Valorant: Every Controller Agent, Ranked

As a seasoned Valorant player with countless hours under my belt, let me tell you that each of these controllers has their unique strengths and strategies that make them stand out in this high-stakes battle royale.

Valorant can be challenging for beginners because it requires a deep understanding of strategy. This is why some novice players might find it intimidating to learn a new agent, given the diverse playstyles present among the agents that have been introduced in the game over the past three years.

Luckily, it can be simplified so that novice players aren’t overpowered by the complexity. In Valorant, Controllers are one type of agent, and they play a crucial role in moving towards sites to either plant or defuse bombs. This is due to their specialized abilities such as creating smokes or distractions.

6 Astra

The Mystical Cosmos Shaper

Valorant: Every Controller Agent, Ranked

Originates From Ghana
Added On March 2nd, 2021

In a novel twist, Astra serves as an innovative type of agent designed to revolutionize the function of controller agents within Valorant. Unlike other agents who deploy smokes or talents upon entering a site, Astra can position stars anywhere across the game map at will throughout the round. These stars can be employed later to invoke her abilities during gameplay. This setup offers an advantage because Astra’s stars can be strategically planted and ready to transform into abilities in ideal locations since there are typically multiple excellent spots for controller agents to place their talents on any given map.

Regrettably, after initially being extremely powerful, Riot Games adjusted and revised Astra, causing her to perform poorly compared to before. Mastering Astra is a demanding task, but the rewards are questionable, especially in professional matches at present. The latest addition of Harbor gives the impression that Riot no longer intends to salvage Astra, instead focusing on other characters. Although Astra isn’t entirely unusable in Valorant, she is among the least frequently picked characters in most game modes these days.

5 Harbor

The Water-Based Powerhouse

Valorant: Every Controller Agent, Ranked

Originates From India
Added On October 18th, 2022

The latest character added to the Valorant team was initially praised as one of the top controllers but after balance adjustments (nerfs) following his debut, he found himself on the lower end of controller agents. His wave abilities are extremely beneficial for approaching a site, and while some of his earlier deemed overpowered skills may not be as dominant, they can still prove very useful when attempting to enter or defend a site from opponents.

In the fast-paced game of Valorant, maintaining an edge can be tricky, but when you’ve got a character like Harbor and a player who knows how to use him effectively, it becomes simple to sow confusion among the enemy team. Harbor’s ultimate, for one, is a perfect storm of chaos that makes it tough for opponents to focus on anything due to the constant threat of being concussed. This agent has an uncanny ability to keep things unpredictable, and his role as a disruptor, combined with fulfilling all a team needs from a controller, makes him an invaluable asset in any match at any skill level.

4 Clove

Immortal Scottish Troublemaker

Originates From Edinburgh, Scotland
Added On March 26th, 2024

Despite appearing to be incredibly formidable, the latest Controller character in Valorant hasn’t exactly swept the game world as some agents do upon initial release. Known as an immortal entity with the power to vex adversaries even after death, Clove can set off smokes from beyond the grave and boasts a self-resurrecting ultimate ability.

As a fan, I often find myself pondering over these distinctive agent skills, yet I can’t help but notice a pattern: Agents lose their utility once they’re gone, and players sometimes feel they gain an edge with other abilities from different agents. Clove, for instance, seems to be more self-centered compared to the other controller agents. She doesn’t exert as much control over strategic battlefield zones as her counterparts, which makes her a less frequent pick in competitive play compared to some others.

3 Brimstone

Rains Hellfire From Above

Originates From Baltimore, Maryland
Added In Beta

In Valorant since its initial launch, Brimstone – the American character – has consistently stood out as the top and reliable controller figure. He’s been a key icon in the game, maintaining a clear edge over other controllers due to his unique advantages. The superiority of Brimstone’s smokes is evident throughout the game, with his ability to position them almost anywhere on the map from any location. This flexibility empowers him to deceive his team or pave the way for them to gain access to any site effectively.

Beyond just his capabilities, Brimstone’s grenade is an exceptionally useful asset for clearing spaces when his team is attempting to enter a site or defend against opponents. Moreover, his ultimate ability is one of the top-tier in the game because it can obstruct enemies from disarming a bomb or defending an area. Essentially, Brimstone can force enemies out or corner them and destroy them at a distance. Furthermore, the extremely beneficial stim beacon he possesses can significantly boost his team’s strength during major offensives, making him an outstanding leader on both offensive and defensive rounds. As such, Brimstone is an ideal controller for his team.

2 Viper

The Poisonous Mastermind

Originates From USA
Added In Beta

Viper is the first of the controllers that are still perfectly usable in any situation and at any level. While Viper is no longer quite at the same high level due to recent changes, she is a great option and has some huge advantages. Her ult, which releases a massive poison cloud, makes it very hard for enemies to get in if the bomb has been planted inside. Alternatively, if Viper can use her other abilities to get in on a site where she has to defuse a bomb, releasing her ult before going for a defuse will make it very difficult for camping enemies to stop her.

In other words, Viper’s long-range wall, her potent poison that thwarts enemies from defusing bombs at critical game moments, and her disorienting orb of poison, make her a top choice for securing significant victories in crucial stages of the game. Essentially, Viper is optimized for this role more than any other, excelling at taking control of sites and concluding rounds successfully. As such, she’s an ideal pick for novice controller players aiming to contribute all-around support to their team.

1 Omen

The Shadowy Controller King

Originates From Alpha-Earth
Added In Beta

In the game Valorant, although Omen remains functional, he’s not always the go-to choice compared to other controller characters due to his less frequent usage. Omen is a stealthy character who specializes in creating smokes, blinding opponents, and teleporting for strategic site control. His smoke abilities have a limited range and need to be deployed as he advances or during a feint move towards a site. However, there are numerous creative strategies and high-level plays that players can execute using Omen effectively.

The teleport can be particularly useful, due to the unique nature of this ability for Omen. It can be hard for players in the confusion of a round to see where an Omen has gone if they teleport out, making it easy to get the upper hand in any situation. Unfortunately, due to the advantages of other controllers in the game, Omen has fallen by the wayside slightly over time but recently his abilities have been buffed up again and he has managed to rise to the top of the controller list for now, making him one of the most enduring and the current greatest controller in Valorant.

2024-09-13 11:55