Best Agents For Every VALORANT Map

Picking the right agent for each map in VALORANT is crucial – it can be the difference between a solid win or a frustrating loss. Each map has different characteristics, meaning they play to different strengths. Some maps reward mobility, while others require precise utility usage to break into sites. If you’re unsure of which agents to pick on VALORANT maps, here’s a complete guide to the best picks for every map.

Best Agents on Ascent

Ascent is known for its highly contestable Mid area and is widely regarded as one of the most defender-sided maps in the pool. This means attackers must use intel gathering and utility to succeed.

Best Duelists for Ascent

• Jett: Her dash and updraft combo make her a nightmare on defense, as there are a lot of elevated positions she can use as off-angles. She is also potent when holding A Main or Mid with an Operator. Jett can thrive on the attack with her smokes and aggressive entry potential.
• Yoru: Yoru’s Gatecrash is perfect for quick fakes or surprise site pivots on defense, while his ultimate is great for scouting and clearing utility setups before the bomb site execution.

Best Initiators for Ascent

• Sova: Ascent is one of Sova’s strongest maps. The open ceiling allows him to shoot recon dart lineups and post-plant Shock Darts. His drone is also vital for clearing close corners like Tree or Generator.
• KAY/O: His suppression knife offers lots of value to gather early-round info. It can be thrown to scout out both A and B Main with ease. His molly can delay defuses, and his flash is great for clearing Dice or Hell.

Best Controllers for Ascent

• Omen: Similar to Jett, Omen’s teleport allows him to make use of creative off-angles to catch enemies off guard. Paranoia is also great for clearing common gold angles such as Hell.
• Astra: Astra can set up a highly effective double-star trap on A and B Main in the tight areas. She also excels in post-plant situations with her Stun and Gravel. Overall, her global utility fits Ascent’s layout perfectly.

Best Sentinels for Ascent

• Killjoy: Killjoy is hands-down the best Sentinel agent on Ascent. She has excellent turret angles, and her Lockdown can guarantee site control and secure an attacking round on such a defensive-sided map.

Best Agents on Haven

With three bomb sites in play, rotations and flank control are critical when playing on Haven. It’s easy to overwhelm one site but equally easy to get caught in long rotations.

Best Duelists for Haven

• Jett: Jett’s Operator potential is unmatched here when holding spots such as C Long or A Main on defense. Her dash makes her potent for entering bomb sites aggressively. She can also jump over Cypher trips.
• Neon: Her speed is perfect for the fast rotations Haven demands on both sites. She can entry quickly and clear pesky corners with her stuns. She also excels in close-range fights near Garage or B.
• Yoru: His Gatecrash opens creative site swaps and pivots, and his ultimate can scout Cypher setups or secure free map control. On defense, he can also teleport to rotate quickly.

Best Initiators for Haven

• Sova: Strong recon dart lineups for A and Garage help his team gain early map control on the offense. Shock Darts are also great for clearing out common Cypher traps.
• Gekko: Wingman shines on B Site plants, and Dizzy is great for retaking tight areas like Garage or C Site.
• Fade: Her Haunt and Prowlers thrive in clearing tight spaces like Garage or A Short, while Seize can be useful in stopping site rushes on the tight corridors.

Best Controllers for Haven

• Omen: Shrouded Step gives Omen vertical repositioning on A or B, and Paranoia is ideal for clearing lone lines on C Long or A Short.

Best Sentinels for Haven

• Cypher: An elite-level pick on Haven – C Site becomes almost unpushable with tripwires, and Cypher can also have Cams watching Mid to give his team crucial info.
• Killjoy: Her turret stops flanks, and her Lockdown helps reclaim or stall. Alarm Bots are also amazing for scouting out flankers.

Best Agents on Icebox

Icebox has numerous narrow choke points and layered plant zones that reward high-mobility agents. Post-plant setups are also powerful on this map.

Best Duelists for Icebox

• Jett: She thrives in vertical fights on A Pipes and B Yellow, making her ideal to take early duels. With the map being relatively big, picking up an Operator is also great on Jett.
• Iso: Double Tap gives Iso time to react as there are many angles to clear on Icebox. His ult forces isolated 1v1s and is powerful for picking off anchors.
• Reyna: Though she isn’t too potent in the meta, Reyna is a strong pick for aggressive defenders, as she thrives in Icebox’s off-angles and chokepoints. Her Dismiss lets her take a kill and escape with ease.

Best Initiators for Icebox

• Gekko: Wingman is great for planting safely on the B Site, and Dizzy can clear elevated angles before the team advances. His utility fits Icebox’s cramped angles really well.
• Sova: Icebox is one of Sova’s best maps. He can drone out Operator players, and his ultimate can be used to destroy Killjoy’s Ultimate, as she is great on this map.

Best Controllers for Icebox

• Viper: The most essential agent on Icebox is Viper. Her Toxic Screen can split the large sites on the map and create safe plants. Her Viper’s Pit can solo hold post-plants or retake sites.

Best Sentinels for Icebox

• Killjoy: Holds Mid with her turret very effectively and dominates both sites with her Lockdown. Without counter-utility, her ult is nearly unbeatable on this map.

Best Agents on Lotus

Lotus is another three-sited map with rotating doors and multiple flank paths. Map-wide control can be difficult due to the many corridors, so agents with speed and multi-site potential are key.

Best Duelists for Lotus

• Raze: She can control A Rubble with her Paint Shells at the start of rounds and can use Satchels to quickly enter sites or disrupt anchor players.
• Neon: Her stun and speed let her contest high-traffic areas like A Main quickly, and she’s great for fast rotates between the three sites.

Best Initiators for Lotus

• Fade: Seize, Haint, and Prowlers are perfect for giving info on Rubble and Main. She thrives in the tight areas of Lotus.
• Breach: Breach’s stuns can deny pushes or set up retakes, as he can cover most areas on bomb sites. His ultimate is especially powerful for controlling A or B.

Best Controllers for Lotus

• Omen: Omen has great smokes and flashes for tight chokes like A Tree. His teleport helps access high-ground angles like the entrances on the C site.
• Astra: She can control B and C from safe positions, and her Gravity Well and stun slow combinations are great for fast site hits.

Best Sentinels for Lotus

• Vyse: Vyse acts as an amazing anchor on the C Site. Her Wall can cut off entries, and she can use her flashes to delay pushes or rotations.

Best Agents on Pearl

Pearl is filled with open lanes and tight corners. The many chokepoints on the map make it crucial to clear angles carefully, so agents with recon, entry utility, and post-plant stall are valuable.

Best Duelists for Pearl

• Yoru: Pearl favors deception and fast repositioning, which Yoru and his Gatecrash do very well. He can create flanks, and his flashes allow early picks in Mid or Halls.
• Neon: She can aggressively pressure B Long or Art early into rounds, and her speed helps win map control and rotate very quickly despite the long paths.
• Raze: Her Boom Bot is excellent for clearing A Main and Art, and her Satchels can disrupt plants or bust onto the site.
• Jett: Great Operator options on B Long, and her dash allows her to reposition after opening duels.

Best Initiators for Pearl

• Fade: Fade is potent at clearing Operator angles in B Long, and her Haunt and Prowler abilities fit Pearl’s structure well. She also has a lot of Haunt lineups available.
• Sova: Drone is great for clearing B or A Long for Operators. Sova’s ultimate thrives in post-plants due to the long sightlines and safe casting positions.

Best Controllers for Pearl

• Astra: Astra’s Dissipate allows for safe B Long crosses, and her Ultimate is amazing for slicing sites or stopping retakes. She is a top-tier pick on this map.

Best Sentinels for Pearl

• Killjoy: Killjoy is strong at watching Mid lurks with her turret and can deny key flanks in Art of Link, making her a strong defender.
• Vyse: Great at anchoring B Site. Her Wall prevents entry, and flashes make rotations difficult for enemies.

Best Agents on Split

Split is notoriously known for its tight corridors and very hard chokepoints. Fast execute comps with good flashes and utility thrive, while defenders benefit from agents who can stall or anchor.

Best Duelists for Split

• Raze: Her Satchels let her scale up fast and take early control of key areas on the map. Her grenade is ideal for clearing Cypher setups. Split’s verticality also suits her explosive entry style.
• Yoru: His Gatecrash can help control A Ramp or fake pressure B while also rotating quickly on defense. His kit is excellent for surprising defenders and winning early duels.

Best Initiators for Split

• Breach: His stuns are ideal for breaking through the A or B Site quickly. He enables quick executions and also counters defensive setups relatively well. His Ultimate is amazing or retaking sites.
• Gekko: Wingman allows site plants easily, while Dizzy is focused on clearing close angles. Overall, Gekko is valuable for aggressive pushes.
• Skye: Her flash angles work very well on Split, as her hawk can give very useful info. Her dog is also great for clearing the B Site and Ropes, giving her team early map control.

Best Controllers for Split

• Astra: Astra’s stars on A Main and Heaven can control defenders very well. Gravity Wells also disrupt defenders who are hiding in default spots. Also great for post-plants, especially on the B Site.
• Omen: His smokes allow for varied pacing that keeps enemies guessing. His teleport lets him lurk or retake from vertical spots like Heaven or Screens.

Best Sentinels for Split

• Cypher: Cypher has strong trip setups on the A Site, and his camera can provide lots of vision on Mid or B Lurks.

Best Agents on Sunset

Sunset features a very wide Mid, rewarding teams that can control the area and coordinate slow pushes or quick site bursts. Generally, balanced and flexible team comps are particularly effective.

Best Duelists for Sunset

• Phoenix: Sunset is a map with lots of corners, which Phoenix’s flashes thrive on. His wall lets him scale into bomb sites and isolate angles despite his lack of mobility.
• Raze: Her mobility from Satchels allows her to enter sites quickly. Paint Shells can also be very handy for clearing utility like Cypher trips, especially on the B Site.
• Neon: Like Raze, Neon’s speed helps her win space very quickly. Her wall lets her cross sightlines cleanly during site takes on both A and B.

Best Initiators for Sunset

• Fade: Haunt is great for revealing defenders on-site or in Mid. Fade thrives in Sunset’s small and tight corners with her utility.
• Breach: His stuns and flashes are great for A or B Main early control, and his Ultimate is excellent for retaking both bomb sites.

Best Controllers for Sunset

• Omen: Paranoia is great for clearing multiple angles on site takes, and there are many decent lineups for it. His teleport helps him reposition between Mid and B efficiently.
• Brimstone: His long smoke duration is strong for post-plants or stalling pushes. Stim Beacon also helps for Mid control, and he has his Ultimate and Molotov for post-plants.

Best Sentinels for Sunset

• Cypher: Sunset’s long flanks benefit from Cypher’s strong trip coverage. His camera can scout Mid and keep track of rotations. He has very strong trip setups on the B Site.