We have ranked Valorant's Agents in a tier list! You want to know who is best for your preferred class? We've got you!
Choosing the right Agent is crucial for success in Valorant. While mechanical skills and game fundamentals are important, the power of Agents and team composition heavily influence the outcome of a match.
To help you stay informed about the Valorant meta and Agent power rankings, we have created a Valorant Agent tier list. However, instead of ranking each Agent against one another, this tier list ranks Agents within their respective classes, such as Duelists, Initiators, Controllers, and Sentinels.
Note: These tier lists are up-to-date as of the Valorant patch 6.08.
How This Valorant Tier List Works
Ranking Valorant's Agents, which currently total 21 since the introduction of Gekko, is a complex task. Several factors need to be considered, including player skill, team composition, and the chosen map, as they all contribute to determining the best Agent for a particular match.
This guide aims to simplify the process by considering standard team compositions and explaining the roles each player should assume in a team. The Agents will then be ranked based on their class, providing a comprehensive understanding of their strength in the game.
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Valorant Agent Tier List: Duelists
Duelists make up a majority of the Agents in the game, with six in total (now tied with Initiators thanks to Gekko). They include Phoenix, Jett, Reyna, Raze, Yoru, and the most recent addition, Neon.
Duelists excel at securing frags, entering sites, engaging opponents, and winning 1v1 battles. While aggression is their hallmark, it is essential to remember that they can still contribute as team players. For example, if you play as Reyna, Yoru, or Phoenix, you can use your flashes to enter sites with your team. Jett's Tailwind dash allows for opening up new angles of attack.
Tier List: Duelist
- Jett, Neon - S-Tier
- Reyna - A-Tier
- Yoru - B-Tier
- Raze - C-Tier
- Phoenix - F-Tier
Jett is widely recognized as one of the game's top Agents, securing her position at the pinnacle of our Duelist tier list. With an Operator in her hands, she becomes an unparalleled threat, rivaling only Chamber in terms of sheer deadliness. Jett's skill set is unmatched, granting her the ability to navigate treacherous angles and dismantle defenses with her Tailwind and Updraft abilities. Her versatility extends to every map, making her an almost indispensable choice for any team.
Recently, Neon has emerged as the leading contender on this list, thanks to her remarkable toolkit that outmatches slower and more calculated play styles. Her ability to swiftly disrupt sites is unparalleled, overwhelming opponents with her incredible speed.
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Ranked at A-Tier currently is Reyna, who underwent notable buffs in patch 5.07. However, she remains distant from being an optimal duelist within a well-rounded team composition. Reyna possesses a distinct play style, leaning towards self-interest compared to other agents in this tier. Despite adjustments to her Leer ability, it still falls short as one of the least impressive flashes in the game.
Despite Yoru receiving a long-awaited rework and additional buffs in patch 5.07, players still lack confidence in selecting him. His skill set remains genuinely distinctive, but the primary challenge lies in his complexity and difficulty to utilize effectively. Yoru's abilities often cater to solo plays, causing him to frequently feel disconnected from the team dynamics. Nevertheless, for those who manage to master him, he has the potential to be classified as A-Tier.
Entering the C-Tier is Raze, the Brazilian Duelist known for her explosive nature. She excels in demolishing opponents with her Paint Shell grenades and Boom Bot. However, her effectiveness is limited in tight spaces and small maps like Split, which are currently less favored in favor of Pearl.
Phoenix is widely recognized as one of the most beginner-friendly Agents to master, but his impact has waned as other Duelists outperform him in various aspects. The only notable strength he possesses is his ultimate, which grants him an additional life. However, even this advantage can be easily thwarted due to the distinctive sound it emits upon activation. It is generally advisable to steer clear of choosing Phoenix in competitive play.
Valorant Agent Tier List: Initiator
Initiators play a vital role as information gatherers and catalysts for engagements. Their abilities often serve as the initial strike in an attack, with some of them equipped with flash abilities. Having at least one Initiator is crucial for any team composition, as they contribute significantly to the success of coordinated plays and provide essential utility in matches.
Initiator Tier List
- Sova, Gekko - S-Tier
- Fade, Breach, Skye - A-Tier
- KAY/O- B-Tier
Looking at the tier list, Valorant's Initiators showcase a strong lineup, with Sova remaining in the S-Tier despite recent nerfs to his recon abilities. While these adjustments have impacted his performance, your skill level and familiarity with other Agents may lead you to consider elevating someone else to the S-Tier.
As expected, Gekko has proven to be a powerful and enjoyable Agent to play. His abilities allow players to excel with minimal teamwork, making him a great choice for solo queue or those who prefer not to use voice chat. Despite some adjustments to Mosh Pit's damage and Wingman's duration, Gekko remains a formidable and enjoyable main.
Fade has gradually emerged as a popular choice, occasionally overshadowing Sova in specific scenarios. Teams can effectively capitalize on her toolkit for aggressive entries or holding sites during rotations. Her extended flash duration of three seconds and recon capabilities with Haunt and Nightfall, a superior version of Breach's Rolling Thunder, make her a force to be reckoned with. Mastering her abilities requires mechanical skill, and as more players become proficient with Fade, she may ascend higher in the tier list.
However, Gekko's toolkit has posed a challenge to Fade's position as a solitary Initiator.
Breach possesses a similarly potent kit, capable of clearing substantial portions of the map to prepare for site entry. His three area-clearing abilities stand unmatched, and his flashes provide additional utility. He synergizes exceptionally well with duelists such as Jett, Reyna, or Raze.
Skye serves as a versatile Swiss army knife Agent, boasting the best healing ability, two flashes (one of which regenerates), a recon scout wolf, and an Ultimate that offers valuable insight into the enemy's location. Skye is a reliable and adaptable choice for any team composition.
KAY/O initially had a slow start, but over time, players have come to appreciate the power of this robotic warrior. His unique ability to nullify the abilities of others has proven to be a game-changer. His Signature ability, ZERO/point, serves as an excellent tool for recon and suppression, useful in both defensive and offensive situations. Additionally, his NULL/cmd ability is an enhanced version of Phoenix's Ultimate, granting KAY/O a second life while effectively neutralizing the abilities of the opposing team. This makes him a perfect counter to defensive abilities utilized by Killjoy, Cypher, and Viper.
Valorant Agent Tier List: Sentinel
Sentinels take on the role of the primary defenders in the game, armed with abilities designed to effectively shut down entry points and flank routes. Their arsenal includes tools to slow down and expose enemy attacks, granting valuable time for the team to rotate and establish defensive positions. Even on the offensive side, Sentinels excel at detecting potential flankers, ensuring that their squads are not caught off guard and pinned down by unexpected threats.
Sentinel Tier List
- Sage - S-Tier
- Chamber - A-Tier
- Killjoy - B-Tier
- Cypher - C-Tier
Sage, who was once renowned as the exceptional healer, experienced a temporary decline in her abilities due to nerfs. While her wall remains a highly potent tool on maps like Split or Icebox, and her slow orbs still deliver the intended impact, other Agents outshine her in these aspects. However, Sage's redeeming feature lies in her Ultimate, which grants the ability to revive a fallen teammate, thus raising her tier from C to B.
Thanks to changes introduced in patch 5.12, Sage can now heal allies more effectively, albeit with a reduced self-healing capability. Her slowing orbs also remain effective for a longer duration. Overall, these adjustments have had a positive impact, and considering Chamber's nerfs, Sage has reclaimed her position as the go-to Sentinel.
Chamber's strength was evident upon his introduction in Episode 3 Act 3. With nerfs to Jett, he was regarded as the best defensive Operator in the game. However, he has since received significant nerfs in patch 5.12. Despite this, another Sentinel has faced constant nerfs as well, resulting in Chamber returning to the A-Tier due to the consistency of his toolkit.
His exceptional kit features two guns, with one being an upgraded Operator, making him an ideal choice when low on funds - ensuring he can fulfill his role effectively regardless of the round. However, recent changes to his Rendezvous, the proximity-based ability Trademark, and the decreased firing speed of Tour De Force have compelled him to adopt a more defensive play style.
Killjoy excels at holding down sites and received significant nerfs in patches 6.03 and 6.08. Her Nanoswarm mollies are deadly, but now they can be spotted from greater distances. Her Alarmbot and Turret, despite being nerfed, still effectively alert the team to enemy attacks. When attacking, Killjoy strategically sets up her abilities to secure the site after planting the spike. Skilled players can make the most of her capabilities.
Cypher is not a subpar Agent, but others simply excel in fulfilling his role. While his Spycam remains a reliable tool, it is easily countered. Trapwires and Cyber Cage are effective, but other Agents surpass him in these areas.
Valorant Agent Tier List: Controller
Controllers are equipped with smokes, a crucial utility for both attack and defense, capable of blocking sightlines and entryways, thereby reducing the angles of attack. A Controller is an indispensable component of any team, as a lack of smokes severely hampers their ability to execute attacks.
Controller Tier List
- Viper - S-Tier
- Brimstone - A-Tier
- Astra, Harbor- B-Tier
- Omen - C-Tier
Viper is an Agent that can be incredibly frustrating to go up against due to her immense power. Her abilities, such as Toxic Screen, effectively block off entry points, while Snake Bite and Poison Cloud deny areas with great efficiency in both defensive and offensive scenarios. Viper's Ultimate, Viper's Pit, grants a significant advantage in post-plant situations and is regarded as the most impactful ability in the game. Despite receiving nerfs, her sheer versatility surpasses other Controllers, especially those like Omen, who experienced substantial setbacks in patch 6.0.
Brimstone is considered one of the easiest Agents to play, which places him in the A-Tier. However, simplicity does not equate to weakness. He can launch his three smokes with precision using a touchpad on his arm. His molly is effective for clearing opponents from corners and post-plant situations, and his Orbital Strike Ultimate shares similar qualities. Additionally, his recently buffed Stim Beacon enhances nearby players' speed and fire rate, making it useful for rotations.
Now, let's talk about the Agent you've all been eagerly anticipating: Harbor. While he remains a good Agent, our initial impression of his seemingly overpowered toolkit was slightly exaggerated—quite a surprise! As it stands, when played as a solo Controller, Harbor falls short compared to Agents like Viper. However, due to his flexibility, he can be an excellent support Controller for a more stationary teammate.
Omen is an Agent who grows in power as players master his abilities. His Shroud Step teleport, when combined with his Dark Cover smokes, can disorient opponents. His Paranoia provides a unique flash that can pass through walls and cover a large area. However, using his smokes can be cumbersome, and their primary role affects his placement in this tier list. Unfortunately, patch 6.0 removed all one-way lineup potentials, significantly hindering Omen's potential to dominate the meta, particularly in high-level play.
At one point, Astra was the top controller in the game, thanks to her ability to launch smokes at any time, which gave her a unique skill set. However, she received a series of nerfs in the V4.04 update, resulting in increased cooldowns for her Nova Pulse, Nebula, and Gravity Well abilities. These changes made her a more static Agent and less viable in the current game. Astra will likely undergo a rework in the future, so it's best to avoid investing too much in her for now.
That's our Tier List and now you're prepared to pick your Agents with care.
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