As a Valorant player since the closed beta who recently started playing ranked matches, I've been grappling with an important question: Is it okay to dodge a game if you get a bad feeling about your team?
What is dodging?
For those unfamiliar, "dodging" refers to leaving during the agent selection phase before the match begins. While it results in a small penalty, it allows you to avoid potentially toxic teammates or unfavorable team compositions.
I recently dodged my first game after encountering a worrying scenario in agent select. Three players were already yelling at each other, and all four instalocked Duelists. It seemed like a recipe for disaster, so I decided to bow out.
But was this the right call? Should players commit to every lobby they enter, or is selective dodging acceptable? I took to the community to get some other perspectives.
Can you get banned?
Many players felt that occasional dodging is perfectly valid. As one put it, "There's a reason the developers don't harshly punish you for dodging once in a while. You're allowed to remove yourself from toxic teammates." The general consensus was that it's better to take a small penalty than suffer through an unpleasant match.
That said, frequent dodging is frowned upon. One player shared a cautionary tale of receiving penalties after dodging 7 out of 52 agent selects over a few days. The system is designed to allow occasional dodges, not habitual avoidance.
Interestingly, opinions were mixed on whether team composition is a valid reason to dodge. While unconventional comps like 4 Duelists aren't ideal, many felt that teamwork matters more than agent selection in most ranks. As one player put it, "You will hardly ever lose a game because of agent selection. You need team work and people that can win gunfights."
Dodge or not?
However, there was near universal agreement that obvious toxicity in agent select is grounds for dodging. Many players said they immediately leave if they hear screaming, arguing, or offensive language before the match even begins. If you get these players all the time, maybe consider looking into boosting services. They can help you climb the ranks even with toxic teammates.
Some players take a "no dodging" approach on principle. "I'd rather lose 20 rank rating than 3," one explained. Others felt queuing takes too long to justify restarting the process.
Ultimately, most seemed to agree that selective dodging is acceptable, especially to avoid toxic teammates. The key is moderation - don't make a habit of it, but don't be afraid to protect your mental health and enjoyment of the game either.
