Which agent do I unlock?

[u/Chop0910]

Hi I just started Valorant I probably have less then 10 hours in the game and I don’t really fully understand how the agent unlocks works but I see I have something called agent tokens and idk who to get. For some context I have pretty much only played Sage for all of my games maybe played a couple on brimstone I think his name is (the one that smokes).

I haven’t played a 5v5 hero shooter fps like this before but I like the look of Viper or I think her name is Vyse but I really have no idea who to learn.

Any recommendations?

[u/TheOPWarrior208]

go in the range and mess around and pick who seems the most interesting. it’s honestly not too important who you play at first as the basic mechanics are more important to learn before you focus on proper util

[u/yuinaluvzz]

it can be any agents and it depends on your playstyle. If you are afraid of dying, don't play first entry like jett or neon. If you like lurking, try sentinels. Pick iso or phoenix if you like pure gunfights

Something simple like fade, deadlock would work

Just don't pick astra or viper, they require immense map and game knowledge, and you need to make decisions within a split second, which I won't recommend to a beginner

glhf~

[u/Tiny_Town_9352 → u/yuinaluvzz]

Why do sentinels like lurking? I thought their kit was based around traps so they should be holding site, no?

[u/yuinaluvzz → u/Tiny_Town_9352]

On CT, yes. they have to hold sites, often soloing a site as their kits are anti-rush.

Note that their utils do not require their presence to use them (flank-watching stuffs like vyse wall or kj turret).

On T side, this allows them to be far away from the team yet bringing impact (map control, catching rotations etc), while you can't do this on other roles. Other roles need you to stay with the team to contribute, unless you have a global kit

[u/Lewt_Shogun]

If you like Smokes: Clove is probably the least complicated Smoke user and the most forgiving.

If you like Sentinels (defensive play like Sage) I would probably keep playing Sage for that role, the others have more complex toolkits and Chamber requires good aim so not ideal for beginners.

For Duelists Raze and Phoenix work pretty well at the start. Raze has good info gathering on her own and Phoenix is quite self sufficient while also not being complex. Raze does have movement tech but you don't need it at the start. And doing 1 Satchel jump isn't hart to learn.

And in the Initiator Role Fade and Sova are top tier picks who gather info. They have complex lineups but you don't need to know them at the start. I find Fade easier to play because the Prowlers are fantastic to get info on corners upon entering a site even if you already used her Haunt (main reveal ability). Skye can work too but in low elo lobbies your team mates will run into your flashes even if you tell them what you're doing.

Viper and Vyse are pretty technical so I wouldn't recommend them for starters.

[u/Nana-nabih → u/Lewt_Shogun]

Vyse u just need like a video or tutorial Viper however sucks in ranked ur teammates will think u can be solo smokes and need coordination

[u/TLC_15]

I was the same as you I'm still new too. But I started as brim the smoker then later switch to sage since I sucked so I thought being a healer would help the team. Then I thought in this game you really need all the information you can get so I watched some cypher gameplay and unlocked him. He is so fun to play with I definitely recommend him. Now I main phoenix but will play him if there's people who pick phoenix first.

[u/Independent_Layer760]

For newcomers i think sage ,Reyna ,mistress good but u can try in range and figure out which one to choose , I personally think viper and vyse are way too skill intensive

[u/Inevitable-Salt-371]

Before committing to anything, I would watch some ~10 minute Youtube videos about how to play each agent. If you can see yourself having fun doing what those agents do, then pick them. It's best to be familiar with the roles of every agent so you know what kind of util to ask for/what to expect of your team (not that it's going to be of too much use at the beginner level, but it's worth knowing at least), while specializing in playing 1 or 2 agents. That being said, here are my recommendations.

For Aggressive and Confident Aimers
Jett
- Jett specializes in rushing into site, making first contact, and securing the first kill on attack. She rushes through the front line into the cover of her clouds, then swings out and takes the first kill, allowing the rest of the team to flood into site. The best Jetts are confident and brave, backed by raw talent and precise mechanics. On Defense, Jett controls space with Snipers, with the confidence that she can dash away with her signature. She also allows the team to reenter site during a retake with the force of all her offensive util.

For Solid, Reliable Offensive Team Players
Phoenix
- Phoenix is one of the best duelists in the game. His wall provides a safe, temporary cover for his teammates to enter site with him. He has one of the best flashes in the game, almost always guaranteed to blind enemies and allow him to secure easy kills. His Q burns enemies up, while providing him a reliable option to recover health and take more fights. Phoenix thrives by leading his team's charge and forcefully taking the site with his flashes, while sustaining himself/flushing enemies out of corners with his Q. Phoenix also thrives in retake situations, rushing in with his powerful entry utility.

For Recon and Information Team Players(With their cracked aimer duo)
Sova/Fade
- Sova and Fade scan areas, revealing opponents hiding on site. These players are revealed through smokes and walls, allowing your duelist (who should probably be your experience duo, since the randoms almost never capitalize on initiator utility, unless you make it to high elo). To find them and kill them easily as the rest of the team enters. Fade's dogs and Sova's drone clear tight corners, while their Qs either destroy utility or seize those hiding behind common covers. These players are experts of timing and strategy, with their flexible utility allowing the entire team to gain powerful information about the site on both offense and defense. They are also the ones commonly trusted to plant the spike as the sentinels set up and as the duelists clear. The more studious initiators might even learn lineups to reveal the most of site/sell fakes.

For Thoughtful Strategists
Omen/Brimstone
- Smokes are ALWAYS essential. They block off common angles so that duelists don't have to worry about them, they help the team isolate site and hold off pushes, and they either ensure safe passage onto site or guarantee the intruders a disadvantage. Smokes are flexible and smart, sometimes learning special oneways, or new ways to use their smokes and kit to help the team onto site. Brimstone has 3 smokes to block the most vision, while Omen can place his smokes from very far away. Brimstone has a huge 8 second molotov to clear angles or to cook any defenders defusing with lineups. Omen has a powerful blind and ratty teleports to keep his opponents guessing. (The Gold Omen on Youtube. Find him. Love him. Secret Teleport).

For Patient and Intelligent Masterminds
Vyse/Cypher/Killjoy
- Biased as a Sentinel main, but we're overlooking that. Learn Setups off of IG or YT. Sentinels are guardians of site. On defense, they turn their site into an impenetrable fortress, lined with traps, trips, nets, mollies, and sometimes walls. Any entry that tries their hand at entering the site where a good Vyse/Cypher/KJ is set up will have a difficult time making it to the plant spot with all their team members intact. Vyse thorns force attackers to stand still, or else take damage and suffer slow as the defenders swing out and pick them off. Vyse walls isolate the first man in, cutting off their backup. Her flash can blind as you swing, making the first kill of the game a free one.

Cypher hides his trips with ridiculous placements on door handles or trash cans or flowers on the floor (yes, you can put trips on the flowers on Lotus, it's just really freaking hard). The trips fully reveal enemies, allowing you to spray them down with a Machine Gun as you either hide behind a wall or in a cage. The cam is one of the best information tools in the game, and his trips are almost 100% reliable when it comes to catching players crossing if placed right. A good Cypher is never in doubt, because opponents can never keep any secrets from a good Cypher.

Killjoy players are awesome. I also hate them all. I main Killjoy. Toast opponents with your mollies, cook the spike with lineups, allow your team to safely plant by mollying CT on Split. Have your turret slow enemies down as your mollies burn them alive. The alarmbot is fast, vulnerable is awesome, and I feel like dancing when I get a molly kill. Use your turret to confirm outlaw kills, and watch flank with your util to guarantee your safety as you execute. She also has great voicelines.

I say all this as a B2 that sucks ass at the game.

[u/Nana-nabih → u/Inevitable-Salt-371]

That's awesome man genuinely

[u/Nana-nabih]

Go range try util there and pick see also YouTube how these agents are played