Eco round
When teams eco
- After losing the pistol round. The losing team often saves in round 2 and buys in round 3.
- After a lost buy round when most players cannot afford to rebuy.
- When credits are split between players, so the whole team can buy together next round.
A lost round still pays a loss bonus of 1,900 credits, rising to 2,400 and 2,900 for more losses in a row, which is why a team that ecos can usually buy afterwards.
Eco vs full buy
| Eco | Full buy | |
|---|---|---|
| Weapons | Classic, cheap pistols, maybe light shields | Vandal or Phantom, heavy shields |
| Abilities | few | all |
| Goal | save credits | win the round |
Winning an eco
If the eco team still wins, Valorant shows a Thrifty banner. It is a big swing: the rich team loses expensive weapons, and the eco team can pick them up.
Learn more in Valorant Rules Explained. For CS2, see eco in CS2.
FAQ
What does eco mean in Valorant?
Eco is short for economy round: a round where a team buys little or nothing to save credits for the next round.
Related guides
Valorant Rules Explained: How a Pro Match WorksHow Valorant works: 5v5, first to 13 rounds, Attackers plant the Spike, Defenders stop it, overtime until a 2-round lead. Economy and agents explained.
Related terms
ThriftyThrifty in Valorant is the banner shown when a team wins a round while spending far less than the enemy, such as an eco win.
Bonus roundA bonus round in Valorant is when a team that won the first rounds plays on with cheaper saved weapons instead of buying rifles.
OvertimeValorant overtime starts at 12-12: teams play pairs of rounds until one leads by two, with equal credits each round.
Reviewed by the R1GG team
