Dive into the lore, abilities, and strategies of Valorant's diverse roster of agents, including the newest additions Tejo and Waylay.
Understanding Valorant's Agents: Powers, Stories, and Tactics
Valorant's diverse roster of agents is at the heart of Riot Games' tactical shooter. Each agent brings unique abilities, backstories, and playstyles to the battlefield. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the lore behind these characters, analyze their abilities, and discuss effective strategies to master their potential.
Introduction to Valorant Agents
Valorant's world is populated by individuals called "Radiants" who have been affected by a global event known as First Light, granting them supernatural abilities. The Valorant Protocol was established to manage this new reality, recruiting agents with various skills and backgrounds.
Each agent in Valorant belongs to one of four classes, each with a specific role in team composition:
- Duelists: Front-line attackers designed to seek out engagements and frag out
- Sentinels: Defensive specialists who lock down areas and provide team support
- Controllers: Experts at slicing up dangerous territory to set their team up for success
- Initiators: Challenge angles by setting up their team to enter contested ground
Understanding these roles and how they complement each other is crucial for team success in Valorant.
Newest Agents: Tejo & Waylay
Tejo api-id: 43b2674a-13e5-4f2e-98fc-3d0d38b05d8a
Initiator ColombiaBackground & Lore
Hailing from Colombia, Tejo is a tactical bombardier whose precision and calculated approach make him a formidable initiator. Before joining the Valorant Protocol, Tejo served in an elite military unit where he mastered advanced targeting systems and autonomous drone technology. His expertise in coordinated strikes and battlefield control caught the attention of Brimstone, who personally recruited him to the Protocol.
"Every explosion has a purpose. Every target, a reason. I don't leave anything to chance." - Tejo
Strategic Tips: Perfect for clearing tight corners and chokepoints. Throw it at common hiding spots before entering a site to flush out defenders. The concussion briefly impairs movement and aiming accuracy, giving your team a window to push and take advantage.
Strategic Tips: Use the drone to safely scout ahead, especially when entering unknown territory. The suppression effect is devastating against ability-dependent agents like Jett or Chamber who rely on escape mechanisms.
Strategic Tips: Excellent for clearing multiple angles simultaneously during site executes. Mark common defensive positions to force enemies to relocate or take damage.
Strategic Tips: A game-changing ultimate that excels in both attack and defense scenarios. On attack, use it to split sites in half, cutting off defender rotations. The lingering danger zones last for 6 seconds and deal significant damage over time.
Playstyle & Strategy
Tejo excels at zone control and enemy displacement. His abilities allow him to flush enemies out of entrenched positions and disrupt defensive setups. Guided Salvo is particularly effective for clearing common defensive angles before pushing a site, while Armageddon can completely reshape the battlefield during executes or retakes.
Team coordination is key when playing Tejo. Communicate your ability usage to ensure teammates are positioned to capitalize on the disruption you create. Pair with aggressive duelists who can follow up on the space you create.
Waylay api-id: 9cb1c4d9-2a26-4eb7-b98a-0c5e83d3a8e4
Duelist ThailandBackground & Lore
Waylay is a Radiant from Thailand who discovered her ability to transform into and manipulate light during a near-death experience. Once a renowned physicist researching light manipulation, her encounter with the Radianite explosion fundamentally changed her understanding of reality and her own existence. She joined the Protocol to better understand her powers and to help prevent Radianite technology from falling into the wrong hands.
"Light moves faster than anything in this universe. Lucky for you all, I've learned to slow down." - Waylay
Strategic Tips: Lightspeed is a versatile mobility tool that allows Waylay to take angles that other duelists can't reach. Use the upward dash to access elevated positions without making noise on stairs or ropes.
Strategic Tips: Saturate is excellent for controlling space and denying quick rotations. Place it in chokepoints to slow enemy pushes or use it to cover your retreat.
Strategic Tips: Refract offers incredible safety for taking aggressive angles. Place your beacon in a safe position, peek for information or a quick kill, then teleport back before enemies can trade.
Strategic Tips: Convergent Paths is a powerful zoning tool and entry ability. Use it when executing onto a site to force defenders to reposition or suffer the vulnerability debuff.
Playstyle & Strategy
Waylay is the quintessential high-mobility duelist, designed for players who enjoy aggressive, fast-paced gameplay. Her Lightspeed and Refract abilities offer unparalleled repositioning options, allowing her to take unexpected angles and escape dangerous situations.
Her playstyle revolves around quick entries, creating space for the team, and isolating 1v1 duels. The combination of Refract as a safety net and Lightspeed as an engagement tool makes her particularly effective at hit-and-run tactics that can frustrate enemy teams.
When using Convergent Paths, coordinate with teammates who can follow up on the vulnerable targets you mark. This ultimate is especially powerful for site executes and retakes.
Duelists: The Front-Line Attackers
Duelists are self-sufficient fraggers who have tools to seek out engagements and take fights on their own terms. Their abilities focus on mobility, creating space, and eliminating enemies quickly.
Jett: The Agile Assassin api-id: add6443a-41bd-e414-f6ad-e58d267f4e95
The Agile Assassin
Duelist South KoreaJett's exceptional mobility makes her one of the most elusive agents in Valorant. Her wind-based abilities allow her to dash into advantageous positions, take shots, and retreat safely. Her signature Tailwind ability, combined with her Updraft, gives her vertical and horizontal movement options that no other agent possesses.
Strategic Tips: Updraft allows Jett to access unexpected elevated positions that most agents can't reach. Use it to take off-angle peeks, surprise enemies from above, or reach higher platforms without making noise on stairs.
Combine with Tailwind for maximum mobility - updraft to a high position, take a shot, then dash away to safety. This makes you incredibly difficult to trade.
Strategic Tips: Jett's signature ability is her most important defensive tool. After taking a shot, immediately dash to safety to avoid being traded. You can also use it to quickly cross dangerous open areas or reposition during a fight.
Tailwind is refreshed every two kills, so be mindful of when you use it. Having this ability available can be the difference between life and death in crucial moments.
Strategic Tips: While not as long-lasting as other controller smokes, Cloudburst is perfect for quick, reactive cover. Use it to block off sight lines during executes, create one-way smokes, or cover your escape after an aggressive play.
You can curve the smoke by looking in the direction you want it to go while throwing. This allows for more precise placement and creative setups.
Strategic Tips: Blade Storm makes Jett deadly at any range and provides significant economic value. Use it during eco rounds to outmatch opponents with better weapons. Each knife delivers instant kill with a headshot, and body shots require two hits.
Right-clicking throws all remaining knives in a short-range spread pattern, perfect for close encounters. Each kill with the ultimate refreshes your knives, allowing potential for multiple kills or saving knives for future rounds.
Her Blade Storm ultimate equips her with throwing knives that deliver deadly precision at all ranges, resetting with each kill. Jett is perfect for players who enjoy aggressive plays, crisp aim duels, and creating space for their team to follow.
Phoenix: The Fiery Comeback Artist api-id: eb93336a-449b-9c1b-0a54-a891f7921d69
The Fiery Comeback Artist
Duelist United KingdomPhoenix's fire-based kit combines self-healing with zone control. His Hot Hands and Blaze abilities not only damage enemies but heal Phoenix when he stands in their area of effect, giving him sustainability during extended engagements.
Strategic Tips: Use the curve to flash around corners without exposing yourself. The flash can be curved left or right depending on which mouse button you use, making it very versatile for different angles.
Strategic Tips: Use this ability both offensively to clear corners and defensively to heal yourself. Standing in the fire will heal Phoenix, making it great for sustaining through fights.
Strategic Tips: Use Blaze to cut off angles, create space for your team, or heal yourself. The wall can be curved by moving your mouse while casting.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for aggressive plays and gathering information. Use it to enter sites first or take risky duels without fear of dying. Coordinate with your team to capitalize on the information you gather.
Reyna: The Vampiric Snowballer api-id: 8e253930-4c05-31dd-1b6c-968525494517
The Vampiric Snowballer
Duelist MexicoReyna's kit is entirely built around getting kills and then enhancing herself from those eliminations. Her Devour and Dismiss abilities both consume Soul Orbs that appear when she gets kills, allowing her to either heal to full health or become temporarily invulnerable and invisible.
Strategic Tips: Use after getting a kill to heal up quickly. The heal is very fast but leaves you vulnerable, so make sure you're in a safe position.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for repositioning after getting a kill or escaping dangerous situations. Can be used aggressively to take space or defensively to retreat.
Strategic Tips: Place the eye high above common angles to force enemies to either look away or shoot it. Coordinate with teammates as they can push while enemies are distracted.
Strategic Tips: Use when entering sites or during crucial rounds. Kills refresh the duration and grant you Soul Orbs, allowing for aggressive plays with both Devour and Dismiss available.
Raze: The Explosive Specialist api-id: f94c3b30-42be-e959-889c-5aa313dba261
The Explosive Specialist
Duelist BrazilRaze brings chaotic, high-damage explosives to the battlefield. Her Paint Shells grenades clear corners, while her Boom Bot scouts ahead and damages enemies.
Strategic Tips: Use for mobility by jumping and detonating mid-air. Can also be used to clear corners or force enemies out of positions. Master the timing to achieve maximum momentum.
Strategic Tips: Great for clearing common camping spots and corners. The sub-grenades can catch players trying to escape the initial explosion.
Strategic Tips: Use to clear corners and gather information. Can be used to force enemies to shoot it, revealing their position, or take damage trying to hide from it.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for clearing tight spaces or securing multiple kills when enemies are grouped. Can be combined with Blast Pack for aerial rocket shots.
Neon: The Electric Speedster api-id: bb2a4828-46eb-8cd1-e765-15848195d751
The Electric Speedster
Duelist PhilippinesNeon harnesses electricity to become Valorant's fastest agent. Her High Gear ability allows her to sprint rapidly across the map, while her Slide gives her a unique movement option during gunfights.
Strategic Tips: Use to stun enemies in common positions or create zones of control. The stun effect can set up easy kills or deny area access.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for quick rotations and aggressive plays. The slide can be used to peek corners quickly or escape dangerous situations.
Strategic Tips: Use to block vision and create safe paths for your team. The walls can also be used to split sites during executes.
Strategic Tips: Most effective in close to medium range. The increased mobility while using the ultimate makes Neon very hard to hit. Perfect for clearing sites or winning clutch situations.
Yoru: The Dimensional Trickster api-id: 7f94d92c-4234-0a36-9646-3a87eb8b5c89
The Dimensional Trickster
Duelist JapanYoru manipulates dimensions to deceive enemies. His Fakeout creates a clone that explodes into a flash when shot, while his Gatecrash teleport allows for unexpected flanks and repositioning.
Strategic Tips: The flash can be thrown around corners and bounced off walls. Time the activation with your peaks to catch enemies off guard.
Strategic Tips: Can be used for both aggressive plays and safe rotations. Place the tether in a safe spot before taking aggressive peaks for a guaranteed escape route.
Strategic Tips: Use to check corners or bait out enemy positions. The clone's footsteps are audible to enemies, making it great for misdirection.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for gathering information or repositioning safely. Can be combined with Gatecrash for unexpected plays or used to flank enemies undetected.
Sentinels: The Defensive Specialists
Sentinels excel at holding down areas and providing team support. Their abilities focus on information gathering, area denial, and fortifying positions.
Killjoy: The Tech Genius api-id: 1e58de9c-4950-5125-93e9-a0aee9f98746
The Tech Genius
Sentinel GermanyKilljoy's arsenal of deployable tech makes her the ultimate site anchor. Her Turret provides consistent damage and information, while her Alarmbot and Nanoswarm grenades create deadly traps for unsuspecting enemies.
Her Lockdown ultimate can completely deny an area to the enemy team, making it perfect for post-plant situations or forcing enemies out of entrenched positions during retakes.
Strategic Tips: Use to create temporary barriers or delay enemies. Can be used to block off angles or create unexpected chokepoints.
Strategic Tips: Place at key chokepoints or near entrances to gather information on enemy movements. Can be used to create fake alarms or mind game opponents.
Strategic Tips: Use to cover angles or watch flanks. Can be used to provide constant damage or to create temporary barriers.
Strategic Tips: Can be used to create one-way smokes or as an alarm system. Coordinate with your team when enemies trigger the cage.
Sage: The Guardian Healer api-id: 569fdd95-4d10-43ab-ca70-79becc718b46
The Guardian Healer
Sentinel ChinaSage is unique as the only agent with direct healing capabilities. Her Healing Orb can restore allies to full health, while her Barrier Orb can reshape the battlefield.
Strategic Tips: Use to delay pushes or make enemies vulnerable in crucial chokepoints. Perfect for post-plant situations or holding off rushes.
Strategic Tips: Prioritize healing duelists or key players with ultimate abilities. Remember you can heal yourself while using abilities.
Strategic Tips: Use to block off key sightlines, create new elevated positions, or secure the spike plant. Can be used creatively to boost teammates to unexpected positions.
Strategic Tips: Consider the tactical advantage of who to revive. Sometimes saving the ultimate for a key player is better than using it immediately.
Cypher: The Information Broker api-id: 117ed9e3-49f3-6512-3ccf-0cada7e3823b
The Information Broker
Sentinel MoroccoCypher is the ultimate surveillance expert. His Spycam and Trapwire provide constant information on enemy movements, while his Cyber Cage offers one-way smokes.
Strategic Tips: Can be used to create one-way smokes or as an alarm system. Coordinate with your team when enemies trigger the cage.
Strategic Tips: Place in unexpected spots that cover multiple angles. The tracking dart is perfect for coordinating team pushes.
Strategic Tips: Set up crossfire traps with multiple abilities. Place at varying heights to catch enemies off guard.
Strategic Tips: Use immediately after an enemy dies to gain maximum value. Perfect for retakes or clutch situations.
Chamber: The Elegant Gunman api-id: 22697a3d-45bf-8dd7-4fec-84a9e28c69d7
The Elegant Gunman
Sentinel FranceChamber brings a unique approach to the sentinel role, focusing on precise gunplay enhanced by his custom weapons.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for eco rounds or as a backup weapon. The accuracy while scoped makes it deadly at long range.
Strategic Tips: Set up aggressive angles with a safe escape route. Can be used to play multiple positions on defense.
Strategic Tips: Use to watch flanks or secure areas you can't actively monitor. The slow effect makes enemies vulnerable.
Strategic Tips: The one-shot kill potential makes it perfect for holding angles. The slow field can help secure multiple kills.
Deadlock: The Defensive Enforcer api-id: cc8b64c8-4b25-4ff9-6e7f-37b4da43d235
The Defensive Enforcer
Sentinel NorwayDeadlock secures areas with powerful defensive tech. Her abilities focus on area denial and enemy capture.
Strategic Tips: Use to deny fast pushes or make enemies vulnerable in crucial moments. Perfect for post-plant situations.
Strategic Tips: Place in areas where enemies are likely to make noise. Can be used to cover flanks or watch approaches.
Strategic Tips: Use to split sites or block crucial pathways. Can be used reactively to stop pushes.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for isolating key enemies or denying plant/defuse attempts. Coordinate with team to capitalize on the capture.
Controllers: The Map Manipulators
Controllers specialize in cutting up dangerous territory and forming strategic choke points. Their smoke and zone control abilities help dictate the flow of the game.
Omen: The Shadow Manipulator api-id: 8e253930-4c05-31dd-1b6c-968525494517
The Shadow Manipulator
Controller UnknownOmen's toolkit revolves around deception and repositioning. His Dark Cover smokes provide excellent visual cover for pushes.
Strategic Tips: Use before pushing to blind multiple enemies. The nearsight effect makes it difficult for enemies to fight back effectively.
Strategic Tips: Place smokes at different heights to create unexpected angles. Can be used to fake executes or create one-way smokes.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for repositioning to unexpected angles. Can be used to get behind enemy lines or escape dangerous situations.
Strategic Tips: Use for rapid rotations or to get behind enemy lines. Can be cancelled to fake teleports and mind game opponents.
Viper: The Toxic Controller api-id: 707eab51-4836-f488-046a-cda6bf494859
The Toxic Controller
Controller United StatesViper excels at area denial through her chemical devices. Her abilities create zones that damage and decay enemies.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for creating one-way smokes. Can be picked up and reused to conserve fuel.
Strategic Tips: Use to split sites or block multiple angles simultaneously. Learn lineups for effective wall placement.
Strategic Tips: Excellent for denying defuses or clearing corners. Learn lineups for post-plant situations.
Strategic Tips: Best used to control a specific area like a planted spike. You can briefly leave the cloud while maintaining it.
Astra: The Cosmic Strategist api-id: 41fb69c1-4189-7b37-f117-bcaf1e96f1bf
The Cosmic Strategist
Controller GhanaAstra operates on a different plane, literally. By entering her Astral Form, she can place stars across the map.
Strategic Tips: Use to disrupt enemy pushes or clear corners. Can be combined with other star abilities for powerful combos.
Strategic Tips: Pre-place stars for quick executes. Can be recalled to create fake smokes and mind game opponents.
Strategic Tips: Great for pulling enemies out of corners or disrupting plant attempts. Combine with team utility for maximum effect.
Strategic Tips: Blocks bullets and heavily dampens audio. Perfect for site executes or denying retakes.
Brimstone: The Commander api-id: 9f0d8ba9-4140-b941-57d3-a7ad57c6b417
The Commander
Controller United StatesBrimstone brings military precision to the battlefield with his orbital gear. His abilities focus on area control and team support.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for clearing corners or denying defuses. Learn lineups for post-plant situations.
Strategic Tips: Can place multiple smokes simultaneously for quick executes. Learn standard smoke setups for each site.
Strategic Tips: Use before engaging in fights or when pushing sites. The fire rate boost can make a crucial difference.
Strategic Tips: Excellent for clearing tight spaces or denying spike defuses. The large area makes it hard to avoid.
Harbor: The Water Bender api-id: 95b78ed7-4637-86d9-7e41-71ba8c293152
The Water Bender
Controller IndiaHarbor harnesses ancient technology to manipulate water, creating barriers and zones of control.
Strategic Tips: Use to create temporary cover for crossing dangerous areas. Can be shot down but absorbs bullets while active.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for pushing through choke points or creating mobile cover. Can be curved around corners.
Strategic Tips: Use to block sight lines or push enemies back. The wall can be shot to create gaps.
Strategic Tips: Great for clearing areas or forcing enemies to relocate. Each geyser strike reveals the location of hit enemies.
Initiators: The Intel Gatherers
Initiators challenge angles by setting up their team to enter contested ground. Their abilities focus on gathering information and disrupting enemy positions.
Sova: The Recon Expert api-id: 320b2a48-4d9b-a075-30f1-1f93a9b638fa
The Recon Expert
Initiator RussiaSova's reconnaissance abilities provide unparalleled information gathering. His Recon Bolt and Owl Drone can reveal enemy positions, allowing teams to make informed decisions about how to approach sites.
Strategic Tips: Shock Bolts deal area damage and are perfect for clearing common hiding spots or damaging enemies in predictable positions. They're also excellent for post-plant situations, where you can lineup shots to hit enemies trying to defuse the spike.
You can adjust the power (distance) and bounce of each bolt by holding and releasing the fire button. Learning lineups for common positions will maximize your effectiveness with this ability.
Strategic Tips: Sova's signature ability provides crucial information for your team. Use it to scan contested areas before pushing or to locate defenders hiding on a site. The pulse reveals enemies three times, tracking their movement in real-time.
Aim for difficult-to-shoot surfaces or areas with wide coverage. Enemies can destroy the bolt by shooting it, so placing it in unexpected positions increases its effectiveness. Learn bounce angles to scan areas that aren't in your direct line of sight.
Strategic Tips: The Owl Drone provides safe scouting and information gathering. Use it to check ahead before your team commits to a push or to locate defenders during retakes. The tracking dart marks enemies for a few seconds, even through walls.
Communicate findings to your team and use varied flight paths to avoid being predictable. The drone has limited health, so keep it moving to avoid being shot down too quickly. Being strategic about when you tag enemies with the dart can set up coordinated pushes.
Strategic Tips: Hunter's Fury is exceptional for clearing angles, securing kills on damaged opponents, or denying defuses in post-plant scenarios. The energy beams pass through all terrain and reveal enemies hit, making it perfect for clearing areas that are difficult to approach.
Use Recon Bolt or Owl Drone before activating Hunter's Fury to get precise information on enemy positions. In post-plant, wait until you hear the defuse sound before firing to maximize the chance of preventing the defuse. The beams have slight travel time, so lead your shots when targeting moving enemies.
His Hunter's Fury ultimate can clear angles across the entire map, damage multiple enemies simultaneously, and even secure kills on low-health opponents trying to hide. The information advantage Sova provides makes him invaluable on larger, more open maps.
Fade: The Nightmare Hunter api-id: dade69b4-4f5a-8528-247b-219e5a1facd6
The Nightmare Hunter
Initiator TurkeyFade uses fear and darkness to reveal hidden enemies. Her abilities focus on tracking and debuffing opponents.
Strategic Tips: Use to lock down areas or prevent enemies from escaping. Tethered enemies are vulnerable to follow-up utility.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for gathering information before pushes. Revealed enemies leave trails that your team can follow.
Strategic Tips: Can be guided with your crosshair. Use to clear corners or follow up on revealed enemy trails.
Strategic Tips: Excellent for site executes or retakes. The decay effect makes enemies vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
Breach: The Offensive Force api-id: 5f8d3a7f-467b-97f3-062c-13acf203c006
The Offensive Force
Initiator SwedenBreach's kit is built around disorienting enemies and creating openings for his team through walls.
Strategic Tips: Time your team's push with the flash. The ability to flash through walls makes it hard to dodge.
Strategic Tips: Can be charged to increase range. Perfect for clearing multiple angles simultaneously.
Strategic Tips: Use to clear common camping spots or force enemies to move. Great for post-plant situations.
Strategic Tips: Excellent for site executes or retakes. The large area of effect makes it hard to avoid completely.
KAY/O: The War Machine api-id: 601dbbe7-43ce-be57-2a40-4abd24953621
The War Machine
Initiator Alternate TimelineKAY/O is a machine of war built for one purpose: neutralizing radiants. His abilities focus on suppressing enemy powers.
Strategic Tips: Right-click for a quick pop flash, left-click for longer throws. Learn the timing for both throws.
Strategic Tips: Use to gather information and disable enemy abilities before pushes. The pulse reveals enemies hit.
Strategic Tips: Great for clearing corners or denying space. The damage ticks make it effective for delay.
Strategic Tips: The suppression aura makes it perfect for site executes. Can be revived by allies if downed during ultimate.
Skye: The Wilderness Guide api-id: 6f2a04ca-43e0-be17-7f36-b3908627744d
The Wilderness Guide
Initiator AustraliaSkye's connection to nature allows her to control animal spirits that scout and blind enemies.
Strategic Tips: Use to clear corners and gather information. The tiger can be destroyed, so be unpredictable with movement.
Strategic Tips: Can be curved around corners. The hawk makes a sound when enemies are in range to be flashed.
Strategic Tips: Can heal multiple allies simultaneously. The healing has a limited pool, so use it efficiently.
Strategic Tips: Perfect for gathering information at the start of rounds or during retakes. Follow your seekers to trade off their information.
The Deeper Lore: Connecting the Dots
Valorant's narrative is complex and evolving, with connections between agents revealed through voice lines, map details, and seasonal content. The underlying story involves a mirror Earth, the unexplained First Light event that spread Radianite across the world, and the formation of the Valorant Protocol to prevent catastrophe.
Key narrative threads include the relationship between Viper and Reyna, Killjoy's mentorship under Brimstone, and the mysterious connection between Omen and the origins of Radianite energy. As new agents join the Protocol, the story continues to expand, revealing more about this rich fictional universe.
Whether you're a new player trying to choose your main or a veteran looking to expand your agent pool, understanding the strengths and synergies of Valorant's diverse roster is key to competitive success. Each agent brings something unique to the team composition, and mastering their abilities can dramatically elevate your gameplay.
What's your favorite agent to play? Do you have any unique strategies or ability combinations that have worked well for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
