Best and worst VALORANT agents for each map

Riot Games’ tactical shooter VALORANT has so many agents to choose from, each one with their own unique abilities and synergy. The seven maps in the game add another dimension to this choice, encouraging players to use various skills to find success.

When you’re just starting the game, it can be tough to figure out which agents work the best on which maps. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered. If you’re looking for details about which agents are the most effective in your specific rank, check out agent stats on Blitz.gg. You’ll be able to filter agent picks by both map and rank to see what your teammates are succeeding on.

Best VALORANT agents on Ascent

Ascent is a standard two-site map with three entry routes. The B site side of the map offers access through one small room, often resulting in the defending team keeping watch as the attackers push forward to get onto the site. A Site includes two long straights that connect onto the site and will see players take a slower approach to that of the B site. In the middle of the two sites, there is a third route that is a completely open middle section of the map, connecting to both sites. This middle section is a key area of control on Ascent.

KAY/O

VALORANT’s robot initiator is a great choice on Ascent and has become a staple in the standard composition used by players at the very highest level. This map plays easier when you utilize a double initiator composition, and KAY/O’s information and flashes allow him to play the more aggressive role. If you’re used to playing Phoenix, for example, trying KAY/O out might be advantageous to your team. Just be mindful that his flashes utilize a different mechanic than any other initiator in the game—similar to fashes in Counter-Strike—so they may take time to get used to.

Sova

Sova’s bounceable Recon Dart doesn’t get any harder to counter than on the paper-thin Ascent map. He’s the best primary initiator to pick on this map, and if you can pair him with a KAY/O, you’ll be able to easily take either site or even control of the middle of the map. VCT champion Corbin “C0M” Lee has re-popularized the usage of Sova on Ascent in 2023.

Omen

With two rechargeable smokes, a potent near-sighting ability, and both short and long-range teleporting powers, Omen’s versatility on Ascent has been well-established since VALORANT’s release. While Astra’s also a great pick, nothing can beat the value Omen’s Dark Cover and his ability to keep enemies on their toes with his teleports can bring on Ascent.

Killjoy

Want to ‘Lock Down’ Ascent’s B Site on defense? Killjoy’s Nanoswarms and Alarm Bot, coupled with an annoying Turret placement, is your best bet. The German engineer is phenomenal at anchoring sites and is a great pick on almost all maps currently in rotation. Yet, her best site in the entire game might just be Ascent B Site.

Worst VALORANT agents on Ascent

Yoru

Yoru is particularly disliked due to his difficult hit-or-miss kit. Ascent’s defense-heavy features require players to be in sync, but Yoru’s abilities are based greatly on independent execution. He can flash and teleport into a site, but his teammates may not get the opportunity to trade him. There aren’t many safe spots to Gatecrash into on Ascent, so he’s not a worthwhile pick on the floating island.

Skye

Both KAY/O and Sova are better choices as initiators on Ascent than Skye. With her recent nerf in patch 8.01, Skye’s Guiding Light flashes are much less effective and don’t offer the same flexibility or info-gathering that both KAY/O and Sova can bring. In addition, with Ascent’s long sightlines, Skye’s Trailblazer dog gets very little value.

Harbor

The range of Harbor’s kit makes it very difficult for him to place his utility helpfully on Ascent. His smokes and walls are not flexible enough on a map like this where rotation between several areas is the norm. Not to mention, he is the agent with the worst win rate on Ascent in Episode Seven, Act Two, according to Blitz.gg. With no changes being made to his kit since then, there are much better agents to choose from.

Best VALORANT agents on Bind

After being removed for two competitive Acts, Bind returned to the rotation a bit more favorably to attackers, although defenders continue to enjoy some of its iconic closely-spaced areas. To tackle its quirks on both sides, you’ll need a flexible and aggressive comp that can effectively enter sites with little or no casualties and play post-plant or retakes.

Raze

Raze’s bomb-heavy kit is perfect for closely-spaced maps like Bind, allowing her to deal catastrophic damage to enemies on attack or defense. When used efficiently, her Blast Packs offer excellent mobility, allowing Raze to enter sites and create crucial space. Though you can play whichever duelist you feel most comfortable on, Raze’s utility makes Bind her personal playground. Despite Episode Seven nerfs to her Boombot and Satchels, Bind is one of the only maps left where Raze shines as brightly as ever.

Brimstone

The founder of VALORANT Protocol, Brimstone has much to offer on Bind, with swiftly deployable Sky Smokes, a handy Stim Beacon offering combat support, a potent Molotov, and a colossal, deadly laser beam. He can be paired with a Viper or Harbor for a strong double controller comp or played as a solo smoker on the team since he has three long-lasting smokes—just don’t deploy them all at once.

Sage

Sage’s Barrier Orb makes up for the lack of other defensive utility in her kit. Her wall is excellent on Bind, allowing the team to go for a safe Spike plant or stop an aggressive push through the map’s narrow chokepoints. Her Slow Orb can be combined with deterrent utilities like Brimstone’s Incendiary or Raze’s Paint Shell grenade to deal lethal damage or even secure a kill.

Worst VALORANT agents on Bind

Neon

Neon is not necessarily bad on Bind, but you have much better options in the form of Raze, Jett, and even Reyna, who can create space more effectively and get the team the entry they deserve. Neon’s kit is odd for Bind’s features; there are a lot of barriers and closely packed spaces that hinder movement, which is detrimental to her abilities.

Astra

Astra is known as an agent for only those with the biggest brains, and unfortunately, no matter how large your brain is, it’s hard to get value out of her on Bind. Though her abilities can get value when perfectly placed and timed in a narrow chokepoint, actually landing them with the right information at the right time is so difficult that many people will get more value out of virtually any other controller.

Best VALORANT agents on Icebox

Icebox has returned with Episode Eight after nearly all of 2023 out of the competitive rotation. With some changes that make the map more open and less condensed, we have a new set of agents that we think will succeed across the ice and snow.

Viper

Viper was always a great choice for Icebox, but now that the map has even more open areas, her wall and Poison Orb get even more value. Her Toxic Screen can stretch across either A or B site to divide the area into smaller, more digestible areas for your team to take control of. In addition, both sites have excellent opportunities for Viper to line up her Snake Bites to delay a spike plant or diffuse.

Jett

Though Jett shines through as a top choice on almost all of VALORANT’s maps, she particularly stands out as the best choice for a duelist on Icebox. The main reason Jett is so effective here is because she can capitalize on the map’s verticality, propelling herself into sneaky places that other agents just can’t reach. Her speed also enables her to quickly cross and close gaps to reach her enemies.

Sage

Icebox has a few very narrow chokepoints that can only be avoided by utilizing verticality to get around them (see: Jett). But for agents without an updraft or teleport, a well-placed Radianite Sage wall can render one area of the map completely useless. Build a wall in mid, in the tunnel towards Kitchen, or even in the narrow choke on A site to reroute your enemies.

Worst VALORANT agents on Icebox

Gekko

In general, initiator agents seem to struggle on Icebox since there are so many structures for enemies to hide behind to dodge flashes. But Gekko in particular really struggles to get value out of his band of creatures. His flash is just too easy to dodge, and he will also struggle to get to a safe place in order to pick up his utility to use it again, a key part of his kit.

Neon

Neon is a great duelist, but she struggles on Icebox because of the map’s convoluted sites with lots of corners and structures built around the plant area. She can’t sprint out into the open and take down a whole team on Icebox, it’s just too risky. You’re better off using Neon on Fracture when it comes back into the map rotation.

Best VALORANT agents on Lotus

Lotus is the only other VALORANT map like Haven, featuring three sites instead of just two. Two big, loud spinning doors can be activated by a button, and a destructible door that links A Main to the B Site, adding another twist.

Omen

Lotus’ three sites all have some aspect of verticality, making Omen a perfect choice because of the flexibility of his teleport. Instead of rotating around to get on higher ground, he can simply look up and lift himself there from the shadows. His precise smoke placements also allow him to get creative, with a variety of one-ways and other sneaky tricks Omen mains are known for.

Killjoy

Killjoy’s kit fits well with Lotus’ features, allowing her to defend sites and stall her enemies’ moves effectively. From her supportive Turret to her threatening Lockdown, Killjoy is the perfect defender you want on your side when you load into Lotus.

Skye

Skye has received some heft nerfs in Episode Eight, but if there’s one map she can still find value on, it’s Lotus. With flexible flashes, a telekinetic Tasmanian Tiger, and three seekers that can blind and slow down enemies, Skye makes an excellent initiator on Lotus. Combine her with another initiator like Breach or Fade, and you’ll have a flawless team. There are also a few secret spots on Lotus that allow Skye to guide her bird flashes in through windows or other openings without peeking herself.

Worst VALORANT agents on Lotus

Sova

Like his situation on Fracture, Sova’s kit cannot bring much value to Lotus due to the map’s crowded geometry. Sova is more suited to maps with openly-spaced sites like Breeze, Haven, and Ascent. Some lineups can be effective, but when there are better alternatives like Skye, Breach, and Fade, you really don’t need to force a Sova pick.

Sage

There can be too many possibilities for rotations and flanks on the Lotus map, and you don’t want to waste a spot on your team with Sage. Though Sage has a decent win rate in Episode Seven, Act Two on Lotus, her overall KDA is the worst of all 22 characters on this map, indicating she isn’t getting as much value as her sentinel counterparts. If you use her wall at the wrong time, it is a complete waste of credits that the opposing team can likely easily find a way to flank around. On Lotus, Sage’s wall is more of an inconvenience than a complete barrier.

Best VALORANT agents on Split

Split returned at the start of Episode Six following a brief time out of the rotation. With few significant tweaks and upgrades, the structure of the map is still relatively the same but much improved, giving less value to certain areas to keep all things balanced.

Raze

Raze, our chaotic bomb expert, is also excellent on Split. Whether it’s to flush enemies out of hiding spots, jump into the site, or blast a huge rocket launcher at her foes, her kit is perfectly curated for Split’s tight lanes. Once again, her kit on this map can also help on defense, making her an ideal duelist choice.

Sage

Though after the map’s rework, many players stopped using Sage on Split, we think she still gets tons of value here. On this map, there are only two ways to get onto each site, and Sage can nullify one route on each side with just one ability. Yes, the Sage wall in mid might get boring round after round, but it sure is effective.

Omen

If you’re looking for the best solo controller on Split, it has to be Omen. Not only is he good for deploying cover, but he is also great for set plays with his Paranoia (blind) and Shrouded Step (teleport). You can also keep your enemies guessing with Omen’s From the Shadows ultimate, and there are plenty of sneaky places he can hide.

Worst VALORANT agents on Split

Sova

Sova has long been known as one of the worst agents you could lock in on Split. The main reason why he isn’t effective is he takes a big risk every time he uses his utility and doesn’t get much of a reward for it. Since the entry points onto each site on Split are decently far away from where your teammate actually plants the spike, the range of Sova’s drone doesn’t go far enough to get value. In addition, the only way to get his recon darts in a good spot is to risk his own life by peeking around a corner.

Chamber

If you’re playing a sentinel on Split, pick one like Killjoy, Cypher, or even Sage, who can lock down sites and deny space with their utilities. Picking Chamber will only add a pseudo-duelist to your team. Split is mostly closely spaced, and with Chamber’s long-ranged kit, you’ll have a hard time finding value in most of your games on this map.

Best VALORANT agents on Sunset

Beautiful and chaotic are the best two words to describe VALORANT’s newest map, Sunset. While its sites are tightly packed with structures and small details, the map also offers an open mid-section, which is crucial to take control of no matter the side you’re on.

Viper

Viper’s wall is an absolute dream for dividing Sunset’s wide middle area. Since taking control of this area is a huge part of your team’s success on the map, Viper’s wall becomes a critical tool. In addition, if you play her like a sentinel, she is excellent for watching flanks and using her mollies to delay a plant or defuse of the spike.

Chamber

Chamber can get value on Sunset because there are multiple places within a small area where he can hide out waiting to teleport. With the teleport’s reduced range, there are few areas where Chamber can use it effectively, but Sunset provides an opportunity to utilize teleportation as a successful means of escape. His ultimate is also fantastic for holding the expansive middle area of the map.

Astra

Astra’s smokes are the biggest of their kind in the game and, therefore, well-suited to Sunset’s wide chokepoints. The map is curated for controller mains looking to have fun and favors all five smoke agents, but Astra mains who have mastered timing with her utility are guaranteed to have the time of their lives.

Pair her up with Viper or Harbor to get a potent double-controller edge on your team.

Worst VALORANT agents on Sunset

Phoenix

Phoenix isn’t necessarily bad on Sunset, but there isn’t a strong reason to choose him over any of the other five duelists. His quick, curved flashes are too weak for the map’s detailed and expansive environment, which lets your enemies dodge the flashes very easily. Even Yoru—possibly the game’s most undervalued agent—can bring more value than Phoenix on Sunset.

Sova

Being one of the only two location-marking initiators in VALORANT, Sova carries quite the power. But his Recon just isn’t fit for Sunset. It’s too easy to hide behind pillars, boxes, and whatnot, or destroy the bolt without making yourself vulnerable. His drone’s limited run fails to clear a site’s most crucial spots. You’d be better off with Fade instead.

Sage

Sage’s lackluster kit isn’t meta on any of the maps, although she can be a fair addition on Bind and Split. On Sunset, she’s not a viable pick because her strongest ability, her wall, will get very little value.

Best VALORANT agents on Breeze

Breeze has to be the most tactical of all VALORANT maps so far. Its mid-section is where all the magic happens, although the sites are quite interestingly designed. The map promotes a slow-paced playstyle and is heavily based on the team’s post-plant performance and picking off enemies.

Jett

Despite her nerfs in patch 7.04 and Breeze’s latest rework, Jett continues to dominate in the Breeze meta—just like always. Her wind-driven mobility is excellent for taking map control and escaping threats on a map with massive sites and many angles to keep track of.

Viper

Viper has always been the queen of Breeze, thanks to her poison-laden wall and massive ultimate that helps establish control like no other smoker in VALORANT. Despite the massive overhaul, she still remains the best controller on the map. Since the map has returned to the competitive pool, there have only been four times in professional play where Viper wasn’t a part of a team’s composition.

Due to the prevailing double controller meta, however, the presence of another controller like Omen or Astra can absolutely benefit her, taking the pressure off her on defense.

Chamber

Breeze remains one of the few maps where Chamber can see substantial value. His strong pistol and dominant sniper will cut to the chase despite the map’s large areas, making him a great asset. Though his teleport now has reduced range, he can still surprise his enemies by quickly escaping to the opposite side of a site.

Worst VALORANT agents on Breeze

Raze

After Raze’s Episode Seven nerf, she is even worse on Breeze than she was before. As a rule of thumb, the more open spaces there are, the worse Raze’s kit is, and you can’t get more space between your teammates than on Breeze.

Breach

Breach’s stuns and flashes can devastate enemies on closely spaced maps like Bind, Haven, Fracture, and Lotus. But he is the worst initiator you can pick on Breeze, thanks to its wide-open characteristics. Although his Flashpoint and Aftershock can bring some value, his Fault Line and Rolling Thunder can’t account for the huge plant sites and will often miss their targets.