Valorant Agent tier list - best characters for the current patch

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✓ At a glance

Our S-Tier picks are Jett, Killjoy, Clove, Omen, and Sage.
Next up, reliable A-Tier choices are Neon, Sova, KAY/O, Fade, Raze, and Skye.
Avoid playing Deadlock unless you’re very sure of what you’re doing.

If you’re looking to scale Valorant’s changing meta, our handy agent tier list for Episode 8 Act 3 evaluates agents by effectiveness and utility. With new Episodes and Acts introduced regularly, the meta-game evolves, causing shifts in the performance of the game’s agents.

For instance, the new Patch 8.11 brought some changes to agents like Neon, Iso, Reyna, and Raze. Adapting quickly to these changes can help advance your rank. While tier lists provide a sense of the meta, don’t hesitate to stick with an old favourite if you’ve already mastered their kit. Read on for a comprehensive tier list of the game’s agents.

Our Agent tier list

Here’s our tier list that highlights agents that tackle the new meta better while pointing out characters to avoid unless you’re proficient at playing as them.

Tier	Agents
S	Jett, Killjoy, Clove, Omen, Sage
A	Neon, Sova, KAY/O, Fade, Raze, Skye
B	Reyna, Phoenix, Gekko, Chamber, Cypher, Iso
C	Brimstone, Harbor, Yoru, Breach, Viper, Astra
D	Deadlock

S-Tier agents explained

The S-tier features the absolute best agents currently in Valorant’s meta. They can dictate the momentum of a round and can often create favourable situations. The S-tier agents in Episode 8 Act 3 are:

Jett

Jett’s agile and elusive fighting style allows her to take risks no one else can. She’s an expert in duelling with her unmatched speed and killer instincts. Her Cloudburst and Updraft abilities allow her to control the battlefield and outwit her enemies. Tailwind is another neat movement option at her disposal. The former cuts off vision to turn the odds in your favour.

Killjoy

Killjoy’s robotic friends and turrets can deny and delay plants, secure sites, or even chase down enemies. They allow her to lock down areas and provide valuable information to her team. Despite some nerfs, her Nanoswarm grenades are great at controlling areas. Her buffed Lockdown Ultimate fills a similar role too and makes her a solid sentinel. You’ll need to be more careful with her than before but Killjoy is still one of the best choices in the game.

Clove

The latest agent brings a sweet mix of duelist and controller abilities. With Ruse smokes that trigger even after death and a self-resurrection ultimate Not Dead Yet, Clove is in a solid position right from the start. The ultimate is successful only if you pick up a kill or assist, though. Pick-me-up lets Clove get temporary health and speed from fallen foes while Meddle is a quick decay skill that can help your team in a pinch. They’re easily an S-tier pick at the moment.

Omen

Omen can teleport across the map with Shrouded Step, providing valuable flanks and unexpected angles. His precise Dark Cover smokes provide cover, and his Paranoia ability can blind enemies, making him a good choice for teams that need flexibility. Despite recent nerfs, we still think he belongs in the S-tier, especially due to his always regenerating smoke ability.

Sage

Sage’s Healing Orb and Resurrection abilities along with her crowd-control tools are top-tier. Being able to revive a teammate makes her an essential support pick on pretty much any map. Barrier Orb and Slow Orb are great at granting cover, unique sightlines, and slowing foes. Just remember to keep your allies in good shape and you’ll be able to turn the odds of success in your favour.

A-tier agents who are still solid picks

The agents in the A-tier are strong and sometimes rival those in the S-tier. However, their effectiveness on specific maps with or against certain agents isn’t ideal. Here are our A-tier picks:

Neon

Neon’s abilities to accelerate herself and generate a reaction force that blinds players make her a formidable duelist. Her playstyle rewards aggressive gameplay and precision shooting, but she lacks the utility to impact the round beyond getting kills. Her Fast Lane move is great for positioning and so is her High Gear ability. But map awareness is essential to guarantee wins.

Sova

Sova’s recon abilities are perfect for gathering information about the enemy’s position. His arrows can reveal enemy locations or be used as a direct attack, and his drone can scout ahead and tag enemies. He’s a great initiator pick for players who want to keep their teammates aware of enemy positions. Pair him up with an agent with a flash to account for his shortcomings in this department.

KAY/O

KAY/O’s offensive abilities make him perfect for leading the charge. He has the power to blind foes with Flash/drive and throw a devastating Frag/ment grenade. CS2 players will quickly be able to adapt to these two abilities. KAY/O can even be revived if he is taken down thanks to his Null/cmd Ultimate, making him an invaluable asset to the team. These place the sentient war machine in our A-tier.

Fade

Fade’s abilities focus on revealing enemy locations, tracking them, and restricting their movements. Haunt marks foes with a Terror Trail to reveal enemy positions. Debuffs are also on the table with the Seize ability. However, maximizing this initiator’s potential requires good map knowledge and communication with the team, placing her in the A-tier.

Raze

Raze excels in crowd control and dealing high amounts of damage. Her explosive blast pack abilities can push opponents out of their hiding places or take them out entirely. She thrives in chaotic, close-quarters combat and is excellent at flushing out tightly packed enemies. While an earlier patch nerfs their Paint Shells grenade, it’s still a lethal option. And her nerfed Boom Bot is still great at lurking about and gathering intel. Just remember that she isn’t as effective in wide-open spaces on some maps. A recent nerf has dropped her to the A-tier.

Skye

Skye utilizes her resources to command beasts and plant life to aid her team. Her abilities allow her to heal her teammates, blind opponents, and scout areas, making her a balanced choice. Her nerfed Guiding Lights can blind foes while Regrowth is a solid heal in a game where health bars drop like flies. As for gathering info or clearing locations, she’s got Trailblazer and the Seekers Ultimate. Despite a recent nerf, she’s still an A-tier choice.

B-tier agents who are decent alternatives

B-tier agents shine in certain situations but they often get outclassed by other agents in their role. Characters in this category are:

Reyna

Reyna has powerful self-sustain and duelling capabilities with her Devour and Dismiss abilities to consume souls from killed enemies to heal or become invulnerable. However, her effectiveness relies heavily on personal skill and aggressive play, making her less consistent in team fights. You’ll need to remember to focus on team tactics over solo kills. Recent nerfs have brought down the lurk-queen, making her B-tier.

Phoenix

Phoenix can self-revive, flash Curveballs around corners, and use a firewall and block enemy vision. His ultimate Run It Back ability allows him to be reborn if he dies, giving him a lot of potential for aggressive play. Being able to self-sustain is a great perk for duelists, putting Phoenix in our B-tier.

Gekko

Gekko’s unique abilities offer interesting strategic options, such as deploying his pet for concussive blasts or defusal tasks. The latter is particularly helpful during nail-biting matches. However, his abilities require a certain level of coordination and timing, making him more challenging to play effectively for beginners. Mosh Pit is a grenade that takes a while to master. That’s why he sits in the B-tier despite recent buffs.

Chamber

A recent patch turned Chamber into a quick-moving, tempo-dictating monster that can turn the tides of battle in your team’s favour. His Headhunter pistol is particularly favoured by players along with the lethal Tour de Force sniper rifle Ultimate. Though his skillset still leaves a lot to be desired and pales in comparison to those in the S-tier and A-tier, you could do a lot worse as his abilities are still effective in certain scenarios.

Cypher

Cypher’s surveillance tools provide critical information about enemy movements. His ability to place Trapwire stun traps and Spycams lets him alert his team of an enemy presence or secure flanks. Neural Theft can straight up reveal any enemy on the map, letting you act as an initiator if needed despite being a sentinel. This makes Cypher a decent choice when it comes to gathering intel.

Iso

The fairly new kid on the block has several handy tricks up his sleeves. With recent buffs, Iso’s unique kit, when put in the right spots, can cause chaos singlehandedly. While he seems like a lone-wolf character, his abilities are best used in coordination with your team. With a kit reliant on getting kills, experienced players can do a lot with this agent. Double Tap’s shield is great at defensive maneuvers and Contingency is a solid shield wall move.

C-tier agents who aren’t very reliable

The agents in the C-tier tend to fulfil a particular niche and could be more reliable with the right buffs. The characters that fall into this C-tier category are:

Brimstone

Brimstone can call in Death from Above airstrikes and deploy long-lasting Sky Smokes and Incendiary grenades, making him an essential asset for controlling the battlefield and blocking enemy vision. Stim Beacon is a solid buff for allies, with enhanced reloads, weapon swaps, and recoil recovery. Thanks to some important buffs like longer Sky Smokes and cheaper Molotovs, he can block off areas to give your team the advantage.

Harbor

Harbor excels at slowing down enemies and forcing them into unfavourable engagements. His Cascade and High Tide moves are great at this. However, he requires excellent map knowledge and team coordination to utilize his abilities fully.

Yoru

Yoru’s abilities to create fake footstep sounds, blind enemies, and teleport make him an exciting choice for mind games and deception. Gatecrash is particularly effective as a fake teleport. However, he lacks consistency, and his abilities are often predictable. He’s also pretty hard to pick up if you’re a beginner.

Breach

Breach uses his seismic abilities to create pathways and disrupt enemy movements. His power to stun enemies, knock them back, or damage them through walls makes him excellent at creating opportunities for his team to move in and secure the objective. His Rolling Thunder wave is a great stun that can slow an enemy offensive. But his kit demands close teamwork, which isn’t always easy to accomplish.

Viper

Viper can control the battlefield by creating Toxic Screens or Poison Clouds that block vision and cause damage over time respectively. Her abilities are great for area denial and creating chaos during a push. This makes her a valuable asset against most agents on all maps. A sharp nerf has made it harder for her to trigger her abilities, dropping her to lower tiers. She can no longer pick up her Poison Cloud either.

Astra

Astra’s global control and strategic abilities are remarkable but require perfect communication and anticipation. Gravity Well can turn enemies vulnerable while Nova Pulse concusses players. Her potential has been greatly nerfed and can often be underutilized in disorganized teams, hence her placement in the C-tier. She requires constant communication and coordination to be effective.

D-tier agents to avoid

The D-tier represents the worst choices in Valorant’s current meta and desperately need buffs. Players should generally stay away from them to maximize their chances of winning. The agents in the D-tier are:

Deadlock

Oh, how the mighty fall. Make no mistake: Deadlock’s abilities are versatile and provide a good balance of offence and defence. Her Barrier Mesh can block off areas, Sonic Sensor can stun enemies, and GravNet grenade can slow down opponents. But in several scenarios, her skills often become useless and easy to counter. As a Sentinel, Deadlock is supposed to anchor your team’s site. But despite recent buffs, they’re still not a great choice.

About the Author

Valorant

Release Date: June 2, 2020
- - 02 June 2020 (PC)
Platform(s): PC
Genre(s): Action, Shooter, Strategy

Valorant Agent tier list – best characters for the current patch