Not Phoenix, Another Agent is Being Exposed as the Worst Valorant Duelist: Gamers Give the Verdict

Valorant’s duelist roster has always been diverse, and Riot Games continues to a to the list. Agents like Jett, Reyna, Neon, and Raze have been top picks for players wanting fast, aggressive gameplay. But one agent who continues to struggle in this category is Yoru.

Despite multiple reworks from Riot Games, Yoru remains one of the least popular duelists in both casual and competitive play. While Riot’s efforts to improve him have made some impact, the community remains divided over whether Yoru can ever be a viable pick. But it isn’t because he’s inherently bad, Yoru us just the hardest to pick up.

The Hardest Duelist In Valorant Is Also The Worst?

Many players find Yoru’s kit overwhelming. His teleportation (Gatecrash) and decoy clone (Fakeout)abilities need precise timing and mastery to execute well. Using him requires an in-depth understanding of the game, leading many casual players to avoid him. In an otherwise stupidly successful game, these are the hiccups that Riot needs to look at.

Why do so many people say Yoru is the worst duelist??
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Reddit users summarize the issue perfectly, stating, “He has arguably the highest skill ceiling of all duelists,” making Yoru more of a high-risk agent in a game where simpler duelists like Jett or Reyna are more reliable.

Yoru’s high skill floor also adds to his reputation as an underperformer. His toolkit requires coordination, preparation, and awareness, skills that casual or lower-ranked players might not consistently have. This difficulty in making Yoru effective from the outset often discourages players from investing time in learning him.

ABYSS WAS MADE FOR YORU // #VALORANT pic.twitter.com/x4pVjiNywN

— Valorant News (@ValorINTEL) July 5, 2024

Even in higher ranks, where players have better mechanical skills, Yoru struggles to find a place. His toolkit makes him a versatile agent, but not an easy fit as a primary duelist. He doesn’t fit into the traditional duelist role.

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Most duelists are the best at entering into sites and starting fights, using abilities that create distractions. Yoru’s teleportation offers mobility, but it lacks the quick escapes of agents like Jett or the spontaneity of Raze. His flashes are also harder to land, meaning players can’t rely on them for simple engagement.

Hard To Play Shouldn’t Mean Worst, But It Unfortunately Does

One of the most telling signs of Yoru’s decline is his pick rate in both professional and ranked play. And he isn’t the only one. As of 2023, Yoru had a near 0% pick rate in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), the highest level of competition in the game.

Yoru’s Decoy Completely Counters ISO’s Ult. that’s insanepic.twitter.com/ooP4WO9MyV

— Valorant Updates (@ValorantUpdated) October 26, 2023

His pick rate in ranked matches was equally dismal, hovering around 1.8%. In contrast, other duelists like Jett, Phoenix, and Reyna consistently see much higher pick rates around the board.

Riot Games has tried to salvage Yoru’s viability through several reworks, but these efforts have failed to bring him up to par with other duelists. His initial rework in patch 2.06 and further changes in patch 5.01 haven’t done a lot for him.

While other duelists excel in either movement or damage, Yoru doesn’t clearly fit into either category. Many players think of him as a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. A duelist who doesn’t fully embody the role of an entry fragger, unlike his counterparts who can create immediate impact in matches.

Has this been your experience too? Let us know in the comments!