How to Watch VALORANT Match Replays: Replay and VOD Guide

Short answer: open Career in the VALORANT client, select an eligible match, then use Download Replay and Watch Replay. Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay and Premier matchmaking are supported. For a Custom, the lobby owner must opt into recording before the game and enable it again for every new match.

Replay steps

1. Update the client and open Career.
2. Select an eligible Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay, Premier or recorded Custom match.
3. If the data is not local, select Download Replay and wait for it to prepare.
4. Open Watch Replay, then use the round list or timeline to reach the moment you want.
5. Delete local replay data through the client when you no longer need it.

Do not look for a universal “start recording” button at match start. Matchmade replays are created from supported game data; pre-match opt-in applies to Custom lobbies.

Platforms, modes and friends

• PC: Patch 11.06 launched Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay and Premier replays.
• Console: Patch 11.10 brought the system to consoles.
• Custom: Patch 12.00 added Standard and Swiftplay Custom support; the owner must enable recording for each game.
• Friend replay: Patch 12.10 lets you access a friend's eligible Competitive, Unrated, Swiftplay, Premier or Custom replay from their Career page.

Do not expect Career replay controls for modes outside that eligible list. A VCT broadcast also is not a personal match-history replay.

Replay controls

• Switch between all 10 first-person player POVs.
• Toggle friendly/enemy outlines and supported projectile follow.
• Use a third-person free observer camera.
• Pause and play at 0.1x, 0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x or 8x.
• Skip rounds and jump through kill, death and ultimate markers on the timeline.
• Show or hide minimap and HUD; open combat report at any point.

Pair the review with the crosshair guide for placement and the entry guide for execute and trade spacing.

Why can replay differ from a live recording?

A replay reconstructs match data inside the client; it is not a frame-for-frame OBS capture. Latency and reconstruction can make a moment look different from what a player saw live. Do not label one odd frame as proof of cheating. Review multiple rounds and combat reports, then use the in-game report flow when appropriate.

Known information limits

• Enemy information can remain visible on minimap/mega map even with enemy outlines disabled. Do not treat it as information the player actually had.
• Ability placement maps for Agents such as Brimstone, Clove or Tejo may not appear.
• Preview markers for Killjoy Turret, Deadlock Sonic Sensor or Cypher Trapwire may remain hidden until deployment.

For a fair VOD review, start with the player's first-person POV and only information available at that moment; do not backfill a decision with free-cam knowledge.

Ten-minute VOD review

1. First death: crosshair, trade distance and escape route.
2. Utility: whether flash, smoke or info landed before team contact.
3. Economy: whether force, eco or full buy matched the team.
4. Objective: Spike carrier, plant, post-plant and retake position.
5. One fix: choose one habit for the next three matches and compare.

One replay is not your exact MMR; see the Elo guide. For objective timing, use the Spike defuse guide.

Sharing and clips

Friend sharing in Patch 12.10 means in-client access through Career. It does not turn replay data into an MP4. For a coach or social clip, open the replay and capture only the needed round with a trusted recorder; hide Riot ID, friend list and private notifications.

Official sources

• Replays FAQ
• Patch 11.06
• Patch 11.10
• Patch 12.10