The VALORANT meta is constantly shifting with each update, as professionals and casuals are constantly redefining which agents dominate the game. With 28 agents in play, it can be tough to decide who’s worth picking, especially if you want to climb the ranks.
To help you out, we’ve created a definitive VALORANT agent tier list based on the pro meta, ranked viability, and recent balance updates. Here’s how we ranked them.
Complete VALORANT Agent Tier List
Before diving deeper into each agent, here’s a snapshot of where every agent stands in the current meta.
| Tier | Agents |
| S | Omen, Viper, Yoru, Vyse, Sova |
| A | Fade, Killjoy, Cypher, Neon, KAY/O, Clove, Raze |
| B | Jett, Sage, Gekko, Astra, Deadlock, Breach |
| C | Reyna, Brimstone, Phoenix, Tejo, Iso, Waylay |
| D | Harbor, Chamber, Skye |
S-Tier
Agents in the S-Tier category are currently at the top of the food chain. They’re not just strong – they’re shaping how the game is played, especially at the highest level.
Omen
Omen continues to be one of the most flexible controllers in the game. He has rechargeable smokes, one-way setups, and a valuable Paranoia for site entries that make him a staple pick. Unlike other agents, Omen has no clear weakness. He can play aggressively, defensively, and anything in between. Combine him with another controller like Viper, and you’ve got a deadly setup.
Viper
Viper has quickly re-established herself as one of the most popular picks in the meta. Her utility offers both site control and post-plant strength – everything you’re looking for in a controller. Snake Bite lineups remain brutal, even though she only has one now, and her wall creates map-wide pressure. Similar to Omen, Viper thrives in double-controller comps.
Yoru
Yoru has risen from a meme pick to one of the strongest duelists in the game. Thanks to pro players like something and kaajak showcasing their potential, Yoru is now a top pick on maps like Haven. His Dimensional Drift is one of the most broken abilities in the game, allowing him safe recon or complex executes. In the right hands, Yoru is borderline broken.
Vyse
Vyse might be the newest sentinel on the VALORANT agent lineup, but she’s already one of the most reliable picks. Unlike Killjoy or Cypher, who rely on static setups, Vyse offers active control with Razorvine and Arc Rose. Her Steel Garden is an incredibly impactful ultimate that can stall pushes or take over sites. She’s a flexible pick that can control the tempo of any round.
Sova
With Tejo’s short-lived rise ending, Sova remains the king of information. His Recon Bolt and Owl Drone are amazing tools to provide safe intel, and his Shock Darts make post-plants easier to play. Hunter’s Fury is a round-changer, allowing him to get a free pick anywhere on the map. He remains the go-to initiator on most maps in the VALORANT map pool.
A-Tier
These agents might not always define the meta, but they’re incredibly effective and work well in most team compositions.
Fade
If Sova is not appropriate for the map, Fade becomes the next best option. Her Haunt provides quick info, while Seize can punish enemies hiding in common angles. Nightfall remains one of the best abilities for site hits and retakes. Fade also enables combo plays with agents like Raze, and overall rewards smart timing and good coordination.
Killjoy
Killjoy might not be as oppressive as she once was, but her toolkit remains incredibly solid. Her Turret and Alarmbot give early warnings, and Nanoswarms are still one of the best abilities for anchoring or post-plant control. She’s straightforward to use, and her Lockdown ultimate is still such a powerful tool.
Cypher
While he’s starting to get overshadowed by Vyse in professional play, Cypher is still a great pick in most maps and ranked gameplay. His setups offer unmatched flank control, and his tripwires often force enemies to waste utility to clear. Neural Theft gives valuable information, and good Cypher players can abuse one-way cages for easy frags.
Neon
Neon offers something no other duelist can – sheer speed. She excels in fast executes, quick rotations, and fake plays. Her Relay Bolts help clear close angles easily, and her ultimate makes any buy threatening. Despite some nerfs to her slide, professional players have demonstrated that Neon remains viable when used strategically.
KAY/O
Suppression is a huge counter to setup-heavy agents like Killjoy and Vyse, making KAY/O an optional pick on most maps. His flashbangs and zero-point blade make entering sites easier, and his ultimate, Null/CMD, shuts down utility and turns chaotic fights in your favor. While he may not be as flashy as some agents, you can still feel his presence every round.
Clove
Clove is gaining popularity for her post-death utility and potential to become a secondary duelist. They work great in compositions that ask for flexibility and allow second chances during fights. While they aren’t a staple in pro play just yet, Clove is a rising star and a perfect pick for ranked matches, especially for newer players.
Raze
If you can associate a word with Raze, it’d be “explosive.” Her movement abilities enable unmatched entries, while Paint Shells and Boom Bot are excellent abilities to force defenders out of hiding. She’s exceptional on multiple maps, and players like Jingg have proven she can single-handedly break defensive setups.
B-Tier
B-Tier agents can work well depending on the map, composition, or individual skill. They’re just not always ideal.
Jett
Once the face of VALORANT, Jett has taken quite a step back from the meta. She’s still a viable Operator carrier and excels in high-skill lobbies, but other duelists like Raze, Neon, and Yoru offer more impact. Her dash nerfs have made her harder to justify, though her ceiling remains high.
Sage
Sage isn’t a meta pick anymore, but her wall and healing still land her on several lineups. She’s potent on Icebox for her wall, and still has value on Sunset. Her kit rewards strong positioning and creative wall placements, but isn’t the greatest pick out there anymore.
Gekko
Gekko offers decent utility and excels in post-plant scenarios with his mollies and Wingman interactions. While he’s not as common in pro play, he still thrives on maps like Bind and Icebox. His flash is serviceable, and Dizzy gives good info. Overall, a decent pick – just not the best.
Astra
Astra is still a powerful global controller, but her complex mechanic makes less experienced players stray away from her. Her utility can control space like no other, with Gravity Well and Nova Pulse remaining as powerful tools. However, she’s harder to coordinate in ranked, and her pick rate has declined since Omen and Viper rose in the ranks.
Deadlock
Deadlock is gaining traction, especially among players who love utility-based setups. Her Gravnet and Sonic Sensor are ideal for denying fast entries, but she lacks the flexibility of Killjoy or Vyse. Still, her ultimate works great during chaotic duels.
Breach
Breach can be an effective pick with a coordinated team, and is often seen in professional matches. His flashes and stuns are powerful in executes, but the setup time and lack of versatility hold him back from being one of the best initiators.
C-Tier
The C-Tier is for niche picks that have limited use or are currently outclassed by others in their role. However, they may excel on specific maps.
Reyna
Reyna is the solo queue queen. Her self-sustain and fragging potential make her popular in ranked, but she lacks team utility. In coordinated play, such as professional matches, she falls off unless the player is completely fragging out. Still, if you’re confident in your aim, you can make Reyna work.
Brimstone
Brimstone offers a molly and quick smokes, which are helpful, but he’s very limited compared to Omen or Viper. His smokes don’t recharge, but he’s still decent on maps like Bind. His lack of mobility holds him back in the current meta.
Phoenix
Phoenix has fallen off hard since his initial release. He’s still decent in ranked for aggressive fraggers, but his utility gets outclassed by almost every other duelist agent. He is still picked in several professional compositions, but he hasn’t had the most success in recent years.
Tejo
Once the hottest initiator in pro play, Tejo has been nerfed to the ground. His recon and abilities were too strong, but now he feels super clunky and underpowered. Tejo will need some fine tuning before he becomes relevant again.
Iso
Iso has moments of brilliance, especially in 1v1 scenarios, but struggles to consistently find value. He works well on maps like Haven, but his utility is limited in team play. If you’re not popping off on Iso, you may feel like you’re not contributing much to the team. There are simply better duelists to pick from right now.
Waylay
Waylay is the newest VALORANT agent, and she does have some neat tricks in her kit. But her overall impact is too inconsistent. Sure, she can dash into sites, but she lacks the ability to protect herself from being tracked and killed off immediately.
D-Tier
In the lowest tier, these agents are either underpowered or have been pushed out of the meta entirely.
Harbor
Harbor has struggled since launch. His water-based utility looks great on paper, but he lacks the immediate impact that controllers like Omen or Viper bring to the table. Unless he gets major buffs, he’ll remain at the bottom of the food chain.
Chamber
Once the most potent agent in the game, Chamber has received repeated nerfs and is rarely seen in the pro scene. His kit lacks the punch it once had, and his pick rate has plummeted. Other sentinels simply offer more consistent value with their abilities, and unless you’re hitting every headshot, Chamber feels very underwhelming.
Skye
Skye just doesn’t cut it anymore. KAY/O and Breach easily outclass her flashes, and her healing doesn’t bring enough to the table to make up for it. Initiators like Sova and Fade provide more reliable information, putting Skye down in the dumps.
