Mastering All 4 Roles in Valorant

With Valorant being a tactical shooter and popular Esports, many players tend to fixate on improving their aim as they believe it is the way they will get good at the game. While having a good aim is necessary, one thing that players often undermine is the importance of the agent they are playing and how important their role is in winning the game. In this guide, we’ll dive into detail regarding the agents in Valorant, understand how their role works in the game, and help you master the role of your choice.

Also Read: All Valorant Agents Ages, Real Names and Countries

Valorant Role Guide

In any team-oriented game, like Valorant, players have to play a particular role if they want their team to win. Therefore, you must understand and master your role if you wish to climb the ranks and get better at the game. Continue reading as we navigate the intricacies of each role, empowering you with the knowledge you need to become proficient at your role.

Duelist

While the Duelist is the most popular role in Valorant, surprisingly, not many people know what the actual job of a Duelist is. A common misconception is that Duelists are supposed to be the best players in a team and have to top-frag in every game. While Duelists are certainly designed with aggressive abilities that enable them to be self-sufficient and get as many kills as possible, their main job is to enter a site before the rest of their team and create space by drawing the enemy’s attention to them.

It is worth noting that as a Duelist, if you are not the one entry fragging for your team and, instead, are lurking or baiting your teammates, you are not doing justice to your role and will cause your team to lose. With that in mind, you must pick up this role only if you are the type of person who likes to play aggressively and engage the enemy head-on. Here are all the agents you can play in the Duelist role: 

• Jett
• Phoenix 
• Neon
• Reyna
• Raze
• Yoru

Sentinel

While the Duelist role is centred around aggression, Sentinels are designed to be defence experts and hold down a site. It is the job of a Sentinel to play in the backlines, especially during attack, and accomplish the role of an anchor when holding a site during defence. Sentinels are equipped with utilities such as slows and traps designed to slow down enemies when they are engaging in a site or watch flank in attacking rounds. 

If you are playing a Sentinel agent like Sage and rushing into a site in attack before your Duelist, you are not doing your job right. Instead, play from behind, let your Duelist enter a site first, and once the enemy’s attention is on your Duelist, take them out. Moreover, if you are playing an agent like Cypher or Chamber whose utilities can watch the flank on your behalf, you can try lurking during some rounds and take out unsuspecting enemies. That said, don’t lurk in every round or stray too far from your teammates. You don’t want to be stranded in the B site when your team is playing post-plant in the A site. Here are all the agents you can pick up to play the Sentinel of your team:

• Sage
• Deadlock
• Cypher
• Killjoy
• Chamber

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Initiator

The Initiator role comprises agents that are designed around gathering information and using their utilities to assist their allies. They are supposed to work in tandem with the Duelist, assisting them with their flashes and scouting out enemy positions on a site so that the Duelist can do their job more easily. On the other hand, where Duelists and Sentinels excel in attacking and defending rounds, respectively, Initiators are great for both halves as they provide a great mix of passive and aggressive utility, allowing them to make their presence known in every round. Due to their design, they are a solid class for players who like to play a flexible playstyle with no inclination towards being aggressive or defensive. 

That said, playing as an Initiator requires you to communicate with your teammates when you are using your utilities, especially flashes or else you’ll blind your own allies. Here are all the agents that are designed to be Initiators for your team:

• Fade
• KAY/O
• Sova
• Breach
• Skye
• Gekko

Controller

Controller is the most filled-in role in Valorant simply because most players don’t like to play this role, even though it is one of the most crucial roles in Valorant, if not the most important role in the game. Controllers are agents equipped with utilities designed around blocking vision for the enemy and creating space by zoning out enemies from where they can peak and fire at attackers entering a site. Their abilities essentially provide cover, disrupt the enemy’s line of sight, and control the battlefield so that your team can easily infiltrate the site in attack. Similarly, in defence, their job is to smoke out entryways of a site so that enemies can’t peek inside for information.

As a Controller, your job is to play from behind and place your smoke down when your team is ready to engage on a site. You don’t want to be the first one to die as a Controller, especially during the attacking rounds, or else you’ll cripple your team’s ability to enter a site. Controllers or Smokers, as some people call them, is a perfect role for players who prefer a more passive style of play, mostly focusing on supporting their team by trading them and smoking for them. Here are all the agents that identify as Controllers in the game:

• Omen
• Brimstone
• Astra
• Harbor
• Viper

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of Valorant, where aim takes the spotlight most of the time, aspiring players need to understand how each role is supposed to function in a team-based game like Valorant. Whether you are playing a Sentinel, Duelist, Controller or Initiator, each role has a function to play if you want your team to win. Therefore, by mastering your role and working with your teammates, you’ll be able to improve your gameplay and climb the ranks much more easily.

Also Read: Valorant Xbox Release: 8 Jaw-Dropping Potential Over PC Version

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Find the Right Role in Valorant?

If you are entirely new to first-person shooters, you are better off playing a simple agent like Sage to help you get the hang of the game. If you prefer playing aggressively, consider playing agents like Reyna or Phoenix. On the other hand, you can try out agents like Cypher, Killjoy, or Brimstone if you prefer playing from the backlines. If you are transferring over to Valorant from Counter-Strike, try out KAY/O for a more similar style of utility. 

How to Improve Your Aim in Valorant?

In Valorant, the best way to improve your aim is to always have your crosshair at head level, especially when you are peaking at a common angle where you can expect to find an enemy. Moreover, you also need to ensure you are comfortable with your mouse sensitivity to aim more consistently.

What Are the Best Agents for Each Role for Beginners?

As a beginner looking to play Duelist, you can try out Reyna and Phoenix. For the Controller role, consider playing Brimstone, but you can try out Omen if you are committed to learning this role. Moreover, for the Sentinel role, Sage and Cypher are great agents to try out. Lastly, Fade and Skye are great agents to dip your toes into the Initiator role.