Gekko · Initiator
What to buy with Gekko: economy and loadouts
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Overview
Gekko is an initiator in Valorant. Gekko the Angeleno leads a tight-knit crew of calamitous creatures. His buddies bound forward, scattering enemies out of the way, with Gekko chasing them down to regroup and go again. Every number below comes from the game's own weapon data: damage by body part and distance, fire rate, magazine and price.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Gekko standard buysBalancedRecommendedThe usual economy for an initiator: Classic on the pistol round, Marshal on an eco or bonus and Vandal with heavy armor on a full buy (3,900 credits before abilities). Buy Dizzy (E) first: it is the ability that covers what an initiator needs most.
- Gekko: utility firstOffensiveAdvancedBuy every charge of your utility before your weapon: a cheaper gun with full utility wins more rounds for an initiator than a rifle with half of it. Full buy: 3,250 credits with heavy armor.
- Gekko force buyDefensiveSituationalWhen the team cannot afford a full buy but has to play the round: Stinger with light armor (1,500 credits) or Bulldog with a regen shield (2,700 credits), and your abilities before the gun.
Builds
Gekko standard buys
When to use it
The usual economy for an initiator: Classic on the pistol round, Marshal on an eco or bonus and Vandal with heavy armor on a full buy (3,900 credits before abilities). Buy Dizzy (E) first: it is the ability that covers what an initiator needs most.
Pistol round
Eco / bonus round
Full buy
- 1VandalHolds long angles after your utility has pushed the enemy off: one-tap at any distance. 2,900 credits. 160 head / 40 body up to 50 m; 9.75 shots/s, 25-round magazine, medium wall penetration.
- 2Heavy Armor1,000 credits: absorbs 66% of the damage, up to 50.
Alternatives
Skill order
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
 C | · | · | C |
 Q | · | Q | · |
 E | E | · | · |
Gekko: utility first
When to use it
Buy every charge of your utility before your weapon: a cheaper gun with full utility wins more rounds for an initiator than a rifle with half of it. Full buy: 3,250 credits with heavy armor.
Pistol round
Eco / bonus round
Full buy
- 1Guardian2,250 credits. 195 head / 65 body up to 50 m; 5.25 shots/s, 12-round magazine, high wall penetration.
- 2Heavy Armor1,000 credits: absorbs 66% of the damage, up to 50.
Alternatives
Skill order
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | · | · | C |
| Q | · | Q | · |
| E | E | · | · |
Gekko force buy
When to use it
When the team cannot afford a full buy but has to play the round: Stinger with light armor (1,500 credits) or Bulldog with a regen shield (2,700 credits), and your abilities before the gun.
Eco / bonus round
Full buy
- 1Bulldog2,050 credits. 115.5 head / 35 body up to 50 m; 10 shots/s, 24-round magazine, medium wall penetration.
- 2Regen Shield650 credits: absorbs 100% of the damage, up to 50, and regenerates.
Alternatives
Skill order
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | · | · | C |
| Q | · | Q | · |
| E | E | · | · |
Abilities
- CMosh PitEQUIP Mosh. FIRE to throw Mosh like a grenade. ALT FIRE to lob. Upon landing Mosh duplicates across a large area that deals a small amount of damage over time then after a short delay explodes. INTERACT to reclaim the globule and gain another Mosh charge after a short cooldown.
- QWingmanEQUIP Wingman. FIRE to send Wingman forward seeking enemies. Wingman unleashes a concussive blast toward the first enemy he sees. ALT FIRE when targeting a Spike site or planted Spike to have Wingman defuse or plant the Spike. To plant, Gekko must have the Spike in his inventory. When Wingman expires he reverts into a dormant globule. INTERACT to reclaim the globule and gain another Wingman charge after a short cooldown.
- EDizzyEQUIP Dizzy. FIRE to send Dizzy soaring forward through the air. Dizzy charges then unleashes plasma blasts at enemies in line of sight. Enemies hit by her plasma are Blinded. When Dizzy expires she reverts into a dormant globule. INTERACT to reclaim the globule and gain another Dizzy charge after a short cooldown.
XThrashUltimateEQUIP Thrash. FIRE to link with Thrash’s mind and steer her through enemy territory. ACTIVATE to lunge forward and explode, Detaining any players in a small radius. When Thrash expires she reverts into a dormant globule. INTERACT to reclaim the globule and gain another Thrash charge after a short cooldown. Thrash can be reclaimed once.
Strategy
1Pistol round
the free pistol, so the credits go to your utility and a light shield.
- Classic: Free. 78 head / 26 body up to 30 m (66 / 22 beyond 30 m); 6.75 shots/s, 12-round magazine, low wall penetration.
- Frenzy: 450 credits. 78 head / 26 body up to 20 m (63 / 21 beyond 20 m); 10 shots/s, 15-round magazine, low wall penetration.
2Eco and bonus
cheap and deadly at range: keeps you useful on an eco while your utility does the work.
- Marshal: 950 credits. 202 head / 101 body up to 50 m; 1.5 shots/s, 5-round magazine, medium wall penetration.
- Stinger: 1,100 credits. 67.5 head / 27 body up to 15 m (57 / 23 beyond 15 m); 16 shots/s, 20-round magazine, low wall penetration.
- Stinger: 1,100 credits. 67.5 head / 27 body up to 15 m (57 / 23 beyond 15 m); 16 shots/s, 20-round magazine, low wall penetration.
3Full buy
holds long angles after your utility has pushed the enemy off: one-tap at any distance.
- Vandal: 2,900 credits. 160 head / 40 body up to 50 m; 9.75 shots/s, 25-round magazine, medium wall penetration.
- Phantom: 2,900 credits. 156 head / 39 body up to 20 m (140 / 35 beyond 20 m); 11 shots/s, 30-round magazine, medium wall penetration, silenced.
- Bulldog: 2,050 credits. 115.5 head / 35 body up to 50 m; 10 shots/s, 24-round magazine, medium wall penetration.
- Guardian: 2,250 credits. 195 head / 65 body up to 50 m; 5.25 shots/s, 12-round magazine, high wall penetration.
4Shields
Which shield to pair with each buy:
- Light Armor: 400 credits: absorbs 66% of the damage, up to 25.
- Regen Shield: 650 credits: absorbs 100% of the damage, up to 50, and regenerates.
- Heavy Armor: 1,000 credits: absorbs 66% of the damage, up to 50.
5Abilities
Buy order for Gekko: E > Q > C.
- Dizzy (E)
- Wingman (Q)
- Mosh Pit (C)
Tips
- Buy your abilities before the gun on an eco: they cost less and win more fights.
- Buy as a team: five half buys lose to five full buys.
Matchups
Weak against
Undercut (Q) suppresses: while it lasts, Gekko cannot use Thrash (X) to escape.
ZERO/point (E) suppresses: while it lasts, Gekko cannot use Thrash (X) to escape.
Stealth Drone (C) suppresses: while it lasts, Gekko cannot use Thrash (X) to escape.
Works well with
Brings vision-blocking smoke with Nebula / Dissipate (E), which Gekko's kit does not have.
Brings information (reveals enemies) with Trapwire (C), which Gekko's kit does not have.
Brings traps and set-ups with Trademark (C), which Gekko's kit does not have.
Brings healing with M-pulse (C), which Gekko's kit does not have.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 13.06.
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