5 Best Valorant Heroes to Unlock to Really Dominate the Battlefield

Valorant‘s ever-expanding roster of Agents, each with their unique abilities and playstyles, can be both exciting and overwhelming for newer players. With 25 Agents across different roles, unlocking the full roster can take hours of gameplay (or a significant amount of money).

To help you prioritize your unlocks and get the most bang for your buck (and time), we’ve compiled a list of the top five Agents that every player should unlock as soon as possible.

5. Viper: The Toxic Controller

Viper may have one of the highest skill ceilings among Controller Agents, but that’s all the more reason to unlock her early and start mastering her kit as early as possible. A skilled Viper can single-handedly turn the tide of a match, whether it’s by securing a crucial retake on defense or safely cutting off enemy lines of sight during a push-on attack.

Her toxic abilities, such as Poison Cloud and Toxic Screen, can effectively control large areas of the map, while her Snake Bite can flush out campers or delay a push. Her ultimate, Viper’s Pit, is a game-changer when used correctly, allowing her team to take control of key areas and forcing the enemy to make difficult decisions.

Aspiring Viper mains should be prepared to put in the hours to truly unlock her potential, but the satisfaction of outplaying opponents with her mind games and area denial is well worth the effort.

4. Reyna: The Unstoppable Duelist

Reyna continues to be Valorant‘s no-nonsense Duelist that any player with sharp aim can pick up and start fragging with. Her straightforward kit and forgiving abilities make playing the role accessible and rewarding for those with the mechanical skills to back it up.

Reyna’s Devour and Dismiss abilities allow her to sustain herself and escape sticky situations, while her Leer can be used to set up easy kills for herself or her teammates. Her ultimate, Empress, turns her into a nigh-unstoppable force, granting her increased fire rate, reload speed, and the ability to overheal.

As a Reyna player (or while playing any Duelist in Valorant, for that matter), it’s crucial to embrace the aggressive playstyle that her kit encourages — be the first to peek angles, take risks, and make the initial entry into a site!

3. Cypher: The One-Man Surveillance Network

Once overlooked, Cypher has risen to become one of the most meta-defining Sentinels in Valorant. His ability to lock down entire areas of the map and gather crucial information makes him a nightmare for any enemy team.

Cypher’s Trapwires and Cyber Cage can slow down enemy pushes and alert him to their presence, while his Spycam can reveal enemy positions and even tag them for a short duration. His ultimate, Neural Theft, can be a game-changer in post-plant/retake situations, revealing the locations of all remaining enemies. 

For players who prefer a more calculated and strategic approach to Valorant, Cypher is the perfect agent to main and master. In the right hands, he is a nightmare for any opponent and a valuable asset for any team.

2. Gekko: The Versatile Initiator

Gekko, the Ash Ketchum of Valorant if you will, is undoubtedly one of the top Initiators in Riot Games‘ competitive shooter currently, boasting a kit that offers unmatched versatility.

His creatures – Dizzy, Mosh, and Wingman – each bring a unique set of abilities to the table, from blinding and concussing enemies to even planting or defusing the spike remotely. A well-timed Thrash ultimate can single-handedly turn the tide of a round in his team’s favor.

One of the standout features of Gekko’s kit is the ability to collect his creatures after use, allowing him to redeploy them after a short cooldown. This means that a skilled Gekko player is never truly out of utility, and can continually apply pressure on the enemy team throughout the round.

1. Clove: The Duelist-Controller Hybrid

Clove is a one-of-a-kind Controller who can play aggressively without being punished too harshly for failed attempts. Their unique kit allows them to fulfill the role of a Controller while also satisfying the desire to make bold plays.

Clove’s smoke ability can be used even after death, albeit with a limited range, and their ultimate, “Not Dead Yet,” grants them a second chance at life if they can secure a kill within 12 seconds of activation.

This forgiving kit allows Clove players to fulfill their duelist fantasies without completely abandoning their responsibilities as a Controller.

By providing cover and support for their teammates while also taking risks and making plays themselves, a skilled Clove can be the difference-maker in any match!