Unlike most other maps in VALORANT, Breeze does not have any noticeable gimmick. The map does not have teleporters, rotating doors, or huge Ziplines. What it has is its vastness and big map design. So, naturally, Breeze favors a lot of aim duels between two teams, and having two Duelists will give you a better chance of winning the match if your team is confident enough about your aim.

You’ll also need a good Initiator to support the Duelists. So, without a doubt, you need an Initiator who can open up spaces and make way for the Duelists in Breeze. To watch flanks on the Attackers’ side and lock down sites on the Defenders’ side, you should have at least one Sentinel Agent on your team. And to control the big map, you’ll obviously need a Controller Agent who can block off many angles with their smokes or walls.

10 Best Agents on Breeze

We talked about what types of Agents fit well in Breeze and how many of each role you should have on your team. But there are many Agents to pick from, and choosing the best one is crucial to winning a match in Breeze.

Thankfully, Breeze has been in the competitive map rotation 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

• Abilities:
  • Passive: Soul Harvest
  • Basic: Leer
  • Signatures: Devour, Dismiss
  • Ultimate: Empress

Reyna, as a Duelist, needs no introduction. She is good on almost every map. However, the reason we picked Reyna as our primary Duelist in Breeze is because of her flashes and the ability to use the Dismiss ability to get picks in long-range engagements and get back safely.

Jett

• Abilities:
  • Passive: Drift
  • Basic: Cloudburst, Updraft
  • Signature: Tailbind
  • Ultimate: Blade Storm

Jett is irreplaceable for Operator users. Sure, Chamber and Reyna can somewhat fill her shoes. However, they can never effectively replace Jett. So, even after Jett’s continuous nerfs, she can still be a good Duelist for you or your team in Breeze for so many reasons.

Neon

• Abilities:
  • Passive: Energy
  • Basic: Fast Lane, Relay Bolt
  • Signature: High Gear
  • Ultimate: Overdrive

Breeze is a huge map with open spaces, making Neon the best potent Duelist on the map. She can roam around the map and gather useful intel about enemies using her High Gear. Moreover, she can easily fake them by showing her presence in one place and then regrouping with her teammates.

Although her Relay Bolt isn’t that useful in Breeze, having the ability to stun enemies comes in handy in many 1v1 duels. Neon’s Fast Lane walls can help her and her teammates enter or retake any side.

Best Controllers

Viper

• Abilities:
  • Passive: Fuel, Toxin
  • Basic: Snake Bite, Poison Cloud
  • Signature: Toxic Screen
  • Ultimate: Viper’s Pit

In both defense and offense, Viper’s inventory offers plenty of options for any team. Her Toxic Screen is by far the most crucial ability required for any offensive plan. Viper’s post-plant potential also comes into play due to the number of effective lineups available on Breeze. Even though her Ultimate doesn’t cover many areas, with it, you’ll still be able to make some differences in critical situations.

Clove

• Abilities:
  • Basic: Pick me Up, Meddle
  • Signature: Ruse
  • Ultimate: Not Dead Yet

Clove has successfully replaced Brimstone as the second-best Controller Agent in Breeze. If you take Clove, you can get away with picking only one Duelist in the team. The extra manpower can be used to pick an extra Controller or, preferably, an extra Sentinel Agent on your team.

Best Sentinels

Cypher

• Abilities:
  • Basic: Trapwire, Cyber Cage
  • Signature: Spycam
  • Ultimate: Neutral Theft

Cypher is a powerful Agent in Breeze. 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. Not to mention, you can hold off flanks using Cypher while on the attacking side. So, he remains the best Sentinel in Breeze.

Sage

• Abilities:
  • Basic: Barrier Orb, Slow Orb
  • Signature: Healing Orb
  • Ultimate: Resurrection

Sage’s role in Breeze is quite unique. Since Skye’s heal requires her to get close to her teammates, Sage can heal from longer distances. Also, Sage’s Barrier Orb is necessary to stop early-round attacks. Lastly, Sage’s Resurrection ability cannot be overlooked, and it has more potential than it seems. 

Killjoy

• Abilities:
  • Basic: Alarmbot, Nanoswarm
  • Signature: Turret
  • Ultimate: Lockdown

Killjoy is currently the meta-sentinel Agent in VALORANT. Even the VALORANT 2023 Champions Agents’ pick-rate stats prove why she should be an S-Tier Agent. Although many may argue that Killjoy isn’t a very potent character for big maps like Breeze, the new rework opened up so many strategic plays for her.

Best Initiators

Skye 

• Abilities:
  • Basic: Regrowth, Trailblazer
  • Signature: Guiding Light
  • Ultimate: Seekers

As an Initiator Agent, Skye is a natural fit for Breeze. Undoubtedly, Skye has plenty to offer in Breeze. Apart from being an Initiator, she can also fill in as a Duelist when needed. Skye’s Guiding Light and Trailblazer are helpful for any team. Even her Seekers can track down enemies or reveal their directions from long range.

Sova

• Abilities:
  • Basic: Owl Drone, Shock Bolt
  • Signature: Recon Bolt
  • Ultimate: Hunter’s Fury

In the European scene, both Skye and Sova are highly favored by S-tier teams like Fnatic or Team Liquid. For lineup enthusiasts, playing Sova on Breeze is like a Blessing. Sova’s value during the post-plant scenario is huge, and his Owl Drone is an excellent alternative to Skye’s Trailblazer ability. Although, in Breeze, Hunter’s Fury is not really effective in most cases.

Best Team Compositions in Breeze

We’ve given you some ideas regarding what Agents to pick in Breeze. Now, let’s talk about the team composition. Good or bad, not every Agent syncs with other Agents. For example, if you have Skye on your team, then there’s almost no point in picking up Sage. Instead, go for the other two Sentinels that we recommended and vice versa. The same rule will also apply to flash and smoke Agents.

With that in mind, here’s our recommendation for the best team compositions in Breeze:

• Team composition 1: Reyna, Jett, Viper, Cypher, Sova
• Team composition 2: Reyna, Clove, Cypher, Skye, Killjoy
• Team composition 3: Reyna, Viper, Killjoy, Sage, Sova
• Team composition 4: Jett, Clove, Cypher, Viper, Skye

Read More: Best VALORANT Agents for Bind

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 article on Breeze 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. Good luck!

The post Best VALORANT Agents to Pick on Breeze appeared first on GameRiv.

VALORANT is a role-based tactical shooter. Agents in VALORANT are equipped with distinctive abilities to perform their roles. The role of a smoke Agent is to block a certain point and provide cover. Without proper smokes, it’s easy to get eliminated by enemy Operators and Defenders. 

The smoke Agents in VALORANT are mainly from the Controller role. While Brimstone, Omen & Astra are the primary smoke Agents, Viper and Harbor also do the same with different kinds of abilities. However, a few Agents from other roles also possess abilities to block off enemies’ visions.

In this guide, we’ll list the best smoke Agents based on their impact, abilities, smoke durations, and presence in competitive VALORANT.

Note: We updated the article on July 7, 2024

How Many Smoke Agents are There in VALORANT?

In VALORANT, all 6 Controller Agents are mainly considered the smoke Agents. Apart from them, Jett also has smokes in her arsenal.

Note: Cypher, Phoenix, and Neon also have abilities to block points. But in this article, we are not considering them as those who do not pass traditional ‘’smoke’’ abilities. For the same reason, Harbor’s High Tide and Viper’s Toxic Screen are out of the list.

Best Smoke Agents: Abilities and Duration

Here, we will list the best smoke Agents in VALORANT based on their ability. We will list the details of the smokes and the reason behind their ranking. However, the rank is based on the smoke’s usefulness, not the Agent’s. Meaning the agent with the most effective smoke will be ranked higher. That does not set the bar for the Agent overall.

1. Brimstone 

Brimstone is the only Controller Agent you get access to when you first start VALORANT. According to the lore, Brimstone is a founding member and leader of the VALORANT Protocol. He can deliver 3 clouds of smoke known as the Sky Smokes. These smokes are dense, brown in color, and can be delivered precisely on the map with his tactical map. Once inside the smoke, players are left with minimal vision, which turns off the option to hide inside the smoke to catch someone off-guard.

Sky Smoke

Brimstone’s Sky Smoke is currently the best smoke in the game. With almost five seconds more longevity than others, the Sky Smoke feels like it lasts forever. Besides that, it creates an Obscure block that is concentrated and not hollow.

• Max cast range: 55 meters
• Radius: 4.1 meters
• Duration: 19.25 seconds
• Cost: 100  Creds

2. Astra 

Astra is a member of the Astral Guardian who can manipulate space itself using her Radiant powers. She is the 16th Agent to join the VALORANT protocol. Her smoke is designated as “Nebula.” Nebula’s outline and color are inspired by the stars & outer galaxies. She enters into Astral form to place her stars anywhere on the map.  Astra can instantly activate a star to turn into Nebula to work as a Vision Blocker.

Nebula

Astra can activate Nebula anywhere on the map, placing her stars. Although Nebula lasts a lot less than Brimstone’s Sky Smoke, it is still on par with Dark Cover. Moreover, she doesn’t have any range limit like Omen or Brimstone. Astra has a bit more of a learning curve among all the smoke agents. But once you master her, she can be a nuisance for your opponents.

• Max cast range: Full map
• Radius: 4.75 meters
• Duration: 14.25 seconds
• Cost: 150 Creds

3. Omen 

Omen is a mysterious figure with a tragic backstory. He is the first Radiant to join the VALORANT Protocol. Omen’s smoke is known as Dark Cover. He enters the mirror counterpart of the map he is currently on to cast the smoke. With a Violet outline and a hollow inside, the Dark Cover allows for a good amount of flexibility.  

Dark Cover

Omen’s Dark Cover is not less effective by any means. Nevertheless, the range limit and a slightly shorter smoke duration give him the third position in our list.

• Max cast range: 80 meters
• Radius: 4.1 meters
• Duration: 15 seconds
• Cost: 150 Creds

Viper is also a controller agent, even though her abilities are different from the previous three. She is a scientist focused on the use of toxicants. Her primary ability is a wall that also blocks off the vision. But the smoke in her arsenal is the Poison Cloud. Viper throws a gas emitter and activates it to create a green cloudy ball full of toxin gas. This ability deactivates when the fuel is empty. Viper can always reactivate the smoke upon recharging the toxin bar.

Poison Cloud

Viper’s Poison Cloud has a great ability to block off an angle. But it is limited by the fuel consumption. Also, you may need to learn some lineups and use it effectively. However, its damage ability provides an upper hand over Harbor’s Cove.

• Max cast range: Lineup based (medium-long-range)
• Radius: 4.5 meters
• Max Duration: 15 s
• Cost: 200 Creds

5. Clove

From a completely smoke perspective, Clove is not a great Agent compared to most Controller Agents in the game. However, Clove can use their smoke even after their death, which makes them really valuable in a team.

• Max cast range: 55 meters
• Radius: 4.72 meters
• Duration: 13.5 seconds (includes 0.75-second formation time)
• Cost: 150 creds

6. Harbor

Harbor is similar to Viper in terms of abilities. His primary ability also works as a wall that can slow enemies. However, Harbor also equips Cove, which effectively works as a smoke. The Cove is a large sphere of water shield that Harbor can throw to cast. Apart from blocking vision, it can also block bullets till a certain damage point.

Cove

Just like the Poison Cloud, Cove is a throwable. But its range is much shorter. Even lineups won’t take you much further. Its use is mainly limited to creating temporary cover for situations like defusing or planting the spike. It may be less effective than smoke, but it can still do the job.

• Max cast range: Lineup based (short-medium range)
• Radius: 4.5 meters
• Max Duration: 15 s
• Cost: 350 Creds

7. Jett 

Jett is a Duelist. But she is equipped with a self-defensive smoke known as Cloudburst. She can throw and control the trajectory of the Cloudburst. Compared to the Controller’s smokes, Jett’s Cloudburst is not that durable. But it is still a smoke and serves like one.

Cloudburst

Jett is the only agent in our list who is not a controller. Cloudburst is more useful for her self-defense than covering for her teammates. Well, it can still do that, but the duration is too short, and the point needs to be in Jett’s line of sight.Therefore, it lies at the bottom of our smoke list.

• Max cast range: N/A
• Radius: 4.5 meters
• Max Duration: 2.5 s
• Cost: 200 Creds

Final Verdict

VALORANT is entirely based on teamwork and coordination. Picking a smoke Agent will require you to be communicative, responsible & cautious. Unlike the Duelists tasked with entry fragging, a Controller Agent must act smart and deliver smokes where necessary. It’s not always up to individual skill levels and prowess; playing a Controller requires you to think critically. So, based on your team composition and map, choose your smoke Agent wisely.

Read More: Best Sentinels for Lotus: All Sentinels Ranked From Best to Worst

The post All the Smoke Agents, Smoke Durations, and Best Smokes to Use in VALORANT appeared first on GameRiv.

Will a larger fanbase determine the ultimate winner? Or must we go through a plethora of statistics and logical procedures to find out the better weapon? In the midst of constant meta-changing updates from Riot Games, it’s hard to stay with a single meta or playstyle for too long. Every few months, the developers are bringing in new modifications to keep the playerbase wide awake. 

The Phantom vs. Vandal debate has been around since the launch day of VALORANT. Actually, the debate started during the Beta version of the game when a limited number of people got their hands on Riot’s first-ever FPS title. Gradually, after release, the unsolvable mystery of Phantom Vs. Vandal was handed out to the general public to decide. As usual, there hasn’t been a clear answer even since. 

Read More: How to improve aim in VALORANT 

Although similar in price and priority, these two guns have their own domains. If we take a look at the statistics and damage values of these guns, we can find out some important differences. Phantom allows for flexibility and more room for correcting your errors. Vandal, on the other hand, is kind of a hit-or-miss weapon. 

Damage Reports

Phantom

• Headshot Damage:
  • 156 (0-15 meters)
  • 140 (15-30 meters)
  • 124 (30-50 meters)
• Body Damage:
  • 39 (0-15 meters)
  • 35 (15-30 meters)
  • 31 (30-50 meters)
• Leg Damage:
  • 33 (0-15 meters)
  • 29 (15-30 meters)
  • 26 (30-50 meters)
• Fire Rate: 11 rounds per second
• Magazine: 30 Rounds

Vandal

• Headshot Damage: 160 (All range) 
• Body Damage: 40 (All range)
• Leg Damage: 34 (All range)
• Fire Rate: 9.75 rounds per second
• Magazine: 25 Rounds

Right off the back, we can see some differences. Phantom has variable damage rates at different ranges, while Vandal delivers the same damage in all ranges. Although difficult, hitting a headshot should mean instant elimination, but this is where Vandal provides a slight upper hand. In all ranges, one shot from Vandal will eliminate a player with 160 damage to the head. While Phantom lags behind with 156 max headshot damage within 0-15 meters of range. 

When to Pick Phantom?

Since Phantom has a faster rate of fire, less recoil, an easily adjustable spray pattern, and a pretty accurate spray transfer, Phantom will give you an edge in close-quarter combats. Aside from the close-quarter, Phantom is also suitable for Medium-range combats too. Phantom’s silencer makes you almost undetectable in certain situations. 

So, during a close or medium-range gunfight, Phantom’s superiority is definitely proven. Although the gun suffers from a significant drawback in long-range gunfights due to its variable damage rates, for most maps in Valorant, Phantom is a decent pick. 

When to Pick Vandal?

Vandal thrives in long-range combats and damage rates. The gun is designed to deliver the same lethal damage to the opponent regardless of the range. However, the weapon is unforgiving in most cases. For example, missing your shots with Vandal means giving away your position, which could mean instant death. On top of that, Vandal’s Spray Transfer, recoil & fire rate are not its strongest suit. Even after that, players favor Vandal in maps like Ascent & Icebox since most of the gunfights take place over long distances. 

Vandal works better for players who are less concerned about things like spray transfer, recoil & spray patterns. If you are not likely to spend more than a bullet to neutralize your enemy, then Vandal should be your default pick.   

Tournament Pick Rates 

Before the Masters 3 Berlin took place, not picking Phantom in Tier-1 Tournaments was considered a disadvantage. Shroud, a strong advocate of the weapon, repeatedly mentioned that Vandal simply just can’t provide all the advantages that Phantom has to offer. During the whole tournament, both Phantom and Vandal had similar appearances. 

However, interesting statistics made by Redditor Ominous___ give us a whole new perspective on the pick rates of Phantom and Vandal during Masters 3 Berlin. Star players like TenZ, cNed & Asuna have used Phantom and Vandal with a similar pick rate. Prior to Masters 3 Berlin, Phantom always had the superior pickrate among North American teams whereas Vandal was favored by the European teams. 

This sudden change in pick rate might have something to do with the imposed penalty given on movement accuracy. At the same time, larger maps like Breeze & Icebox are somewhat forcing players to pick Vandal to ensure better chances of winning at long-range encounters. So it’s safe to say that Riot hasn’t been idle about the pick rates of Phantom in Tier-1 tournaments, and they are clearly players with more reasons to pick the Vandal.  

Since regions like EMEA, Japan & Latin America still prefers the Vandal over Phantom, it’s tough to come to a conclusion on this matter since Phantom’s pick rate is generally higher in the rest of the regions. 

Read More: How to play VALORANT Fracture map: A Complete Guide

The Final Verdict 

While Phantom and Vandal will have their moments, in general, starting your VALORANT journey with Phantom should be the ideal choice. Except for Long-range encounters and damage rates, Phantom just provides way too many upper hands over the Vandal. Aside from these advantages, Phantom also has a larger magazine, trace-free bullets & better recoil adjustments, making it easier for the players to settle on this gun. 

In conclusion, Phantom’s superiority is still visible in most cases. While Vandal is slowly catching up, it’ll surely take time for Riot to make Vandal an equally worthy pick.  

The post Vandal vs Phantom: Which is the Best Rifle in VALORANT? appeared first on GameRiv.

Sidearms in FPS titles are common as they are the go-to choice for players who are either out of ammo or playing the 1st round of the game. The 1st round is also known as the Pistol round, resembling the Pistol round from CSGO. A pistol round unlocks many potentials for a team. Upon winning the round, a team automatically gains an economic advantage for the next round. 

If utilized correctly, this opportunity can multiply as your opponent’s economy will be in ruin if you win the bonus round as well. Such an advantage can’t be easily obtained since winning the Pistol round is quite difficult due to each sidearm’s short-range and unique traits. Knowing the traits ahead of the round will certainly give you and your team a nice kickstart. 

Read More: Best Ghost Skins in VALORANT: All Skins Ranked from Worst to Best

Best Pistols in VALORANT

In this section, we’ll rank all the available pistols in VALORANT from worst to best.

5. Shorty 

Shorty is considered the weakest in the branch. It’s a semi-automatic shotgun with a 150 Creeds price tag. The Shorty’s strongest feature is its short-range effectiveness. On the contrary, taking long-range fights with the Shorty can mean instant death since it has a low damage rate for anything after the 15-meter mark. 

With all these drawbacks, the Shorty suits just fine in the hands of VALORANT’s one of the most picked agents, Jett. Pros often keep a shorty for short-range encounters in full-buy rounds since the primary weapon is most likely an Operator. 

Besides that, the Shorty is also good for entry-fragging in some particular maps & areas. For example, Jett players in high-elo frequently take control of the Lamps/U-hall area in Bind by using Jett’s Tailwind & Shorty. Similarly, taking control of Split’s A heaven or Vents with a Shorty is a great option for Jett or Raze players. So, Shorty has its own traits & applications. 

4. Frenzy 

Frenzy is the only automatic sidearm available in VALORANT. Costing slightly lesser than the Ghost, Frenzy’s 450 Creed price tag is well justified. Frenzy’s damage rate is low & the range is not sufficient, but the gun can be devastating for your opponents if operated from short ranges.

Considering the gun is Fully-automatic, magazine capacity & reload speed seems decently balanced. 

Initially, Frenzy’s capabilities were highly debated as many Pros often relied on it for the consequential rounds after the Pistol rounds as well. Buying Frenzy is often regarded as buying a miniature Spectre since its full-auto feature is actually dangerous. However, Frenzy is extremely weak and inaccurate at long-range encounters, so southing long-range fights with Frenzy is not recommended. 

Nevertheless, in maps like Split & Icebox, Frenzy can look overpowered in some tight corners & angles.

3. Classic

Also known as the default gun, the Classic is given to each player at the beginning of every round. The Classic has no price tag included, but it can’t be underestimated either. Professional players often use the Default Classic in Pistol rounds, primarily due to it; ‘s highly effective Right-click functionality. 

Apart from its primary fire mode as a semi-automatic sidearm, the Classic can also deliver a 3-round Brust at close range and eliminate pretty much any player. Pros have been debating over this extremely powerful ability of the Classic for a long time, but the presence of this functionality makes Classic a great choice for Pistol Rounds.

2. Sheriff 

As the most expensive sidearm available in VALORANT, the Sheriff is in a category of its own. Sheriff costs about 800 Creeds, and it’s able to score confirmed kills from medium to long distances with ease. However, headshot damage in long-range (30+ meters) is now 145, while short-range headshot damage is 159. So, Sheriff is undoubtedly deadlier in short range. 

There are some drawbacks of this gun as well. For example, the slow fire rate & reload speed can be painful sometimes. Magazine size is also limited to six rounds only since the gun already has heavy damage rates. The Sheriff has the highest wall penetration capability among all the sidearms present in Valornat.

This gun is often considered a great alternative to regular high-damage assault rifles in Semi-buy or eco rounds. Since Sheriff is actually able to deliver precise high-damage shots, it’s an extremely useful gun to pick in uncertain rounds. 

Sheriff’s application doesn’t end here because of the long-range capabilities. Jett players often use this gun as their primary sidearm to finish off heavily damaged enemies. The high-wall penetration feature also attracts a lot of Sova players to pick Sheriff in Semi-buy or eco rounds. Some even consider Sheriff as a better alternative to the Marshal. 

On the contrary, it’s really tough to have a strong grip on the Sheriff. There are many drawbacks of gun as well. Buying Sheriff on the wrong round can severely wound your economy for the next couple of rounds. Also, the high-recoil of the gun is actually hard to control or master. One-shot accuracy is decent, but hitting shots with Sheriff actually requires a lot of practice time in the range.

1.Ghost

Ghost is the de-facto gun in the Pistol round for the majority of the players. Highly effective in short-medium range, the Ghost provides precision, damage & flexibility. With a 15-round magazine, and 105 damage to the head at close range, the Ghost is in a class of its own. Multiple shots can confirm a kill even in long-range, making Ghost the best Pistol in VALORANT.

Unlike the Classic, it has no secondary firing mode. However, a silencer attached to the Ghost makes it more stealthy by reducing the sound profile. Additionally, bullet tracers aren’t visible, making it harder for the enemy to detect you. Buying a Ghost will cost you 500 Creeds, making it a not-so-cheap option for Pistol rounds. 

Even with its 500 Creeds price tag, its popularity & relevancy hasn’t dropped since the launch of VALORANT.

Read More: Best Classic Skins in VALORANT: All Skins Ranked from Worst to Best

Buying the right Pistol at the right moment is more important than mastering one Pistol. Since these pistols have different use cases and traits, it’s difficult to stick to one single preference. On the other hand, playing eco rounds with the relevant sidearm can actually deliver better results than hurriedly buying Stingers or Spectres. 

The post Best Pistols in VALORANT, Ranked appeared first on GameRiv.

Built around defense in mind, Riot made sure Sentinel agents were not going to offer offensive abilities. Sentinel agents in VALORANT often play as the team’s anchor to hold particular map areas. Some agents might have their niche applications, but generally, they are easily the backbones of any team.

VALORANT is all about adaptability. Players who are able to adapt faster will benefit more. All of the agents and metas in VALORANT keep changing due to consistent updates from Riot. Sentinel agents are no exception. So, we dig deeper for you to find the current best pick for Sentinel agents in VALORANT.

Read More: Best Duelist Agents in VALORANT

Best Sentinel Agents Ranked

Sentinels will help your team to hold down a site or be aware of flanks. Here, we will rank the best sentinel agents in VALORANT. Note that this ranking is completely subjective. Every sentinel agent possesses a different set of abilities. Therefore, their function is unique as well. So it is hard to compare them. However, we will rank the initiators based on their pick rate and impact on the current meta.

5. Deadlock

Deadlock is the 5th agent added to the game and the latest right now. Compared to other agents in the same role, Deadlock requires a more aggressive playstyle. Her Sonic Sensor can be used to watch flanks, but it is not as effective as Cypher’s Trapwires or Chamber’s Trademark. Moreover, her Barrier Mesh is similar to Sage’s BARRIER ORB and is more useful in defense. Even though players can’t pass through without breaking, bullets can. She did get some major buffs with patch 8.00. However, she still lacks impact compared to other agents of the same role.

Despite the fact that Deadlock’s ultimate Annihilation might seem game-breaking, players tend to choose other sentinels over her. The reason might be that she can perform as a sentinel, but others can do it better.

4. Sage

Sage is an excellent support agent, but her worth as a Sentinel is highly questionable in some situations. Chamber and Killjoy are able to cause massive damage to the attackers, while Sage’s abilities are strongly defensive so much so that she is often considered as the “Secondary” Sentinel behind Killjoy or Cypher in some cases.

Sage’s healing ability is, beyond any doubt, the best in VALORANT right now & her Barrier Orb is quite effective, but her overall ability to defend sites is no longer something to count on. If you are sure about your team composition, then picking Sage could be a good option, considering that her Ultimate and Healing abilities can still make a huge impact

3. Chamber

Released during the last quarter of 2021, the French-based agent brought some interesting new abilities to the table. VALORANT’s Sentinel saga so has been all about forcing the Duelists to take a step back, but with Chamber, the scenario has changed drastically.

Chamber saw some significant changes in patch 5.12. Before the patch, the French agent was the meta pick for any team combinations. After the patch, his pick rate went down the road, as the updates forced him to change Chamber’s playstyle. However, with the 8.03 patch, Chamber is getting some major buffs to his abilities. While the stats are still not a match to his old days, the French weapon designer should get back to his feet.

2. Killjoy

The German VALORANT agent is packed with effective abilities to stall any team from gaining easy site access. Killjoy’s controversial release made things hard for the developers initially, but after a couple of retouches, Killjoy is a perfect pick for most of the maps in VALORANT.

Her Nanoswarms & Alarmbots are still a lethal combo in 2024. Additionally, Killjoy’s Turret can be a serious pain for the Attackers since it’s hard to bypass. Killjoy’s Turret becomes absolutely indestructible in Pistol and in eco-rounds. In most of the maps, Killjoy is a lethal agent to deal with. Based on your playstyle, Killjoy can be a blessing or a curse since misplaced abilities will act as a dual-edged sword for your team. Since patch 8.0, Killjoy was the untold queen of sentinels in VALORANT. However, with some nerfs, she did lose some of her charisma.

1. Cypher

Cypher’s Tripwire & Cyber Cage are heavily effective against most of the Duelists. Previously, the Agent was inferior in most cases. However, due to the huge buff in the 7.09 patch, Cypher has once again become really powerful. Cypher’s Trapwires are now indestructible without damage instance. Moreover, the stun duration is much quicker than before. His ultimate also got buffed, as it will now still trigger even if the agent dies while casting.

Now, with Cypher’s kits, one can easily shut down any Attackers’ pushes and watch out for flanks pretty clearly. Not to mention, Cypher’s Ultimate can come in pretty handy in clutch situations. All of these, and the recent nerf of Killjoy, have made Cypher the king of sentinels once again.

There you go! This is our ranking of the current VALORANT Sentinel agents.

Picking any Sentinel agent is fine; it all comes down to your skills and preparation. However, playing Chamber, Cypher, or Killjoy could be tricky since you have to learn where to place your abilities to maximize damage on the enemy team. In contrast, Sage and Deadlock is the easier Sentinel agents to play.

Read More: Best Initiator Agents in VALORANT

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Unlike the Duelists, there are six Initiators in VALORANT. Almost every team has one or two dedicated Initiators in their compositions. Whether it’s North America or APAC, the undeniable importance of initiator agents is the same in every region. However, learning to play all six Initiator agents isn’t a viable idea. Instead, we have to settle with one or two agents.

Riot’s intention with VALORANT is sometimes difficult to predict. However, the game is now a far cry from what it used to be in 2020. VALORANT is beginning to take a new shape, thanks to the continuous updates coming from the developers. Similarly, Initiator agents now have more roles to play than before, and many teams now consider the Initiators as backup Duelists.

Read More: Best Sentinel Agents in VALORANT

Best Initiator Agents Ranked

Initiators will help your team to set up plays.Here, we will rank the best initiator agents in VALORANT. Note that, this ranking is completely subjective. Every initiator agent possesses a different set of abilities, therefore, there function is unique as well. So, it is hard to compare them. However, we will rank the initiators based on their pick rate and impact on the current meta.

6.KAY/O

First introduced in Patch 3.0, KAY/O’s journey hasn’t been smooth across the year. Players had mixed feelings about KAY/O’s debut since his abilities presented an entirely new way of playing the game. Initially, multiple teams tried out KAY/O as it was the new meta back then. At best, the results were underwhelming, and teams were more hesitant to have KAY/O in their lineups.

Even on the casual side of the game, players dropped their interest in KAY/O due to his abilities not being ideal for solo games. Due to these reasons, the KAY/O remains last on our list.

5.Fade

Fade is a versatile agent. She can find out enemy like Sova, can also seek and blind enemy just like Skye. Fade’s signature ability, Haunt, is the only one that shows enemy positions, after Sova’s Recon Dirt. Her power covers a small area but can be used as Skye’s Trailblazer to seek out the enemy. Although Fade’s ultimate Nightmare might not be as effective as other initiators, it covers a large space, just like Breach’s Rolling Thunder. In some situations, it can also be useful.

Fade can do many things, but master of none. There are agents that can do what Fade does, being more efficient. That doesn’s mean Fade is incapable by any means. She is still fun to play and on the right hand, can do wonder.

4.Breach

Breach allows Initiator players to be aggressive and fast. His Flashpoint ability is still one of the best entry-pathing tools to allow the team to gain access anywhere. Even though it has seen changes a few time, Flashpoint still offers some unique attributes that are not comparable to other flashes available in VALORANT.

Additionally, Breach’s Aftershock is lethal and effective. Even his Ultimate Rolling Thunder is a devastating ultimate on some maps and proved extremely advantageous in retakes. However, his superiority depends on map; Breach is not suitable for open maps like Breeze. Also Breach’s utility is more effective to set plays rather than using for own. However, with duelists like Raze and ISO rising on the pick rate with their destructive abilities, Breach is also seeing the same being a perfect support.

3.Skye

Skye had her ups and downs throughout multiple patches. Her serving as a second duelist days are long gone. Even after all those nerf Skye stood strong as an effective initiator agent. After all, she is the only one of her kind who can heal and flash at the same time. However, Riot didn’t stop coming with nerfs for this Australian radiant. With recent patch 8.01, Skye got nerfed for both Guiding Light and Seekers. Even though the nerfs are comparatively minor, still plays a role to change how she was played before. Therefore, her pick rate is decreasing now a days.

Skye requires a specific playstyle. Her ability to heal as the only initiator agent always gives her an upper hand. Mastering her ability and learning how to properly play her can be very intimidating and efficient in team compositions.

2.Gekko

Gekko is the last addition to VALORANT’s initiator list. The Agent from the United States was added to the game in the 6.04 patch. What makes Gekko most important is his Wingman and Dizzy. Gekko’s Dizzy unleashes plasma blasts at enemies in line of sight. Enemies hit by her plasma are blinded. On the other hand, Gekko’s Wingman can plant or defuse Spike on its own with a simple command. So, Gekko or his team don’t have to put their lives on the line.

Gekko is different from other agents. He is so colorful and all of his buddies are useful as utilities. He also adds value in different team compositions. Right now, Gekko is probably one of the most fun agents to learn. With the recent buffs, Gekko is now also more effective than before.

1.Sova

Sova is the only initiator agent players get their hands on. However, that doesn’t mean he is less competent by any means. rather the opposite. Sova’s primary ability is the Recon Bolt, which can reveal almost anything within its visible range. Combined with the Shock Bolt, Sova can easily neutralize pre-positioned enemies from common locations. His Owl Drone is also a way of gathering information from long distances.

With some updated patches, Sova has been nerfed quite a bit. His Owl Drone and Recon Dirt both only scan for two ticks. Additionally, his Shock Dirt now does less damage. Despite all these, Sova still holds his throne in the initiator role. If you care to learn some lineups and basic mechanics, Sova is an incredible agent who will surely help you win matches.

There you go! That is our initiator rank list for VALORANT.

VALORANT’s gameplay is bound to shift with the release of each update. So, keeping up with emerging meta’s is a crucial & time-consuming task. No matter what Initiator agent you choose, adaptability is the most important skill you’ll need in VALORANT.

Read More: Best VALORANT Agents for Split

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All competitive shooters have some sort of credential cycles & limits. Similarly, VALORANT also has a limit on how much money each player can have after a certain round. Such mechanics force players to become more cautious about their weapons. In VALORANT, the in-game currency is called “Creds.”

Riot intended to make VALORANT a well-balanced FPS title that could offer an alternative to all popular titles. That’s why the economic system in VALORANT works similarly to CSGO. Players familiar with these games will have little to no issue adjusting to VALORANT’s economic cycle.

Read More: How to make accurate callouts in VALORANT

Types of Eco in VALORANT 

• Full-Buy 
• Half-Buy (Eco)
• Semi-Buy
• Default-Buy 

Full-Buy

Full-buy is sensible when the entire team has sufficient money to buy weapons for the current & upcoming rounds. Even if one player is lacing funds, it’s best not to go for a full buy. In this way, the team will have enough “Credits” left to have a balanced buy for the next round.   

Half-buy 

When the team runs out of creds to last through 2 consecutive rounds, it’s best to call for a half-buy or eco-round. In classic terms, players are instructed to buy the bare minimum whilst saving enough for a full-buy next round. A successful half-buy can restore the economy & pave the way for a possible round-winning streak. 

Semi-Buy

Semi-buy doesn’t frequently occur since it’s challenging to make this decision for an IGL. Usually, a semi-buy is a risky move that could damage the team’s economy for multiple rounds. It could also be rewarding, but the stakes remain high during a semi-buy. 

Default-Buy  

Default buy offers a level playing field for both teams. Only in two instances do we get a default buy, one during the start of the game & the other during half-time. All players get 800 creds to start with, so it becomes impossible to buy anything other than Pistols & some abilities, although winning these rounds grants a smoother ride on the consequent rounds.

Best Eco-Round Weapons

1. Marshal

In VALORANT, the Marshal is a budget version of the Operator. It costs only 950 Creds, but the weapon can deliver devasting blows on eco-rounds. The Marshal can give a 202 Headshot damage from a maximum distance of 50 meters, making it a really effective killing machine. Additionally, Marshal allows for a greater movement ability while firing.

2. Sheriff

The Sheriff is the most powerful handgun in VALORANT. Whilst being controversial, the Sheriff has always been a weapon of choice for the Pros during competitive matches. The Sherrif can deliver 159 Damage in 1 headshot in close range, resulting in instant elimination of the enemy. However, if the range is above 30 meters, then it will take two headshots or Multiple body shots.

3. Spectre

VALORANT has two weapons in the Sub-Machine Gun category, and the Spectre is one of them. Spectre is a weapon for the fast-movers. If you have an excellent grip on the movement mechanics in VALORANT, the Spectre will surprise you in dire situations. Specter costs only 1600 Creds & has a pretty good range too, making it a perfect gun for eco-rounds.

4. Ghost

Ghost is definitely the de-facto gun of the Pistol rounds. It allows the players to purchase a good amount of utilities too. Considering the wide variety of applications of the Ghost, it’s a perfect gun for eco-rounds too. The Ghost costs 500 Creds and has very low-profile characteristics. Buying a Ghost in eco-rounds will ensure a good winning potential.

5. Bulldog

The Bulldog is a notorious weapon among a very specific group of people and has some really effective niche applications.

Although it’s 500 Creds more expensive than the Spectre, the Bulldog offers some serious features like three-round burst & long-range. If you plan to use the Bulldog beyond eco-rounds or Bonus rounds, then purchasing this gun will be a worthy decision.

6. Stinger

Before Patch 3.0, the Stinger used to be a headache for many VALORANT players. Due to it’s accuracy while sprinting, The Stinger would grant instant kills in strange ways. However, the gun is a lot more balanced now & it costs 950 Credits. Walking & Running accuracy is much lower now, but the Stinger still has effective close-range usages.

7. Frenzy

If you know how to use it, the Frenzy is a bang-for-the-buck weapon. It’s an Automatic Pistol that costs only 450 Credits. However, the Frenzy is extremely dangerous in close ranges. Additionally, this handgun is useful in maps like Split or Fracture. Frenzy’s damage rate is low, but the automatic rate of fire makes up for it.

8. Shorty

If you’re playing Jett or Raze on the defender’s side, it’s a wise investment to buy a Shorty. Considering that you’ll be waiting for your enemies to come, the Shorty can deliver heavy blows to the attackers. In some scenarios, buying a shorty offers a low-risk, low-reward situation, so it’s a relatively better investment than the Frenzy.

Read More: 5 VALORANT agents that need buffs

Eco-rounds can be a turning point for the rest of the match if planned properly. There are countless examples of Pro teams making comebacks initiated from carefully executed eco-rounds. Besides that, winning an eco-round also boosts the morale of the players. Economy management in VALORANT is just as important as developing other skills in the game.

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North America houses some of the most prestigious teams like Sentinels, 100 & Optic. The presence of such high-budget & reputed teams makes it harder for underdog teams to climb up the ladder. However, it seems that the Guard has been able to overcome such odds quite comfortably. 

Read More: VALORANT Patch Notes 4.05 PBE: Toxicity in Voice Chat, Auto-Generated Crosshair Customization, & More

The Guard 

After defeating 100T with a 13-0 scoreline, this relatively low-profile team appeared on everyone’s radar.  Previously, they have beaten teams like LG & XSET during the Open Qualifiers of NA Stage 1 Challengers. Such victories are bound to grab the attention of the VALORANT community & the analysts. 

Did the team appear out of nowhere? No. In fact, they have been dominating the Tier-2 scene since the start of 2022. On their way towards the spotlight, The Guard has defeated some underrated teams like SoaR, Resonate & Team Volted, etc. 

During the NSG Winter Championship: Open 14 tournament, the Guard revealed their true potential. Analysts could predict just how much more the team was capable of. They have managed to grab the Championship title with a remarkable show of performance. 

Presumably, their performance in the Challenger series silenced the critics. Currently, they are playing the Group Stage of the NA Stage 1 Challengers & surprisingly, they are yet to take a loss. Standing on top of the group, the Guard is seemingly becoming a powerhouse of North America. 

The Guard Roster

• valyn 
• JonahP
• Sayaplayer
• trent
• neT

Read More: Best Weapons for Eco Round in VALORANT 2022

It’s obvious that the team’s actual goal is to secure a seat for the Masters 1 in April. Even though the team is having a cinderella run, the pressure will definitely barge in once they are on the Main Event of Challengers 1. With that said, pros & analysts will be closely observing the Guard’s approach to deal with such pressure.

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After a disappointing 13-0 loss on Ascent against The Guard during the NA Stage 1 Challengers Group Stage, 100T have dropped ec1s & BabyJ from the active roster. Immediately, Bang & JcStani were named as replacements for the team. During an ongoing VCT event, such changes shocked the entire North American VAORANT community.

Read More: How to make accurate callouts in VALORANT

On January 18th, 100T revealed their new roster ahead of the Stage 1 Challengers. The departure of Nitro & Steel made it difficult for 100T to develop a solid replacement plan. However, the new 100T roster with Hiko, Asuna, Ethan, ec1s & BabyJ looked promising. Unforntuenly, 100T didn’t get the fresh start they needed.

NA Stage 1 Challengers Group Stage has been disappointing for 100T. In their inaugural match against Cloud9, 100T fell behind with a 2-0 scoreline. Further complications arrived when the team lost to The Guard, a relatively lesser-known team in the NA VALORANT scene. Upsets in VALORANT are common, but failing with a 13-0 scoreline proved to be a disaster.

After taking such a hectic loss, Nadeshot, the CEO of 100T, shared his view on the situation. He summarized the situation in one word, “unacceptable.” Consequently, the team took some heavy blows on social media from the critics. Apparently, 100T didn’t let it slide that easily.

Read More: 5 VALORANT agents that need buffs in 2022

Bang & JcStani will be replacing the deportees. Both of these players have a notorious reputation in the NA VALORANT scene. Bang’s potential & JcStani’s experience from the Immortals can provide 100T with precisely what they need right now. However, the decision to make a monumental roster change is still questionable since 100T will face teams like XSET, LG & Evil Genuiesses in the upcoming matches.

100T will play their next match on February 28th against LG. The future looks uncertain for the team as the newcomers will need time to settle. It’s not clear whether the recent change is a long-term solution or just a bandage on the wound.

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Riot’s venture into the world of FPS began with VALORANT in 2020. The game has been in development for years, supposedly since 2014. VALORANT’s gameplay provides a taste of CSGO & Overwatch combined. It doesn’t matter whatever form it has; the game still falls under the competitive FPS category. 

Competitive FPS titles are the hardest of their kind. Unlike Battle Royale, where luck plays a considerable part, competitive shooters are all about tactics, timing, aim & callouts. Some players are reluctant to give any attention to developing their communication skills. Conseuqneclty, they fall behind others who are willing to do the opposite. 

Read More: 5 VALORANT agents that need buffs in 2022

Good Callout Vs. Bad Callout

Good communication means short, readable & clear callouts. To callout effectively, you need to understand the basics of the game. You say what you see; it’s as simple as that. However, if you aim to reach the higher ranks of VALORANT, you might have to reconsider such approaches to callouts. 

When calling out anything, it’s best to maintain order. Sorting the information in an orderly manner is essential before relaying it to others. An example of a well-sorted call would be, “One B long, low HP, with Vandal” instead of “One enemy low Hp with AWP at B Long.” Although it sounds similar, there is a vast difference.

In the first call, your teammates get to know the most crucial information which is the location of the enemy. Afterward, they come to know the health & threat level of the enemy. Thus, your teammate will be able to paint a picture of the situation before reacting to the information.

To put it simply, it’s not smart to prioritize the health status of the enemy before revealing his location to your teammates. Such information holds no value for the team since they are unaware of who is with low health or where. Similarly, there are other instances where the priority could be different.

Smart Callout Visluaized

Information Filter & Priority

Anything except for helpful information should be filtered out. Only the things that are relevant to the situation are practical. VALORANT players often waste their pre-round timeout by talking about the previous round instead of preparing for the upcoming round. Hence, they start planning for the round after it begins, resulting in a weak execution & miscommunications.

As discussed above, priorities should be answering some questions that start with where, what, & when. Remembering these simple tactics will make your callouts better. Smooth callout also means less distraction & zero criticism in-game. Players often start to criticize other players in-game, bringing distraction & disorder to the team.

Criticism is vital for improving any FPS title, but performing this in a live round is the worst idea. Excessive criticism also leads to a blaming loop where every player starts to blame each other instead of seeking a solution. Such white noises only make it harder for everyone to concentrate in the game.

Read More: Best VALORANT Callouts to Improve Gameplay

Maintaining clear communication is necessary to rank up in VALORANT. The only way to improve communications is to speak up. VALORANT has a solid VoIP system that enables players to communicate with each other. So, instead of relying on other VoIP platforms, it’s even easier to callout in VALORANT.

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