Fastest Way to Level 20 in Valorant. Fast Account Leveling with EB24
You installed Valorant, played a few matches, and found out ranked is locked. To play Competitive on a new account you need account level 20, and that takes a lot longer than most new players expect.
Here is how the level 20 requirement works in 2026, how much you actually need to earn, which modes get you there fastest, and what to do if you do not want to grind at all.
Does Valorant Really Make You Reach Level 20 Before Ranked?
Yes. Riot added the level 20 requirement in Patch 4.0 in January 2022, and it has not changed since. Riot's Competitive FAQ still lists account level 20 as the requirement for new accounts in 2026.
Before that change, you only needed to win 10 unrated matches. Riot raised the bar to give new players time to learn the game and to make throwaway smurf accounts harder to create.
Playing on console? Your account level is shared between PC and console, so progress on one counts on the other. Your rank and MMR are not shared.
AP vs XP: Only One of Them Levels Your Account
This is where most confusion comes from.
AP (Account Points) is what levels up your account. Each account level needs 5,000 AP. It is the only thing that gets you to level 20.
XP levels up your Battle Pass and Agent Contracts. It does nothing for your account level.
That matters because daily and weekly missions give XP, not AP. Completing missions will not push you toward level 20 directly. You earn AP by playing and finishing matches.
How Much AP Do You Need for Level 20?
Every level takes 5,000 AP, and you start at level 1. Getting from level 1 to level 20 means earning 95,000 AP in total.
How AP Is Earned
About 10 AP per minute of match time in matchmade games.
A 50 AP bonus for every win.
1,000 AP for your First Win of the Day, which resets every 22 hours.
Boosted AP below level 10, including a much bigger win bonus, so your first ten levels go a lot faster than the next ten.
Match time only counts the match itself. Time in queue and Agent Select do not earn anything, and leaving a match early costs you the rewards.
How Long Does It Take to Reach Level 20?
Most estimates put it at dozens of hours of play, and estimates vary a lot depending on how often you win and how disciplined you are about the daily bonus.
The important thing to know is where the time goes. Levels 1 to 10 are quick thanks to the boosted early rates. Levels 10 to 20 are the real grind, because you are back to the normal rate of around 10 AP per minute.
The Single Biggest Shortcut: First Win of the Day
At around 10 AP per minute, the 1,000 AP First Win of the Day bonus is worth roughly 100 minutes of normal play. One win a day adds up to more than an extra hour and a half of progress for free.
If you only take one tip from this guide, take this one. Log in every day, win one match, and collect it. It resets every 22 hours, not 24, so you can claim it slightly earlier each day.
Which Mode Is Fastest?
A few points worth knowing before you pick a queue:
The per-minute AP rate is the same across matchmade modes. A short mode does not earn faster per minute.
Short modes let you collect win bonuses more often. More matches per hour means more chances at the 50 AP win bonus and a faster First Win of the Day.
Deathmatch is the weakest choice, because only the player who wins the lobby gets the win bonus.
Swiftplay is our recommendation for most players. Matches are short, so you collect win bonuses and your First Win quickly, and it is still real Valorant, so every minute you spend leveling also teaches you the game you are trying to unlock. Spike Rush is a fun alternative with similarly short matches.
Unrated takes longer per match but is the closest thing to Competitive, which makes it the best practice for what comes after level 20.
The Fastest Leveling Routine
Win your First Win of the Day every day. Nothing else comes close in value.
Queue short modes like Swiftplay to collect win bonuses more often.
Play with friends. A premade team wins more often, and wins are worth AP.
Never leave a match early. You lose the rewards for that game.
Mix in Unrated before you hit 20, so you arrive in Competitive ready rather than rusty.
Want to Skip the Grind?
Reaching level 20 takes a long time, and plenty of players already know the game from another account, or just want a second account for playing with friends at a different rank.
Buy a ready account. The Valorant accounts marketplace lists accounts from verified sellers, including level 20 accounts that are ready for ranked straight away. The Valorant account value calculator helps you check a price is fair, and the how to buy guide walks you through your first order.
Already have a level 20 account? Once ranked is unlocked, Valorant rank boosting gets you to your target rank, Valorant Fast Games put a high rank teammate in your lobby, and Valorant coaching helps fix the habits that keep you stuck. For skins, top up Valorant Points through EB24.
Done with an old account? Our how to sell guide explains how to list it safely.
FAQ
What level do you need to play Competitive in Valorant? Account level 20.
How much AP do you need to reach level 20? 95,000 AP in total, at 5,000 AP per level from level 1.
Do missions help you reach level 20? Not directly. Missions give XP for the Battle Pass and Agent Contracts. Your account level only goes up with AP from playing matches.
What is the fastest mode to level up in Valorant? Per minute, AP is the same across matchmade modes. Short modes like Swiftplay are fastest in practice because you collect win bonuses and your First Win of the Day more often.
How often does First Win of the Day reset? Every 22 hours.
Does my account level carry over to console? Yes. Account level is shared between PC and console. Rank and MMR are not.
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