6 Answers
These days I pick Raze when my team wants immediate site pressure and space. I buy Paint Shells and Boom Bot as my baseline, then decide on Blast Pack based on where I want to play: entrying through B site or creating vertical play on Ascent corners. Economically, I skip Showstopper unless I can afford it comfortably or it’s a round that swings the half; a wasted ultimate can cost rounds.
I practice Boom Bot lineups for info because a well-tossed bot clears angles and baits utility, letting me time my entry with flashes. Blast Pack is my movement tool—use it to jolt into unexpected peeks or escape after a plant. On defense I play closer to teammates to trade and use Paint Shells for retake clears. Simple routine: aim, lineups in practice range, and a handful of scrim rounds focused only on grenades. It’s basic, but it keeps me effective and less predictable, which feels great mid-rank.
Quick build: I treat Raze like a demolitionist on a budget. Early rounds I usually buy Boom Bot and a Blast Pack—small investment, big payoff for info and mobility. Mid-round decisions are simple: if I get a cheap multi-kill or two, funnel that credit into Showstopper for the next full; if not, stick to Paint Shells for consistent pressure. I prefer to entry with Boom Bot, bait utility, then blast into the site while my team follows.
A couple of no-nonsense tips: don’t waste Showstopper to try solo clutches unless you’re certain of a trade, and practice one reliable Paint Shell lineup per site so you don’t fumble under pressure. I love the rush of clearing a site with perfectly timed grenades—it just hits right.
If you want a methodical Raze that carries consistently, I break my approach into three pillars: economy & buy decisions, map-specific ability usage, and mechanical fundamentals. First, I prioritize Paint Shells and Boom Bot on most buys—those two have the highest utility-per-credit for site control. I’ll buy Showstopper on force or full rounds where a multikill could flip momentum; if my team is saving, I avoid it. Second, map knowledge changes everything: Boom Bot routes on 'Split' differ wildly from 'Bind', and which walls let you stick Paint Shells reliably depends on practice.
Mechanically, I drill Blast Pack movement—short hops, vertical boosts, and silent repositioning—which turns Raze into a tricky fragger who can create unexpected angles. I also work on audio discipline; Raze’s footsteps are loud so I mix in walking to avoid telegraphing pushes. Communicating cooldowns is underrated: telling squadmates when my ult or Blast Pack is down keeps us from overcommitting. Finally, I watch my demos to spot when I used explosives reactively versus proactively; switching to proactive usage boosted my win rate and feels more satisfying overall.
If you want to pop off with Raze in 'Valorant', think of her like a walking highlight reel who still needs structure. I build Raze around two pillars: explosive entry pressure and greedy, high-impact plays that cost nothing but game sense. Start rounds by deciding your economy role — are you the allocated fragger who buys full utility and a Vandal/Phantom, or are you the staggered player who saves a grenade or two to punish a predictable setup? In pistol and eco rounds, prioritize a Sheriff or a Judge/Spectre depending on team economy; Raze shines with close-range fights, so Spectre+Paint Shells can absolutely wreck an eco stack. For full buys, Vandal or Phantom paired with Blast Pack mobility is my go-to. The Blast Pack doubles as movement and a lethal tool: I use it to get elevation for off-angles, to stick for quick kills, or even to propel myself into unexpected corners for a guaranteed spraydown.
I treat Paint Shells like a mini-execution tool. Learn 4–6 lineups per map for default plant spots and common cubby-holds — on Bind I lob grenades deep into Hookah or Shower, on Split I toss into B Main vents, and on Breeze you can punish wide plant spots from mid to long. If you don’t have exact lineups yet, use them aggressively at choke points to force rotations or burn utilities. Boom Bot is underrated for information: send it around smokes or through doorways to bait an orbiting Sage or to confirm a corner peek. It can also be a cheeky fake to draw utility out of an enemy. Save Showstopper for multi-frag clutch moments or to break a fortified post-plant — it forces peeks and can secure round-clinching space. I try not to pop it into predictable open sky; instead I use it around pillars or through a smoke to deny defuses and guarantee one or two kills.
Beyond abilities, Raze success is about pacing and communication. Call your booms and bounces before you go in so your teammates trade and capitalize. Don’t blow all your grenades trying to solo clear every corner; trade Paint Shells for information when needed and keep one mobility tool for escape. Practice blast-pack jumps in custom lobbies until you can reliably get to off-angle spots without being predictable. Warm up with deathmatch, then rehearse a few lineups in practice range. I also keep my sensitivity slightly lower than average to land headshots during spray transitions — Raze gets punished if you miss the first or second shot. Bottom line: be loud, be creative, but be accountable — if I die, I want it to be because I pushed a play that gave us the round, not because I wasted an ability. I love the chaos she brings; when everything clicks, it feels like fireworks every round.
I like a surgical, no-nonsense build for ranked Raze nights: buy Paint Shells and Blast Pack on every full-buy round, bring Boom Bot if I’m entrying, and only use Showstopper as a round-deciding ultimate or for clutch retakes. Early rounds I’m conservative — Spectre + one nade on half-buys, Sheriff if I need a clutch pistol. Mid-round, I use Paint Shells to clear typical post-plant spots or to force defenders off angles so my teammates can trade. Blast Pack is both mobility and damage: I’ll use it to get unexpected verticals (useful on sites like Haven C or Icebox site boxes) or to disengage after a frag.
Map knowledge changes everything. I practice 3-4 grenade lineups per map so I’m not guessing under pressure; they don’t have to be perfect, just consistent enough to clear planter corners and deny common hides. Communication-wise I call when my Boom Bot is on the way and if I plan to use Showstopper so teammates don’t waste utilities over it. In terms of mindset, I keep risk-reward in check: if my team needs a playmaker, I go ham and use utility aggressively; if we’re holding an economy, I conserve and play angles. That balance has helped me climb chilled, steady games where consistency beats flashy play, and it keeps my ranked nights feeling productive and fun.
My favorite way to play Raze in 'Valorant' ranked is to be the team's loudspeaker: create chaos, open space, and force rotations. I focus first on ability economy—if I'm full-buy I’ll take Boom Bot and Paint Shells every round and save Blast Pack for aggressive entries or clutch mobility. Practicing consistent Paint Shell lineups in the practice range makes a huge difference; knowing two or three go-to bounces per site saves time and prevents wasted explosives.
Positioning matters more than flashy plays. I pick angles where Blast Pack can boost me or give an off-angle pop, and I use Boom Bot as a recon tool to flush common corners rather than as a solo-kill attempt. Showstopper is a game-ender if you hold it for post-plant or a clutch when enemies stack; don’t blow it on a single duel unless you know a trade is coming. My typical gun choice is Vandal for one-taps, Spectre on low buy rounds, and Sheriff on eco if I need a pressure tool.
Beyond tech, I try to sync with teammates: ask for flashes or slow to make Paint Shells stick, or coordinate a Blast Pack boost into unexpected sightlines. Small habits—sound cues, crosshair placement, and not tunnel-visioning on explosives—win more matches than flashy ult kills. I love how explosive plays feel when they’re also smart, and that balance keeps me climbing.