The recent patch changed a lot of the agents and introduced a new map pool. With all these changes, what are the agents to look out for this season? Read to find out what the current VALORANT Agent Tier List is.
The VALORANT meta is always changing, an agent can be overpowered for some patches, while having a low pick rate on the other. Whether it’s a nerf/buff to agents, or just the map pool rotation, the agent meta is always changing.
Whatever the case may be, it’s always a good idea to keep up with this constantly changing meta and be informed of the agent meta. With that said, here is the VALORANT agent tier list according to the latest patch.
Important Note: This Tier List is for Patch 8.03. The tier list will be kept updated per the future patches and map pool rotations.
VALORANT is always changing whether it’s a new map rotation or balance changes to agents. The fact of the matter is that no agent will always be meta, and the tier list of VALORANT agents is always changing. These are the factors that define an agent’s standing on the tier list.
Not all agents are good on all maps. Some agents perform better on certain maps than others. For example, Killjoy has long been one of the best picks for Ascent, as has Raze on Bind. But because the map pool changes after a competitive period, these agents can lose their value. For example, Sage performs quite well on Icebox and Split, but if they are removed from the map pool, her value plummets. This is why the map pool is a very important factor in determining if the agent is placed higher or lower on the tier list.
VALORANT is always rolling out patches to balance the agents. Whether it’s a buff or nerf, it can really impact an agent’s standing on the tier list. For example, Chamber at release was an S-tier agent, but with all the nerfs he has dropped to the lower tiers. Similarly, Skye is also facing the same issues as, with the recent nerfs, her pick rate in pro play is going down.
The most important factor that determines if an agent is a high tier or low tier is how much value they offer with their kits. For example, Sova has always held his place in the higher tiers especially because of the value his kit provides and that’s not going to change any time soon.
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Most importantly, the ultimate of an agent is representative of their value. For example, Killjoy’s ultimate is mainly the reason she is still picked quite often. Her ultimate can turn the game upside down. Nonetheless, it’s important to pick agents that provide a lot of value from their kits.
While certain agents can be really good in ranked with high pick rates, they often struggle to get picked in pro play. The main reason is that they just don’t fit well into team compositions. Pro play is all about executing strategies that require team play. The best example of this is Reyna. Although she has one of the highest pick rates in Ranked, she is often neglected in pro play. This is because most of her abilities can not support the team, and are dependent on the player’s performance.
In summary, all these factors combine to decide if an agent should be placed in the higher or lower tiers. But, because VALORANT is always changing, the tier list also shifts quite a bit.
This is the worst of the worst, you should not be using these agents in any competitive match unless you are playing casually. Not to say these are bad agents, but for the current meta, they don’t provide as much value. Plus, the current map rotation doesn't really favor them that much. You can still play these agents to have fun, but if you are preparing to compete in an eSports event like the VALORANT Premier mode, avoid them if possible.
The C-Tier holds agents that are not favored by the current map pool. Their best-performing maps are just not in the map pool anymore, which has made them lose their value. They are still picked in the pro-play sometimes, but there are better options. However, they are still great agents and perfectly fine to play in ranked. This list is based on the pro scene and how these agents are performing there.
D-Tier and C-Tier agents are usually picked the least in pro-team compositions. However, the B-Tier agents are still considered viable for some maps. The main reason they sit in the B-Tier is because they are quite situational and need utility support from other agents to be able to provide value. Moreover, they are only good on some of the maps in the competitive map pool making them very situational.
These are your must-pick agents for all maps. A-tier agents are favored by the current map pool and provide a lot of value as well. Most importantly, they pair well with the S-tier agents to make a strong team composition. These agents have been getting a lot of play in the pro-play recently, which is proof that they should be picked for your team as well.
This is the peak of how valuable an agent can be, these are the must-pick on every map. It’s not an exaggeration to say that they are the best agents to play right now. Mostly, because their kits are extremely valuable and can be the deciding factor in winning or losing a round. Suffice it to say, that these agents should be on your team on any map.
In order to be a good player, it's crucial that you keep up with the ever changing meta in VALORANT. While the other agents in VALORANT aren't necessarily bad, the current meta doesn't suit them. Whether it is the map pool, or the recent nerfs or buff, it’s important to be on top of what agents are meta. Hopefully, this article will keep you updated on what agents you should have your eyes out for this season.
