What is the best Valorant agent? Valorant is certainly one of the best FPS games around. With so many new agents to pick from, finding the right character for you – and the right one for your team – is important for finding success in Riot Games’ tactical shooter. Thankfully, we’ve done a lot of the groundwork and put together a Valorant tier list for you below.
Our Valorant tier list – which we update whenever new Valorant patch notes arrive – takes a whole host of factors into consideration. Alongside the current meta, the overall effectiveness of each agent at different ranks as well as their efficacy in ranked play – which this tier list will predominantly focus on – all play a part in our ratings. That being said, as with most competitive FPS games, you’ll find that the meta changes ever so slightly as you progress through the Valorant ranks, so be prepared for a C-Tier pick in Gold to potentially be an A-Tier pick in Ascendant. Now, let’s find you the perfect agent to pair with your best Valorant crosshair.
Valorant tier list
Here’s the Valorant tier list for patch 7.10:
- S-Tier – Raze, Viper, Skye, Killjoy
- A-Tier – Omen, Sova, Fade, Reyna, KAY/O, Jett
- B-Tier – Iso, Brimstone, Astra, Cypher, Neon, Chamber, Sage, Gekko, Breach
- C-Tier – Deadlock, Phoenix, Yoru, Harbor
S-Tier
S-Tier Valorant tier list agents are either stronger than their peers by a clear margin, flexible across multiple maps, or a mixture of both. These are the best Valorant agents the game has to offer.
Raze
Raze is undoubtedly the best Duelist Valorant has to offer right now, with the tech-savvy Brasileira boasting unrivaled flexibility. Raze has a tall skill ceiling, and taking the time to master her (Q) Blast Pack will ensure you not only have enormous destructive capacity with (E) Paint Shells and (X) Showstopper, but amazing mobility when it comes to entering sites as well.
She also possesses a (C) Boombot, which is a fantastic tool for gaining info, especially on maps with tight corridors like Bind, Lotus, and Split where she traditionally sees the most play.
Viper
Sporting powerful poisons that decay enemies who pass through them, and make them vulnerable to taking increased damage for a short time, Viper is a Controller who can not only slow down an enemy site take but can actually lock down a site pretty much single-handedly with her ultimate, (X) Viper’s Pit.
She’s also incredibly versatile depending on your playstyle. If you prefer to sit back and play with the team (and you know your lineups), then you can remain grouped. However, the more adventurous Viper – as with other agents which don’t need to be on-site to get value out of their utility – can simply set her (Q) Poison Cloud and (E) Toxic Screen down early and go lurking for rotating enemies.
Skye
Skye’s kit is an absolute dream for information gathering, but only when you have a team that will act on it. Both (Q) Trailblazer and (X) Seekers are excellent tools for tracking enemy positions on the map, and Skye will even give a vocal cue if her (E) Guiding Light flashes someone.
As with KAY/O, Skye’s flashes aren’t as strong for solo play as they once were, making it difficult to play her effectively without comms. Of course, the best Skye players can still pull off some flashy plays. Once upon a time, the Aussie Initiator sat at the bottom of our Valorant tier list, but she’s since become blindingly strong.
Killjoy
Killjoy’s utility makes her a solid agent when both attacking and defending a site – especially the latter. Her (E) Turret is able to cause plenty of disruption, particularly on eco rounds, while her (Q) Alarmbot is a great tool for covering flanks or points of entry onto a site.
Her greatest asset, however, is her (X) Lockdown, which is phenomenal for clearing enemies off of a site, making space for your team to either plant or defuse the spike. Just make sure the enemy Brimstone doesn’t have (X) Orbital Strike up before you drop it, okay?
A-Tier
A-Tier Valorant tier list picks are still very good, though they will generally make up the remainder of a composition on maps where some of the S-Tier picks aren’t quite as viable.
Omen
If you like your Overwatch 2, then you probably already know Omen’s abilities quite well. The edgy agent, which is suspiciously similar to Blizzard’s Reaper, can use the cover of darkness to teleport. He can be everywhere and anywhere and, if played right, can be a deadly agent against a well-organized team.
Omen has powerful abilities, but being unpredictable is key. Experienced players will know standard Omen plays – such as using (X) From the Shadows to TP into spawns – so if you want to get the edge on enemy teams in the higher ranks, you’re going to want to get creative. His (E) Dark Cover smokes are versatile and his (Q) Paranoia is great for blinding enemies hiding just around the corner. We’d definitely recommend spending some time in the Range getting used to placing smokes as the controls can be a little finicky for newcomers to the mysterious agent.
Sova
Sova is a great agent for team plays. With recon abilities and the scope to flush out ratty players with his (Q) Shock Bolts, playing Sova is an art. So if you’re looking to play him, you’re going to need to know your angles – Sova’s (E) Recon Bolts are great for gathering information but only if you know where to put them.
The archer also has his (C) Owl Drone which, again, is great for reconnaissance, but it’ll give away your position pretty quickly. Like Cypher’s camera, it has a dart to mark opponents, but it can be easily destroyed and it’s hard to hide. Once you do know where an enemy is, give them a taste of the (X) Hunter’s Fury to send them packing.
Fade
With a varied kit that can tether enemies to a position, introduce decay effects, and highlight their locations, Fade is a multi-purpose Initiator that can pick up a lot of kills in the right hands.
Her (C) Prowlers can chase down and blind opponents, giving you or a teammate a window to either take space or snag a free kill. Additionally, learning a few (E) Haunt lineups on each map will go a long way, as enemies marked by it leave a trail leading to their location. Spooky.
Meanwhile, Fade’s (Q) Seize is commonly thrown into chokes, often in tandem with Raze’s (E) Paint Shells, tethering and subsequently killing off opponents trapped in the snare. So if you and a pal are looking to form a strong double-act, then there’s some combo inspiration for you both.
Reyna
Reyna is everyone’s favorite most-hated agent – you’ll love to play as her, but you’ll often hate to play with her. With the ability to self-heal or safely reposition after scoring a takedown, Reyna is an incredibly self-sufficient agent. This is only augmented by her (C) Leer, which allows her to blind enemies and set up her own plays.
If you are playing solo or without comms, then Reyna is arguably an S-Tier pick for ranked play due to the fact that she doesn’t need to rely on others to perform well. However, when it comes to more coordinated play, Reyna doesn’t provide nearly as much value as an agent that can quickly take space like Viper or Raze.
Jett
Jett remains the go-to agent for farming clips. However, having swooped to the top of our tier list multiple times, Jett has recently tumbled down our rankings. Now not nearly as safe as she was in the past, the best Jett players have their work cut out for them.
However, should you choose to pilot the Korean Duelist, then you’re in for one of the most dynamic experiences Valorant has to offer. Combining (Q) Updraft with (E) Tailwind allows Jett to quickly dash up and into a site, creating space with little delay. Combined with (C) Cloudburst smokes which can quickly lock off key enemy positions for a short time, you suddenly have plenty of room to breathe and pick up those entry frags.
KAY/O
KAY/O is incredibly powerful in the right situations, hence his generous placement on the Valorant tier list. A mixture of flashes and suppression gives KAY/O more than enough tools to initiate solo pushes, especially when he activates (X) NULL/CMD.
Although KAY/O is a strong agent, his flashes work better in a team environment than for setting up solo plays. If you’re a well-oiled five-stack, this is great news, of course, but if you’re running comp in limited numbers then it gets a little trickier to have the same impact.
B-Tier
B-Tier agents on the Valorant tier list are still decent but are either incredibly situational or have been hamstrung by the current meta – at least in ranked play.
Iso
Iso has one of our favorite designs out of all of the Valorant agents, but is he any good? Well, having only released on patch 7.09, there still isn’t enough data to definitively place him on the Valorant tier list. However, there are some elements of his kit that, when fully utilized, make him an absolute beast in-game.
For example, if you’re able to proc his (E) Double Tap, you can tank a Chamber (X) Tour De Force shot, setting up the potential to win duels with the suave marksman you otherwise have absolutely no right to. Additionally, (X) Kill Contract is the perfect anti-eco tool to deal with the aforementioned Frenchman or even Jett when they’re trying to eco with their ultimates. If you can pull them into the 1v1, that power is immediately taken out of the equation.
Of course, both of these elements are highly situational, and we expect the gulf between good Iso players and great Iso players to be monumental. With that said, (C) Contingency and (Q) Undercut are both all-around helpful abilities, especially when attempting to push onto a site.
Brimstone
Brimstone’s (E) Sky Smokes are some of the longest-lasting in the game, making him great for newer players as they will have more time to either take space when attacking or allow their team to rotate when being threatened on defense. Brim’s smokes also allow players to spend more time focusing on their gunplay, so those long Aim Lab sessions won’t be for naught.
But that’s not all, as (Q) Incendiary and (X) Orbital Strike are powerful tools that can be used in a variety of ways, such as delaying a defuse or clearing angles (or in the latter’s case whole areas of the map).
Astra
Astra can be an absolute menace in coordinated play, due to her ability to make plays all over the map with her stars.
Her (C) Gravity Well pulls in enemies, her (Q) Nova Pulse concusses them, and she has excellent smokes too. Her ultimate, (X) Cosmic Divide, literally divides the entire map into two with a giant wall that dampens sound and blocks incoming fire. This makes pushing a site – be it as an attacker or as a defender on a retake – seriously risky business if there isn’t any utility left to launch through and clear the other side of the wall.
However, to get Astra right, you need to nail the cooldown of her abilities, which inexperienced players will struggle with, so definitely spend some time in Unrated mode with her before heading into ranked.
Cypher
Playing as a Sentinel can be a thankless role, and with Cypher it is especially hard to get value out of his kit when queuing solo. However, he still remains one of the best intel gatherers in the game, and creative Cyphers can be a nightmare for the enemy team to deal with.
This is chiefly thanks to his (C) Trapwires, which can be tethered to various entryways and pieces of terrain. The enemy triggering the Trapwire is subsequently tethered, revealed, and concussed after a brief period if they don’t destroy it, so great care needs to be taken when moving around the map. Of course, a good Fade (C) Prowler can trigger these without having to shoot them, so you’ll have to consider what utility the opposition comp has when mastering Cypher.
Neon
Neon can be an absolute menace in the right hands. Boasting some serious mobility, the squelching of Neon’s shoes often means a quick death is en route.
However, while Neon can quickly enter and get around the back of a site before you know it, she lacks the disengage tools to get her back out again. As such, Neon requires more resources from the team than the likes of Reyna or Jett, and can quickly stumble to a halt if she is snagged by enemy utility.
As for her own utility, Neon’s (Q) Relay Bolt are potent concussion bolts that can be devastating in certain situations. Meanwhile, (C) Fast Lane is fantastic for setting up an avenue for entry or isolating 1v1s.
While Neon isn’t quite a top-tier agent, we’d argue she’s the most exciting to play in all of Valorant.
Chamber
Sartorial style and sheer drip factor do not make for an S-Tier agent, and unfortunately after heavy nerfs the suave Frenchman no longer has the substance to back up his style.
Thanks to his ability to take fights, get picks, and instantly teleport away, Chamber can take up more aggressive angles and get away with it. Chamber is also an eco monster, thanks to (Q) Headhunter and (X) Tour de Force saving him extra credits while providing immense firepower on eco rounds. He definitely has his uses, but isn’t quite the powerhouse he once was.
Sage
Sage is the closest thing Riot Games’ shooter has to a support character. She can heal herself or others during a round with (E) Healing Orb, effectively giving everyone a little bit more longevity in the heat of battle. Her ultimate ability, (X) Resurrection, allows her to revive a teammate, making her an important agent in a number of Valorant compositions – especially in ranked play.
Sage isn’t just your run-of-the-mill support though, as she has some of the best environmental abilities. She can wall off areas using (C) Barrier Orb and take her enemies by surprise by hopping on top, or force them to give away their position by shooting it down – it’s also a dream on pistol rounds. Her (Q) Slow Orbs are fantastic for slowing down fast executes when defending, and can completely stop enemies from quickly swinging you or your teammates regardless of which half you’re on.
Gekko
Gekko has peaked and troughed since his release, and right now it feels like the Initiator has settled in the meta. Thanks to his buddies: (C) Mosh Pit, (Q) Wingman, (E) Dizzy, and (X) Thrash, creative Gekko players can be an absolute menace, though there are Agents that require less investment for greater reward.
Indeed, Gekko’s current placement in our tier list is more of a testament to just how powerful the Initiators above him currently are – the same goes for Breach who we’ll get onto below.
Breach
Breach is possibly one of the most complex agents in the game, so bear that in mind when playing as him. His abilities can often take their toll on teammates and prompt arguments if used incorrectly. Without proper coordination, there’s a whole host of things that can happen as a direct result of Breach’s abilities.
However, the trade-off for these negatives is oftentimes worth it, as Breach’s kit is packed with powerful, disruptive tools that can single-handedly win rounds. With abilities mainly focused on blinding and concussing players, he’s great at both relieving pressure and disorientating a well-set-up defending team.
C-Tier
C-Tier Valorant tier list agents aren’t necessarily bad, but they tend to be the very last picks you’d find in most ranked compositions. Generally sporting low pick and win rates at most levels of play, it’s easy to dismiss these agents as weak.
However, in most cases, it’s simply due to the fact that they require more coordination than other agents, and can’t get nearly as much value as other picks when you’re flying solo, or don’t have comms.
Deadlock
A Sentinel with the ability to quite literally take space, Deadlock’s kit is great for preventing flanks and lurks, much in the same vein as Cypher’s tripwires.
However, while operating as more of a lurking Sentinel, a Deadlock without her ult lacks some of the playmaking that Cypher does with his cages. Additionally, we feel that she pales in comparison to Killjoy right now, leading us to rate her far below her classmates.
We can certainly see Deadlock working well in a double-Sentinel setup, similar to what we’ve seen from Harbor’s double-Controller comps shortly after his arrival. But when an agent is this situational, and there are better Sentinel options out there, it’s hard to recommend Deadlock to most players.
Phoenix
Phoenix is one of the most self-sufficient agents on the roster. He’s a fiery (literally) Londoner who has mastery over fire-based abilities.
Like Viper, he can put up a wall that obscures enemies’ sight lines with (C) Blaze, and like Brimstone he can launch a ball of flame with (E) Hot Hands. Although these abilities hurt other players, they also heal Phoenix.
Phoenix’s ultimate, (X) Run It Back, enables the agent to run in and hopefully take down an agent or two before being teleported back to the start of the ultimate with all his health restored. This makes it a great ability for aggressive players with little risk involved. Unless, of course, there’s someone behind your point of origin, knife out…
Yoru
Oh, Yoru. As a duelist, Yoru doesn’t offer much in comparison to someone like Phoenix, and as such, has a relatively low pick rate. Yes, while he can be incredibly effective when his abilities are used right, his kit can be confusing and cause more problems than solutions.
For Apex Legends players looking for a sense of familiarity, the dimensional drifter possesses the means to bamboozle teams much in the same vein as Mirage, albeit without the outrageous ego. Unfortunately, he’s about as useful as Mirage, too…
Harbor
Harbor is a flexible Controller that can freeform walls that flow like, well, water. Enemies who pass through his (C) Cascade and (E) High Tide are slowed, making it much easier for you to land your shots.
Despite a varying amount of pro play prevalence, Harbor has struggled to find his place among his peers in solo queue, but that’s not to say you can’t cheese a few wins against teams that aren’t used to playing against him. Surprise, off-meta picks have their uses, after all.
And that’s the Valorant agent tier list for patch 7.10. Obviously, the meta will change with each and every update, so make sure you check back here to see where the game’s agents place in the future. If you’re hoping to eventually transfer your Valorant chops to console, then keep an eye on our Valorant PS5 and Xbox release date guide. In the meantime, be sure to consult our Valorant skins guide. After all, you need to climb in style.