seem to be on a mission to make Valorant as toxic as possible, often targeting female players like myself with derogatory comments and personal attacks. It's disheartening that the community, which once felt as comforting as a Sage wall, has turned into such a hostile environment and as depressing as a 500m Viper post plant.

My friends, who are much lower ranked than me (hovering around immortal 1-2 for the last 5+ acts), often invite me to play Unrated games with them. Unfortunately, the cheating problem has become unbearable in Unrated. I've encountered a craaazy amount players recently who are clearly not just smurfing, this act. Considering that only a very small fraction of the player base is beyond my rank, and taking into account their movement and playstyle, I can tell that these players are nowhere near Immortal – they're definitely simply cheating and can see through walls. The whole game is now like trying to plant the spike in a site full of Killjoy, Cypher and Chamber traps – it's just not fun.

I remember Riot Games mentioning that they would start recording voice chat and punishing people for toxic behavior. Has there been any update on this, particularly in the EU region? It's about time we see some real action taken against these players who are truly ruining the game for everyone else. I wonder if they can detect words and phrases with AI or something in the future. Idk that could be extreme and out of context not work.

Sometimes I think maybe I should just take Phoenix's advice and "Remember, stay out of the fire. Super high-level tactic." but then I think why should I because of idiots? Valorant used to be my sanctuary, a place where I could escape from the hardship and family trauma that weighed heavily on me. We need that opportunity back for everyone not just me.

So, fellow agents, what do you think can be done to combat these issues? Have you had any similar experiences?

Let's start a conversation and make our voices heard, because we deserve a better Valorant experience. Restrict new account creation, record comms, proper punishments, a real investment into Vanguard. I thought Riot had our backs "...just, you know, from the front.".

Remember, we're a team, and just like Brimstone says, "If any of you die, I lose a bet with Brimstone, so don't embarrass me!" Let's work together to save the game and community we once loved. Let's build more Sage walls to protect each other and dismiss the negativity like Reyna would, because together, we can make Valorant a more inclusive and enjoyable space for everyone.

Please do share your thoughts and puns, because we could all use a good laugh and some positivity in the face of adversity. Let's make our voices heard and show Riot that we can't let toxicity and cheaters ruin our favourite game.

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Much love!