RIVALS Beginner Guide (October 2026)

RIVALS is a fast shooter with 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 modes, where movement often decides the result more than aim does. If you are just starting, do not chase new weapons and Ranked right away. Learn the basics first, and the rest will come naturally.

The data below is based mainly on the game wiki and patch notes. Current as of 17 October 2026.

What a match looks like and where duels come from

In the lobby you step onto a duel pad, and the match starts after the countdown. In a standard match, the team that wins five rounds first wins. Treat every round as a chance to learn: where someone was waiting for you, where you got hit from, which path the opponent ran along.

A few things the wiki describes in the Mechanics section:

• The number of players on a pad depends on the mode: in 1v1, 1 person steps onto one pad, in 2v2 two people, and so on.
• If you play in a party, its size limits the modes. Two people in a party cannot play 1v1, but they can play 2v2 or 3v3.
• Private servers (without the unlimited players option) fit a maximum of 16 people.

First steps: Shooting Range and Beginner Tasks

Before you jump into a real duel, visit the Shooting Range in the lobby. There are targets and NPCs to shoot at. The wiki says the red NPCs have 150 health, while the purple and yellow ones have infinite health. You can also try weapons you do not own yet here, with no risk.

On top of that there are tasks for new players. The Joytify guide says new players should start in the Shooting Range and complete the Beginner Tasks, which give Keys, among other rewards. The tasks include breaking 5 targets, doing 3 slides and playing a Beginner 2v2. The exact list can change, so check the task board in the game.

Starting loadout: do not rush with Keys

At the start you have a set: Assault Rifle, Handgun, Fists and Grenade. The rivals.wiki guide recommends exactly this set for beginners. The Assault Rifle is versatile and works well at different distances, so it is a good weapon for learning.

Keys are the currency you use to unlock more weapons. Before you get anything, work out what you are missing: a good close-range set, a long-range one, or utility. We explain how to choose in our guide to the best weapons in RIVALS.

Keys also come from codes. According to Twinfinite (updated on 15 October 2026), FREE202 was working for 3 Keys, among others. Codes expire, so do not treat this list as a guarantee.

Keys are also available in DzikShop as a bundle. This is just one option, because at the start what you get from tasks and codes is plenty.

What to focus on: movement and position

The most important advice, repeated in the guides: movement matters more than it seems. Joytify writes that the real skill difference is in movement, which most tutorials say nothing about. Walking straight and watching the same corner over and over is the easiest way to get hit.

What to practise first:

1. Slide (C, you can change the key). Practise it in the Shooting Range or in calm rounds.
2. High positions. Gamically notes that with similar skill, the player who is higher usually wins, because they see the opponent before the opponent sees them.
3. Use ADS wisely. Aiming down sights limits your movement, so up close it is better to shoot from the hip, because speed matters. Keep ADS for medium and long distances.
4. Change your keybinds. Joytify advises moving quick melee and throwables to keys you can reach without looking.

These are tips from guides, not official data from the game.

While you are at it, learn the maps. For example, Bridge is marked as easy and symmetrical, so it is good for learning. Note: it has many walls and out-of-bounds areas (including the ceiling), so risky tricks in the air can end in death.

Levels and the road to Ranked

You get EXP for matches, eliminations and finished duels, and each next level needs more than the previous one. From the wiki page about Levels it follows that Level 100 is required to enter Ranked, but it is not the only requirement. You also need to:

• play 10 Standard Duels (wins and losses both count),
• have a Roblox account older than 14 days,
• complete at least 30 Tasks,
• pass account verification.

The verification changed in September. In Update 22 (4 September 2026), Ranked was put behind even stricter verification on the Roblox side. Older guides describe it differently, so check in the Ranked panel what exactly is shown for your account. Parents may find our article about securing a Roblox account useful.

According to rivalwiki.com, in Update 23 (18 September) the developers reverted the ELO formula changes from Update 22, but we do not have official confirmation of this. The stricter verification and matchmaking with region locks are supposed to stay. For a new player this is a distant topic for now, because there is a long way to go before Ranked.

Most common beginner mistakes

• Grinding in Arcade Servers below Level 100. Since Season 3, players below Level 100 do not earn EXP there in Free For All, Team Deathmatch and Gun Game. It is fun to play, but it is not a way to level up.
• Rushing into Ranked without preparation. Level 100 alone is not enough, and without 30 Tasks and verification the queue will not unlock.
• Spending Keys on the first weapon you see. Try it in the Shooting Range first. A set should cover different distances, not be a collection of trendy weapons.
• Recovering a win streak with Keys. Each next recovery costs 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and then 100 Keys. At the start, those Keys are more useful for a weapon.
• Standing still and running straight. Keep moving, change your rhythm, use slide.
• Ignoring Tasks. Daily and starter tasks are the easiest Keys without spending money.
• Clicking "free Robux" links and giving out your password. No guide or code in RIVALS needs your account password. You enter codes only in the game.

A simple plan for the first week

1. Go to the Shooting Range and complete the Beginner Tasks.
2. Play 1v1 and 2v2 with the starting loadout, and learn slide and high positions.
3. Collect Keys from tasks and codes, then unlock one weapon that fills a gap in your set.
4. Set up comfortable keybinds and check whether new requirements appear in the Ranked panel.

Looking for extras for the game? Take a look at the RIVALS page in DzikShop. First, though, learn to play, because items are only an option.