Gamers must be quite familiar with the error message “DX11 feature level 10.0 is required to run the engine”. This can pop up during the gameplay in CS:GO, PUBG, etc. And this is something that’s been plaguing Valorant players. To pinpoint the main source of the problem and get it resolved, we’ve gathered some fixes.
Try these fixes
Not all solutions are necessary, so just work the list down until you find the one that solves your problem.
- Download and install Windows updates
- Update your graphics driver
- Install the newest version of DirectX
- Uninstall Vanguard
1. Download and install Windows updates
Windows updates usually include security updates. They can protect your system from malware attacks. What’s more, by installing Windows updates, you can take advantage of the new features. Follow the steps below to download and install Windows updates:
1) In the Search box, type check for updates. Then click Check for updates from the results.
2) Click on the Check for updates button. If there are any updates available, it’ll automatically start to download and install it. Simply wait for it to complete and you should be asked to restart your computer.
After the restart, launch Valorant to check if you can play it without error messages popping up. If your problem persists, try the next fix below.
2. Update your graphics driver
Your graphics card is an important hardware that decides whether your computer can run games smoothly. And the graphics driver acts as an interpreter between Windows and your device. If the driver is outdated or corrupted, you may run into any sorts of problems which can ultimately prevent your game from launching. Therefore, to ensure that you can enjoy your game, you should update your graphics driver:
There are two ways you can update your graphics driver: manually and automatically.
Option 1: Manually update your graphics driver
If you’re familiar with computer hardware, you can manually update your graphics driver by going to the manufacturer’s official websites:
Option 2: Automatically update your graphics driver (recommended)
However, updating drivers on your own can be error-prone and it’s time-consuming. If you don’t have the time, patience or computer skills to update drivers manually, you can instead do it automatically with Driver Easy. Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and all your devices, and install the latest correct drivers for you – direct from the manufacturer. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong drivers, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing:
1) Download and install Driver Easy.
2) Click Scan Now. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any devices with missing or outdated drivers.
3) Click Update All. Driver Easy will then download and update all your outdated and missing device drivers, giving you the latest version of each, direct from the device manufacturer.
(This requires the Pro version which comes with full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All. If you don’t want to upgrade to the Pro version, you can also update your drivers with the FREE version. All you need to do is to download them one at a time and manually install them.)
After updating your drivers, restart your PC and launch your game to check if your problem has been resolved. If updating the graphics driver didn’t do the trick, try the next fix below.
3. Install the newest version of DirectX
If your Windows is up to date, the latest DirectX will automatically be integrated into your system. For Windows 10 users, you should have DirectX12 and should also be able to run DirectX11 and DirectX10. But for some reasons, you may not have the latest DirectX installed on your Windows. In this case, you need to install the newest version of DirectX by visiting the DirectX download page.
4. Uninstall Vanguard
Riot Vanguard is designed to set both game safety and personal computer safety as a priority. However, it has the capability of blocking drivers and certain components in your computer will not be working when you’re playing Valorant. And that could be the reason why you would get the error message. To troubleshoot the issue, you can try uninstalling Vanguard:
1) On your keyboard, press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
2) Click Apps. 
3) In the search field, type vanguard. Double-click Riot Vanguard and click Uninstall. 
4) Click Uninstall. 
When Vanguard has been removed from your system, launch Valorant and you may need to reinstall Vanguard. Simply wait for the installation to complete. Till then, you can click on the Play button and you should be able to boot up the game without getting the error message “DX11 feature level 10.0 is required to run the engine”.
Hopefully this post helped! If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to drop us a line in the comment section below.