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 add another dimension to this choice, encouraging players to use various skills to find success.

When you’re just starting, it can be tough to figure out which agents work the best on which maps. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered.

Here is a list of the best agents to use on each of the maps currently playable in VALORANT.

If you’re looking for specific 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.

There are some agents that seem to succeed no matter what obstacles you throw at them, like Jett. Agents like this aren’t necessarily included on our list, but rather we focus on agents that can maximize a map’s features to play at their best.

Best VALORANT agents on Ascent

Ascent is a standard two-site map with three routes. The B site side of the map offers access through one room that is only accessible through entries on either side, 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 section of the map, connecting to both sites that can be used effectively by the team that takes control due to the chokepoints on the map.

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.

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 mid control. 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.  

Viper

Viper’s immobile kit makes it difficult to play her on Ascent. You cannot really rotate freely with a Viper as the solo controller on your team on any map, but her wall in particular feels extremely weak on this map.

Harbor

Similarly to Viper, the range of Harbor’s kit makes it very difficult for him to place his utility in a helpful manner on Ascent. His smokes and walls are not flexible, which is a problem 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.

Best VALORANT agents on Bind

After being removed for two competitive Acts, Bind returned to the rotation with Episode Six, Act Three, and it did so with a new look. The map has now become a bit more favorable 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.

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.

Sage

Sage’s Barrier Orb makes up for the lack of defensive utilities 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 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. The tight spaces on the map benefit Raze and hurt Neon, but again, it is possible to succeed on her.

Astra

Astra is known as an agent for only those with the biggest brains, and unfortunately, no matter how large your brain is she is hard to get value out of on Bind. Though her abilities can get great 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 Brimstone or even Omen. According to Blitz.gg, Astra has also been picked the least of any agent this Act on Bind.

Best VALORANT agents on Haven

Haven was the first map in VALORANT to include three sites. This changes how the map is played drastically since players must be aware of what is happening around the entire map. Despite its challenges, this map is our favorite for a reason.

Raze

With Raze on defense, you can single-handedly control any of Haven’s sites which are known for their narrow entry passages. On offense, Raze’s Boombot becomes crucial, helping you scout short, closely-spaced distances, thus allowing an easier site entry. She’s a good duelist for this map because you can get value from both your offensive and defensive sides with her utility, though if you’d rather just go kill your enemies instead Jett is also a fine choice.

Fade

Fade has been hovering as a mid-tier initiator for several patches now, but her eye can get incredible value on Haven. With the map’s many tight hallways and hidden corners, her eye and her Prowlers can get maximum value on this map. In addition, Haven’s three small sites can all be completely covered by her ultimate.

Omen

Like Ascent, Haven’s chokepoints fit the likes of Omen’s versatile kit, which, aside from offering visual cover, lets him teleport to unexpected spots and flush out enemies from angles with his blinding Paranoia. Astra is a good alternative, but with teams needing to rotate often on this map, Omen’s rechargeable smokes seem to be the best bet.

Worst VALORANT agents on Haven

Phoenix

Phoenix hasn’t been the duelist we want, despite his buff in patch 5.01. In the presence of duelists like Jett, Raze, and Neon, Phoenix’s kit seems extremely bland at the moment. To top it off, Haven’s geometry doesn’t exactly favor his flashes, since it’s so easy for an enemy to hide in a corner. He may do satisfactorily in a double duelist comp, but it’s best to go with other entry fraggers from the roster.

Brimstone

Most attack-sided situations on Haven will require you to rotate to a different site after faking a site. Brimstone’s smokes don’t recharge, forcing your team to stick to one approach or execute a rotation without smokes. You can save the third smoke, but one isn’t enough to cover Haven’s chokepoints. This causes attackers to read your smoke placements easily and simply rotate or wait our your utility.

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.

Skye

With flexible flashes, a telekinetic Tasmanian Tiger, and three seekers that can blind and slow down enemies, Skye makes an excellent solo 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.

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.

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.

Of course, you can use her Slow Orbs to stop a push on defense, but what can you do with her on attack? You can get much more value out of any other sentinel agent. 

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.

Skye

There’s not a single map Skye’s bad on, and Sunset is the latest addition to her list of best VALORANT maps. Her Seekers are a very effective ultimate here, as they can pick out enemies that might be flanking or lurking through the expansive mid zone.

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

Raze doesn’t have many weak maps at the moment, but Breeze is one of them. 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.

Best VALORANT agents on Pearl

Pearl is a relatively straightforward map in VALORANT. There are no gimmicks like teleporters, zip lines, or closeable doors, although there are tons of lurking possibilities. Like on many other maps, mid-control on Pearl is very important. Players can also fight at range in the lengthy B Long corridor.

Omen

Similarly to how Omen excels on Lotus, he is a great controller choice on Pearl for the same reason. His flexible positioning allows him to stay tucked away in Pearl’s unique hallways and hidden corners. The varying geometry of each site on the map also gives him creativity with his smoke placement that other agents won’t have the luxury of.

Astra

Astra’s lively nature perfectly complements Pearl’s ambiance, as does her large smokes and initiator-like utilities to the map’s features. Her ultimate is a sound and bullet-bending wall, perfect for Pearl’s B-Site, which is usually very difficult to control. 

Killjoy

Killjoy’s utilities can maintain control over a large portion of Pearl’s vast map area with her Alarm Bot and Turret. Her Nanoswarms are a nightmare for anyone trying to defuse a Spike or plant one. Besides allowing her team to take control of a large space, Killjoy’s Lockdown usually sends enemies frantically looking for safe spots—a pretty vulnerable situation to take advantage of. 

Worst VALORANT agents on Pearl

Yoru

He is not unplayable on Pearl, but picking Yoru doesn’t make sense in the presence of duelists like Jett, Raze, and even Phoenix. You wouldn’t want him as a solo entry fragger at any cost, so choosing him will force you to have a second duelist on your team. And you do so much better on Pearl by having two initiators or two controllers instead.

Brimstone

Brimstone’s limited Sky Smokes force you to be picky while deploying them, and Pearl isn’t a map you want to be selective with smokes on. Similarly to his downfalls on Haven, there are just so many places to smoke on Pearl that having single-use smokes is a massive nerf. Any other controller agent is a better choice than him.  

Best VALORANT agents on Fracture

Fracture has perhaps the most unique design of any VALORANT map. Defenders start in the center of the map and split up to defend the two sites. Attackers can take ziplines across the map and attack either site from two different angles.

Neon

Fracture’s notorious, attacker-friendly design requires your team to have all hands on deck when on the defense. Having Neon on your team can enable swift rotates. She’s also excellent on attack thanks to her Fast Lane (wall) and Relay Bolt, which can not only make entering a site easier but also allow her to clear corners safely. It almost feels like this map was made for her kit.

Breach

With multiple angles to clear and narrow passages, Fracture is Breach’s playground. His utility can debilitate an entire team holding a site and also isolate enemies to certain areas with no escape. He is also perfect for post-plant scenarios on attack on either site. 

Worst VALORANT agents on Fracture

Reyna

Reyna is a self-centered duelist and hence, doesn’t offer any significant team value. Despite being an attack-centric map, players may find it difficult to enter Fracture’s plant sites without Neon, Raze, or Jett—especially if the defense is strong. 

Reyna’s kit is rather useless in offering site control, and even though her ultimate can be a strong tool, she’s better left out on Fracture.

Sova

Despite pro-VALORANT team Evil Geniuses popularizing Sova’s strengths on Fracture in VCT 2023, he just isn’t the right fit on this tightly spaced and detailed map. 

The Recon Dart can be broken easily or can be dodged by simply hiding behind the cover of boxes or barriers. Fracture features a lot of barriers and wall angles, and due to the dart’s size, it cannot scan significant areas simultaneously. His Owl Drone cannot check for enough angles before it expires. 

Although Shock Dart lineups and Hunter’s Fury can be useful, you’d want to pick an agent all of whose abilities are viable. Fade is a much better choice to gather intel on Fracture.