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A Complete Guide to Stretching Your Resolution in VALORANT

If you’ve been playing VALORANT for any length of time, you’ve probably heard other players talk about “stretching their resolution” to gain a potential competitive advantage. But what exactly does this mean, and is it really worth it? In this article, I’ll break down exactly what resolution stretching is, the different methods for doing it, potential benefits and drawbacks, and personal recommendations based on my experience playing FPS games at a high level.

What is Resolution Stretching?

Resolution stretching refers to changing your desktop resolution in such a way that it makes enemies easier to see while not negatively impacting your ability to aim. When you stretch the resolution, you are essentially squeezing the game’s aspect ratio in a way that makes player models appear wider than they normally would at their native resolution.

The theory is that since enemies take up more of your screen real estate, they are easier to spot and track. At the same time, the hitboxes and ability to precisely aim your crosshair are not affected since the resolution is stretched virtually through your video settings rather than physically altering your monitor.

Methods for Stretching Resolution

There are a couple common methods used for stretching resolution in VALORANT:

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  1. Changing your desktop resolution to a different aspect ratio than your monitor:
    • For a 16:9 monitor, change your resolution to something more like 4:3 to stretch the image.
  2. Using a third-party tool like Borderless Gaming to stretch the game window only while keeping your desktop at its native res:
    • This allows a virtual stretch without impacting your desktop usability.

Potential Benefits of Stretching Resolution

The main purported benefit of stretching your resolution is that it makes enemies appear larger relative to your field of vision, in theory helping your eyes spot and track them more easily. From my experience playing at different resolutions, I do find enemies tend to “pop” a bit more on stretched resolutions.

Another potential plus is that it allows you to see slightly more of the map without vision obstruction from UI elements like the scoreboard. The stretched horizontal view reveals tad bit more intel about what’s happening dynamically in the round.

Drawbacks to Consider

However, resolution stretching is not without tradeoffs to ponder:

  • It distorts the image, deviating from how the game was intended to be seen.
  • Text and UI elements become unpleasantly squished or harder to read.
  • Your muscle memory for crosshair placement may be thrown off since distances are visually altered.
  • It can cause eye strain or headaches for long sessions due to the non-native aspect ratio.

In my experience, I’ve found that while enemies do stand out more on a stretched resolution, my ability to land precise, pixel-perfect taps or spray transfers was marginally diminished compared to a native resolution. So it’s a true tradeoff between visibility and pixel-level aiming skill.

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Is It Worth It For You?

Whether stretching resolution provides a worthwhile advantage is debatable and depends a lot on personal preference and playstyle. If you rely heavily on sharp reflexes and perfect crosshair placement, sticking with native may suit you better. But if you struggle with actively scanning for enemies, a stretch could help.

Rather than swear by one over the other, I’d recommend testing different options in the practice range to see how they feel. It also may help to only stretch slightly rather than going to an extremely distorted ratio. Ultimately, having good crosshair placement and movement are MORE important than any graphical tweak.

In closing, while resolution stretching remains a popular topic of debate in FPS circles, there are good arguments on both sides. The most important thing is finding a setup that you consistently perform well with regardless of any perceived advantages. So give different methods a try, but don’t get too hung up on any one “magic bullet” tweak.

I hope this overview has helped explain what stretching your resolution entails in VALORANT as well as factors to weigh in deciding whether it’s right for your playstyle. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions!

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Stretch Resolution Settings in VALORANT

Resolution Aspect Ratio Recommended Usage
1280×960 4:3 Good for maximizing targets while keeping decent image quality
1440×1080 4:3 Higher resolution than 1280×960 while maintaining a 4:3 aspect ratio
1600×1080 (5:4) 5:4 A unique aspect ratio that provides a wider field of view than 4:3
1920×1440 4:3 Highest resolution 4:3 stretch mode, but will be more hardware intensive
2048×1536 4:3 Another high resolution 4:3 option, smooth gameplay requires a powerful rig

FAQ

  1. What is stretch resolution in Valorant?

    Stretch resolution basically allows you to stretch the game screen so enemies appear bigger. Essentially, it modifies your aspect ratio to make things looks stretched out. However, it also distorts your view of the map so there are pros and cons to using it.

  2. How do I enable stretch resolution in Valorant?

    To turn on stretch resolution, you need to change your desktop resolution settings before launching Valorant. Go into your computer’s display settings, lower the resolution, and select the “Stretch” option. From there, launch the game and it will be in a stretched view. You want to pick a resolution that makes targets appear somewhat larger without completely warping the image. It takes some experimenting to find the right fit.

  3. Does stretch resolution give you an advantage?

    There is debate around whether stretch resolution really provides a concrete edge in aiming or is it kind of a placebo effect. While enemies might look bigger, your sense of the maps is also distorted which can confuse you. Some pros say it helps, others argue hitboxes don’t change so it doesn’t matter. The jury appears to be still out on this one. Maybe it comes down to personal preference?

  4. What are some alternatives to stretch resolution?

    If you find stretch resolution distorts your view too much, there are other options to try as well. You could increase your general sensitivity settings to make small mouse movements aim bigger. Playing around with a lower desktop resolution may also help enemies pop without stretching the screen. Experimenting with different crosshair sizes or styles is another thought. Ultimately, many top players swear by just pure practice and experience over any setting tricks.

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  5. Is using stretch resolution allowed?

    As far as most people know, using stretch resolution is not considered a bannable offense in Valorant. The developers have not commented directly on its usage one way or another. However, some tournaments and leagues may have rules against it. So if you ever plan to compete, be sure to check the specific competition’s policies. Otherwise, stretch resolution appears to operate in a kind of gray area that is not enforced one way or another by the developers themselves.

  6. What kind of performance impact does it have?

    Stretch resolution can both help or hurt your frame rate depending on your system specs and the resolution used. In general, lowering your resolution frees up more resources and boosts frames. However, stretching tends to make graphics more demanding to render. So a low resolution that is slightly stretched may give you a frame advantage. But really pushing the stretching could worsen stutters. Your best bet is testing different resolutions to balance image quality versus smoothness for your setup.

  7. Should I use stretch resolution?

    Ultimately, there is no consensus on whether stretch resolution provides a true advantage or not. It sort of comes down to personal preference. Maybe give it a try in the range and see if you feel like it helps your aiming any. But don’t get too hung up on the “meta” either. Many top players do perfectly fine without any resolution tweaks. Strong fundamentals, crosshair placement, and experience will serve you better in the long run. So take stretch resolution with a grain of salt and focus more on actually practicing your skills!