Pearl is one of the most unique maps to play in Valorant. So, let’s find out what the best Agents are that you should play to secure the most wins on Pearl.
VALORANT is a tactical shooter inspired by CS:GO and Overwatch. Riot Games tried its best to implement a mixture of ability-based gameplay and skilled shooting mechanisms into VALORANT. Thus, the Agents were introduced in this game.
Although people were skeptical about VALORANT’s success at first, it eventually made a strong standing in the FPS genre. The game gained constant popularity for its gameplay, Agent-based abilities, exciting lores, and beautiful character and map visuals.
All Agents and maps in VALORANT have unique features and backstories. Currently, there are 23 released Agents and 10 total maps in the game. Among them, Sunset is the latest addition to the competitive map rotation.
Each map in VALORANT features distinctive designs and architecture. Naturally, some Agents are better suited for specific maps than others. This is why it is important to choose specific Agents to ensure the highest chance of winning on selected maps. The same goes for Pearl.
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Note: Pearl is currently not in the competitive map rotation. So, the information you see here, may not be up-to-date with the ongoing meta.
Pearl’s Map Layout and Agent Choices
Pearl was added to the VALORANT map pool in the 5.00 patch. It is the first map that is located on Omega Earth. It is also an underwater map situated in Lisbon, Portugal. Pearl has an interesting design with two sites and three lanes, following a traditional map layout.
Pearl is one of the maps where Duelists aren’t as prominent. However, having a Duelist who opens up entry frag/s for your team is important. So, you should have at least one Duelist on your team and one Initiator to support the Duelist while entrying.
Pearl’s mid is very tricky to hold. So, it is always better that you dedicate one player solely to holding mid or share the burden with another Sentinel from A site. As for Controller Agents, you’ll obviously need at least one Controller to take over or retake the A or B site.
Best Agents to Play on Pearl
In the previous section, we talked about what types of Agents fit well in Pearl and how many of each role you should have in your team. But there are many Agents to pick from, and choosing the best one is crucial to winning a match in Pearl.
Thankfully, Pearl has been released for a long time now. Thousands of matches have been played on this map, giving us enough information to know the current meta and which Agents are best on this map. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
Best Duelists
Reyna
For an aggressive playstyle, Reyna is the most gruesome Agent there can be in Pearl. She can get ahead of everyone, get a kill, and instantly get back safely with her dismiss ability. Or, she can use her Devour and heal herself to full HP in seconds. Her Ultimate ability also comes second to none. Reyna can show her prowess to the utmost limit, where most of the fights take place scattered throughout the map.
Phoenix
Though Phoenix is not a popular Duelist among players, it is different for Pearl. There are a lot of angles and tight spaces on the map, which makes it necessary to have flashes that can blind enemies for easy escape. Phoenix’s Wall can also come in handy in many open spaces such as the A Site. Not to mention, his healing abilities are instrumental in clutch situations.
Raze
Raze’s abilities go very well on the Pearl map. Her Boom Bot can clear out angles, making it easier for the team to enter as attackers. Though her Blast Pack is not so effective in Pearl, it can be handy in certain situations. Her Paint Shells and Showstoppers are strong enough to win you important rounds with ease.
Best Controllers
Brimstone
As Viper was nerfed, Brimstone is the best Controller Agent right now in Pearl. Brimstone can separate any site with his smokes. His smokes can block specific angles precisely, leaving no room for error. On the other hand, Brim’s Incendiary can kill anyone hiding in specific corners. Not to mention, his Orbital Strike can create fear in enemies in after-plant situations.
Viper
Although Viper was nerfed in the 5.12 patch, she is still one of the best Agents in the Pearl map. If placed correctly, Viper’s Toxic Screen can easily separate both A and B sites, letting your team push to any site freely. With precise lineups, her Poison Cloud and Snake Bite can block off any specific passage and bring out enemies from tight corners that are basically everywhere on Pearl.
Harbor
If you’re not picking Viper, Harbor can be the second-best alternative to Viper for the Pearl map. Harbor’s abilities are very well suited to attack A site. Even if you’re rushing B, Harbor can do wonders. However, he doesn’t help too much on the defender side, so he is currently in the B tier.
Astra
Unlike Viper and Brimstone, Astra is a versatile Agent. She can place 4 Stars at a time that can be used to activate Gravity Well, Nova Pulse, or Nebula. She can even pick up a star and use it later in the round. However, it will take 25 seconds before you can place it again. Her abilities are very practical for both the Attacker and Defender sides on Pearl.
Best Sentinels
Cypher
Cypher is a powerful Agent in Pearl. There are countless angles on each side. It is physically almost impossible to hold every angle. But, with Cypher, you can cover multiple angles with his Spycam’s assistance. He can also stay carefree while his Trapwires and Cyber Cages are in action.
Sage
As of now, Sage is kind of irreplaceable in the Pearl meta. She is one of the two Agents who can heal her allies. Not to mention, only Sage can revive her allies from the dead. So, Sage is a must-pick if you have a team with no Phoenix, Reyna, or Skye. Even if you have these Agents, you can still use Sage to heal others. Also, Sage’s Wall can be very useful in A site on Pearl.
Killjoy
Like Cypher, Killjoy is also a very strong character in Pearl. With her Turret, she can cover a range of angles simultaneously, leaving her team worry-free for a while. If opponents decide to push her, she can deny or maybe kill them with her Alarmbot and Nanoswarms. Her Lockdown ultimate ability is especially useful for pushing in retaking any site on Pearl.
Best Initiator
Fade
Most players have figured out how to counter Fade by now. However, she is still a competent character, especially in Pearl. Because of Pearl’s tricky map layout, it is challenging to locate enemies on either side. So, having a Fade in your team can save much of your trouble. Enemies will also have to be very cautious of hiding behind any corner if there’s a Fade in your team.
Sova
Sova’s abilities are unparalleled to others, mainly because a skilled Sova can assist his team in so many ways in Pearl. Pearl’s complex layout makes it more of a playground for Sova’s lineups. Also, he does not have to expose himself to assist his teammate, so he can stay alive at any cost, making him even better in Pearl.
KAY/O
KAY/O is a perfect Initiator in Pearl map. He can flash for his allies to take any site swiftly. There are a considerable number of windows and specific lineups where KAY/O can throw his Flash and Drive. As there are a lot of Cyphers and Killjoys in Pearl, KAY/O’s Ultimate and Zero/Point remain helpful.
Final Verdict
Every Agent has unique and useful abilities in VALORANT. If utilized properly, any Agent can lead you to a foolproof win. However, some Agents are always preferred over others for particular maps. This Agent tier list on Pearl is based on the Agent’s abilities and how well they fit with the map’s layout and structure. So try them out, and see what works for you best.
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