What does “Thrifty” mean in Valorant? Answered

Central to a Valorant team’s success is their round-to-round economy, with their pool of credits in reserve directly purchasing the weapons and gear that they’ll need to win. However, after a string of costly deaths and a few lost rounds, these credits will dry up, forcing players to get creative with their purchases to win on a tight budget. These tight-walleted situations have given birth to “Thrifty” plays and the “Thrifty” playstyle.

“Thrifty” in Valorant, explained

In the event that “Thrifty” appears on screen after a round, it means that the winning team managed to secure the round despite the limited weapons and gear they bought. For the game to recognize a “Thrifty” round win, all five players of the winning team must have purchased less than 2,500 credits worth of weapons and utility items.

Related: Which Valorant Agent should I use? The best Agent for your playstyle

In the event that your team’s finances are pushed to their limits, there are several inexpensive weapons that can competently earn you a “Thrifty” round win. For example, the Spectre sub-machine gun operates like a lighter, cheaper alternative to the fully-fledged Phantom rifle at 1,600 credits, where its suppressor allows you to make aggressive plays on better-equipped players or spray through active smoke without giving away your position. The Shorty shotgun, at a very affordable 150 credits, can quickly eliminate opponents within very close range, allowing you to immediately salvage their dropped weaponry on a shoestring budget.