The start of Episode 4 Act 1 in Valorant has been a rollercoaster so far despite being only days old since it came out on 11th January.
Riot's latest update introduced a new Agent, Neon, with overpowered buffs to the Ares while also making the Spectre useless in the current meta. Indeed, these changes drastically stirred up the community, who are now begging for things to be changed immediately.
Despite this, Agents were untouched from the previous Episode 3 Act 3 finish, meaning Neon by herself is trying to shake things up character-meta wise.
Her kit takes some time to get used to, and while she's still trying to find her place in the meta, we believe Neon is slowly but surely going to cement herself as a decent enough duelist. Unfortunately, however, Neon is far from the best Agent in the game.
Valorant Episode 4 Act 1 Agent tier list
With all that being said, let's look at our early Agent tier list for Episode 4 Act 1.
Description of the tiers
- S-Tier: The best of the best and must-picks on most maps.
- A-Tier: Undeniably powerful and likely must pick on many maps.
- B-Tier: The right player or right map makes these Agents great to have on your side.
- C-Tier: If you have mastered them, they might well be worth running, but there is likely another Agent in the pool that performs exceptionally.
- D-Tier: Yoru. Still, and always, Yoru.
It's worth mentioning that things will change throughout the season too. This includes how players combat Neon but also forthcoming updates.
The Agents
Note: We will update this list as the meta becomes more apparent.
S-Tier
- Jett (Duelist)
- Viper (Controller)
- Skye (Initiator)
Jett remains at the top of the tier list for a good reason. The iconic Agent boasts superior mobility and the potential to initiate by herself and clutch things out with her Ultimate. Moreover, Jett is always ready to dash forward to break the ankles of her opponents.
Viper is the absolute best controller in the game at the moment. Her wall is a powerful tool to slice sites and is essential in maps like Icebox. Also, locking areas down with her smokes makes things much easier for teams that run her.
Finally, Skye's well-rounded kit means she's got a place on every team. Boasting AoE healing, a tracking Ultimate ability, flashes that spot enemies if they hit; Skye is a significant advantage to have on your team.
A-Tier
These Agents have all the right tools to be decisive in the right hands but might lack a bit of sauce compared to those in the S-tier.
- Astra (Controller)
- Reyna (Duelist)
- Sova (Initiator)
- Sage (Sentinel)
- Chamber (Sentinel)
- Neon (Duelist)
Take Astra, for instance. On paper, she's the best controller in the game due to her versatility with smoke placements, which she can turn into stuns and use to hold enemies in place. However, she requires an insane amount of coordination to take full advantage of, compared to Viper.
Reyna and Sage's kits are easy to understand and are highly impactful. For example, a good Reyna can easily farm her Ultimate, turning her into an absolute killing machine. Also, dealing with her flashes are incredibly annoying. For Sage's, getting one that knows optimal wall placements is a godsend, and of course, she is one of the few Agents that can heal, let alone resurrect allies.
As for Neon, we've put her in A-Tier at the moment despite her Ultimate damage feeling a bit underwhelming. We'll see how the meta develops, but she seems to make characters like Phoenix, who are much more irrelevant.
B-Tier
Agents in the B-tier are solid picks, but you could do with learning a few others to expand your Agent pool.
- Breach (Initiator)
- Raze (Duelist)
- Cypher (Sentinel)
- Killjoy (Sentinel)
- Omen (Controller)
Breach's ability to flash and stun enemies in a wide area can effectively clear out areas; however, he's not a constant threat who can play the long game like other flashers like Skye.
In the duelist category, Raze is a map dependant pick. She's magnificent in a small map like Split. Still, She pales in comparison to others simply by lacking any utility to help teams secure or defend a site for extended periods.
C-Tier
These Agents have been left behind as the game evolves.
- Phoenix (Duelist)
- Brimstone (Controller)
- KAY/O (Initiator)
You can make an argument there's no need for them; perhaps KAY/O saves himself as he offers a unique toolkit since he's the only Agent that can shut down abilities.
Phoenix and Brimstone can be considered obsolete. For instance, Neon can double-wall, unlike the British Agent single firewall that damages allies. Also, Brimstone's smokes are far too simple and not versatile enough compared to Viper or Astra.
D-Tier
- Yoru (Duelist)
Just a few more weeks, Yoru fans, the rework is coming.
Featured image courtesy of Riot Games.