You downloaded Valorant. You watched the tutorials. You played a few unrated matches and discovered that competitive mode, the real game, where ranks matter and stakes feel tangible, sits behind a locked door. The key? Account level 20. And suddenly, that number feels very far away.
Here’s the truth: reaching level 20 in Valorant doesn’t require weeks of grinding if you understand how the leveling system actually works. Riot Games designed multiple pathways to earn Account Points (AP), and some routes move dramatically faster than others. Whether you’re a new player eager to start your competitive journey or someone looking for a second account that doesn’t require ordering another Valorant account, this guide breaks down exactly the fastest way to hit level 20 and unlock ranked play.
Fastest Way to Level 20 in Valorant (2026 Guide)
Before we talk strategy, you need to understand the currency that drives your progress. AP stands for Account Points, the only metric that determines your account level. Every level requires exactly 5000 AP to complete. Simple math shows that reaching level 20 requires roughly 100,000 AP.
The basic earning rate works like this: you receive 10 AP for every minute you spend in any match. Win a game, and Riot tosses in an extra 50 AP bonus. These numbers apply to every game mode, including Unrated, Spike Rush, Swiftplay, and others. The consistency is nice, but the real optimization comes from understanding where exceptions exist.
The New Player Boost: Levels 1-10
Riot wants new players to experience competitive mode without endless grinding, so they built in a significant boost for accounts at level 10 or lower. During this phase, you earn 40 AP per minute instead of the standard 10 AP. That’s a 4x multiplier on your time investment.
Even better, winning matches during this period awards 200 AP per win rather than the usual 50 AP. The message is clear: play aggressively during your first ten levels. Every match counts quadruple. Rush through this window before the training wheels come off, and the grind normalizes.
Play Spike Rush: The Fastest Way to Level Up in Valorant
If there’s one piece of advice that towers above the rest, it’s this: play Spike Rush games. Community testing confirms that Spike Rush delivers approximately 145 XP per minute compared to about 120 XP per minute in standard unrated matches. That efficiency gap compounds over dozens of games.
Why does Spike Rush win? Speed. These matches last only 4-7 rounds, typically wrapping up in 8-12 minutes. Yet Riot still awards the full 50 AP bonus per win (or 200 AP for accounts under level 10). You’re collecting the same win bonus in a fraction of the time.
Consider the math: a single unrated game might run 40 minutes and yield 300-400 AP. In that same 40-minute window, you could complete three or four Spike Rush games, each delivering its own win bonus plus consistent per-minute AP. The stacking effect is substantial. Players who commit to Spike Rush often reach level 20 in 20-25 hours of gameplay rather than the 60-70 hours that pure unrated grinding requires.
First Win of the Day: The 1000 AP Boost You Can’t Skip
Every 22 hours, Valorant resets a powerful bonus: the First Win of the Day. Claim it by winning any match, yes, including Spike Rush, and you receive a massive 1000 AP reward. That’s one-fifth of an entire level from a single victory.
The 22-hour reset (not 24) matters. If you win your first match at 8 PM on Monday, the bonus becomes available again at 6 PM on Tuesday. Strategic players can grab this bonus slightly earlier each day, maximizing their weekly collection.
Missing this bonus hurts. A player who claims First Win of the Day consistently earns 7,000 AP per week from this source alone, nearly 1.5 levels. Someone who ignores it leaves behind enormous progress. Make winning your first game each day a non-negotiable priority.
Unrated Matches vs Spike Rush: Which Game Mode Wins?
Standard unrated matches have their place. They teach map awareness, economy management, and the full tactical depth that competitive play demands. But in terms of time spent per AP gained, they simply can’t compete with Spike Rush for pure leveling efficiency.
AP Efficiency by Game Mode
| Game Mode | Average Duration | AP Per Match (approx.) | AP Per Hour |
| Spike Rush | 8-12 minutes | 130-170 AP | ~700-900 AP |
| Swiftplay | 15-20 minutes | 200-250 AP | ~600-750 AP |
| Unrated | 30-45 minutes | 350-450 AP | ~500-650 AP |
| Deathmatch | 6-9 minutes | 60-90 AP | ~500-600 AP |
The numbers tell the story. Spike Rush consistently delivers the highest AP per hour, especially when you factor in win bonuses across multiple short matches. If your only goal is reaching level 20 fast in Valorant, Spike Rush is your primary tool.
Daily Missions and XP: Do They Help You Get to Level 20?
Here’s where confusion often creeps in: daily and weekly missions award XP, not AP. These two currencies serve different purposes. XP progresses your Battle Pass and agent contracts. AP levels up your account. Completing missions won’t directly accelerate your path to level 20.
That said, missions still matter. The gameplay required to complete them, playing matches, getting kills, and using abilities, generates AP through normal play. You’re earning AP while chasing XP rewards. Just don’t confuse mission completion with direct account-level progress.
Riot’s checkpoint system awards 1,000 XP and 150 Kingdom Credits at each milestone, with 16 checkpoints available. Every game mode except Deathmatch contributes to checkpoint progress, so you’re passively earning these rewards while grinding Spike Rush anyway.
Party Bonuses: Level Up Faster with Friends
Valorant rewards social play. Queue with one friend, and you receive an 8% XP bonus. A full five-stack grants a 20% boost. While these bonuses apply to XP rather than AP directly, playing with friends improves your win rate through better coordination, and wins mean bonus AP.
There’s also the Xbox Game Pass to consider. Subscribers receive a flat 20% bonus XP, which stacks with party bonuses. If you have access to Game Pass, activate it before your Valorant grind begins.
The Optimal Level 20 Strategy: Putting It All Together|
Here’s the playbook for reaching level 20 in Valorant as quickly as possible:
First, abuse the new player boost. During levels 1-10, you’re earning 40 AP per minute and 200 AP per win. This is when your time is most valuable. Play as many matches as your schedule allows during this window. Don’t take breaks. Don’t play casually. Grind.
Second, claim First Win of the Day religiously. Log in every day, win one Spike Rush match, pocket your 1000 AP, and move on if you’re short on time. That single daily win contributes more than an hour of casual play.
Third, make Spike Rush your default mode. Queue it repeatedly. The short match duration means more win bonuses per hour and faster AP accumulation. Save unrated for when you actually want to practice tactical gameplay, not when you’re trying to level up your account.
Fourth, party up whenever possible. Coordination improves your win rate, and wins earn bonus AP. Even a duo queue helps.
How Long Does It Actually Take to Reach Level 20?
Realistic estimates vary based on your efficiency and win rate. Players who optimize their approach, Spike Rush focus, consistent First Win bonuses, leveraging the new player boost often reach level 20 in 20-30 hours of gameplay. Spread across a week or two of regular sessions, that’s manageable.
Players who queue only for unrated matches and miss daily bonuses might need 50-70 hours. The difference is significant. Time invested in understanding the system pays off with dozens of hours saved.
Once you hit level 20, you’ll enter competitive mode as “Unranked.” Five placement matches later, you’ll receive your first official rank. The real journey begins there, but at least you’ll have arrived prepared, with plenty of game time under your belt.
