The ultimate Valorant tier list for Episode 9 Act 3

Valorant Episode 9 Act 3 is in full swing, but the addition of two new agents and a new map has thoroughly shaken up the meta. Our Valorant agent tier list may help you breeze through the chaos.

Gunplay is at the heart of Valorant, but agents are the soul of Riot’s shooter. In September 2024, the game has an extensive lineup of 25 characters, all bringing a unique set of abilities to the table. Agents are grouped into four categories, offering players a range of options to choose from and find the perfect fit for their individual playstyle. Every Valorant agent has its strengths, but the category diversity is intentional. With varying map pools and meta, certain agents stand out, enabling players to tactically switch up their picks and bench others.

This Valorant agent tier list for Episode 9, Act 3 is based on the meta, popularity in pro play, win rate, and map pool.

Valorant agent tier list for in Episode 9 Act 3

Here is our Valorant agent tier list for ranked play in Episode 9 Act 3.

S Tier: Jett, Cypher, Raze, Omen, Sova, Clove

A Tier: Breach, Neon, Astra, Deadlock, Killjoy

B Tier: Chamber, Viper, Kay/O, Vyse, Fade, Gekko

C Tier: Iso, Yoru, Skye, Brimstone, Reyna

D Tier: Harbor, Sage, Pheonix

S Tier: Jett, Cypher, Raze, Omen, Sova, Clove

Jett

Jett has consistently held her position as an S tier character since the inaugural Valorant episode, owing to her exceptional aerial control and ability to dash into sites, creating space. Currently, no other agent in Valorant possesses a toolkit that can rival Jett’s. Neon had the potential to dethrone her, but the sonic speedster lacked horizontal mobility, allowing Jett to retain her spot.

The 7.94 rework did lower her popularity, but Riot’s refusal to remove Ascent from the active pool has allowed her to stay relevant in Episode 9. With Haven and Ascent both on active duty, it’s tough to bench Jett and her Updrafts, which shine the most on open-field locations.

Sova

Sova is favored by pro players on most Valorant maps but falls short on Lotus, which is not part of the Episode 9 pool, earning him a spot in S tier. With a solid 52% pick rate during Valorant Champions Seoul 2024, the Russian initiator is a must-pick to scan sites on the attacking side.

While pro players heavily rely on Sova’s Recon Bolt lineups, ranked players can also leverage his Drone and Hunter’s Fury abilities, which have a relatively low learning curve and prove particularly useful in post-plant situations. Instead of learning dozens of lineups, his ultimate can be shot at from anywhere, dealing severe damage, which can be helpful in ranked play.

Omen

Omen stands out as a consistently popular pick across all Valorant maps. His global smokes, which recharge after a brief cooldown, make him an exceptional choice for defensive site lockdowns. Prior to the 7.08 buffs, he consistently ranked in the lower half of the top 10 in terms of pick rate. The impact of the buff was truly reflected at Convergence 2023 when Omen was played 70% of the time by pro players. We don’t see him falling out of the meta any time soon due to his viability across all maps besides Icebox unless Riot delivers major nerfs.

Cypher

Cypher excels on maps with narrow, congested entrances, and Episode 9’s map pool is replete with them. A significant factor contributing to his popularity in both Premier and professional play is Split, a map frequently played in tournaments and ranked matches. Split is best defended with a double sentinel setup, with Killjoy and Cypher being the most popular duo. Without Cypher, it can be tricky to bag wins on defense.

Although he gained popularity after the Trapwire rework in 7.09, his recent surge in favor is largely attributed to the introduction of Sunset, a map where Cypher truly shines. Given Sunset’s recent addition, it’s likely to remain in the map pool for several acts, ensuring Cypher’s dominance for the next few months.

Raze

Raze nabs a spot in S tier for several reasons, but the simplicity of her toolkit is the main one, at least for ranked Valorant. Besides her satchel, Raze’s toolkit has a low learning curve, putting her on the radar of Valorant players.

In Challengers League 2024 North America, Raze was the top three most played agents, with 93% playtime on Split. Her second most favored map is Bind, and with her Boombot proving instrumental in clearing choke points on Sunset, Raze is poised to become a staple in game-winning team compositions throughout Episode 9.

Clove

Clove hasn’t seen enough time in pro play, but she’s making waves in Valorant Premier for her ability to remain useful after getting eliminated. Self-healing is an asset in Valorant, and since she’s one of the few agents who can play medic, Clove nabs a spot in the S tier.

Clove is a versatile asset on both defense and offense, enabling a lone teammate to clutch a 1vX situation. Following Viper’s nerf, which limits her smoke orb reuse, Clove fills the gap by providing sustained cover for teammates even after she’s eliminated.

A Tier: Breach, Neon, Astra, Deadlock, Killjoy

Breach

Breach has one of the most potent flashes in Valorant, making him a valuable asset on attack. It helps that it’s also pretty tough to dodge, which makes him as valuable on defense. While Aftershock was always helpful in forcing sneaky campers out of hiding, he’s been favored even more since 7.04 buffs that increased tick damage.

Breach makes an excellent second entry when paired with movement maniacs like Neon or Jett. In team settings, his Rolling Thunder provides the perfect ground for a quick-footed duelist to take down stunned enemies, earning him a spot in the A tier.

Neon

While Neon was always a menace in the hands of the right player, the 8.11 buff has turned her into an absolute powerhouse. With her screen duration extended and speed boosted, she’s become the top pick on maps where attackers typically struggle. For instance, gaining entry into Split can be challenging, but Neon’s Fast Lane and enhanced speed enable her to easily break through congested areas, making her a game-changer on this map.

Prior to the 8.11 update, Neon struggled to crack the top 15 agents in major Valorant tournaments. Still, the buff has catapulted her to prominence, making her a crucial component in game-winning strategies. In Ascension 2024, Neon’s pick rate soared to 56%, with a staggering 100% pick rate on Sunset and Lotus.

Astra

At release, Astra was a meta-breaking agent, but Riot promptly nerfed her entire toolkit in patch 4.04. Since then, she has struggled to regain relevance. However, the recent 9.05 buff rewards her with an extra star and promises to establish her as a top contender in the controller roster.

With five stars in her pocket, Astra can now use both of her smokes while using Gravity Well and Nova Pulse. This makes her particularly useful on Haven, Ascent, and Abyss, all currently active in the Valorant rotation.

Deadlock

Deadlock is underrated in ranked, but her consistent presence across China Ascension and now Redbull Home Ground suggests ranked players may eventually catch up to her viability as well.

Deadlock’s site control shines when paired with agents like Brimstone, Killjoy, and Vyse, doling out a painful, slow demise to enemies. She may not have traditional post-plant abilities, but her Barrier Mesh excels at keeping enemies at bay, particularly since the 8.0 buff. Her pick rate isn’t as insane as other sentinels, but pro players tend to gravitate toward her crowd-controlling toolkit on Bind, Ascent, and Haven.

Killjoy

Killjoy’s sustained presence in ranked play can be attributed to several factors, with her low learning curve and high reward being the primary reasons. Of course, the nerfs in 2023 to her ultimate, and Turret shifted the focus of seasonal Killjoy fans to other sentinels. Still, her overall viability in locking down large areas remains unfazed.

With Riot adding more and more triple-sided maps, Killjoy will continue to be a consistent pick due to her capability to single-handedly guard one site.

B Tier: Chamber, Viper, Kay/O, Vyse, Fade, Gekko

Gekko

Gekko’s abilities may look a bit non-serious for high-level Valorant, but pro players have been using his Wingman quite a lot to deliver a bomb to the site. Especially on Bind, which is a heavily attacker-sided map, Wingman’s defusal kit can be a game changer.

He’s mostly a passive backliner who should toss out his abilities to provide support and pull out his Wingman when Spike comes into play. This is due to his abilities remaining usable throughout the round, thanks to them turning into retrievable Globules after each use. The most recent 9.08 balances are the only reason he’s not A tier. The agent’s ultimate is now hard to unlock at 8 points, and Globules are also less accessible.

Chamber

Similar to Astra, Chamber broke the game meta upon release, but Riot quickly disciplined him in 5.03. Since then, a series of targeted buffs have helped stabilize his gameplay, and the recent 9.08 update brings promising changes that may signal his return to team compositions. Chamber’s teleport now has a slightly larger area, which may allow players to be more confident in pushing into sites.

However, this buff doesn’t improve the real problem areas: Headhunter and Trademark, both of which remain slightly underpowered since the rework in 2022. But, with Vyse’s addition, players may start picking him more, since his guns are the only weapons that would remain functional when Vyse activates her disarming ultimate.

Viper

Viper’s ultimate blends Killjoy’s and Harbor’s menacing capabilities with her decay, adding an extra layer of danger. This versatility explains why she remains a formidable force, despite the recent 8.08 nerfs. The only downside is that she’s no longer the most powerful controller in Valorant. Instead, she excels as a sentinel hybrid, leveraging her abilities for anchoring sites. With her smoke no longer pickable, Viper has transitioned from a mobile agent to a more stationary, anchoring presence.

Kay/O

Kay/O may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s absolutely crucial to pick on Ascent if you’re looking to bag rounds on the attack. Since it’s a heavily defender-sided map, you’d need Kay/O’s suppressor to break into the site and win at least four rounds before the switch.

While he’s instrumental on Ascent and Haven, Kay/O isn’t an agent you’d want to spend too much time practicing as he’s below average on the majority of other Valorant maps. Even in pro play, teams like EDward Gaming, FUT, and similar pick him on the select one or two maps.

Vyse

Similar to Clove, Vyse has yet to make her mark in the esports scene, but her impressive toolkit in ranked play prevents her from being relegated to the C tier. While her innovative penetrable flashes are a notable ability, her Shear truly sets her apart as an agent tailored for competitive play.

With her abilities combined, Vyse excels as a defense-side agent, capable of dealing damage and delaying pushes. This makes her an excellent pick for players who main Killjoy, Cypher, or Sage. As seen in Premier, where she boasts a 49.1% win rate, Vyse’s meta is on the horizon.

Fade

Similar to Sova, Fade’s toolkit has a moderately high learning curve, but the payoff isn’t substantial enough to secure her a spot in the A or S tier. However, she’s managed to stay in the top 15 consistently picked agents across Valorant tournaments in the latter half of 2023 and 2024.

Her Prowler and Haunt are instrumental in winning in close-range combats, but the issue is with the rest of her toolkit, which can be dodged or denied pretty easily.

C Tier: Iso, Yoru, Skye, Brimstone, Reyna

Iso is a robust tank that excels at breaking into sites and absorbing heavy damage, thanks to his Contingency. The power-packed duelist pushed Raze to become the popular space-maker at VCT Masters Shanghai, prompting Riot to deliver heavy nerfs to his Double Tap in 9.0. However, the shield remains powerful in episode 9 and can still last throughout the round in an ideal scenario. Yoru, on the other hand, is a highly situational hit-or-miss agent with a steep learning curve, which is why some players may not opt for him since his toolkit doesn’t reward you for the work put in.

If Skye’s Guiding Light were still in its 2023 form, Skye might have been an A tier agent. But after the 8.01 nerfs, she’s only viable on select maps like Bind, where other initiators like Breach and Gekko excel as better options. Brimstone is currently in an awkward tier between B and C, but since Clove’s addition and Astra buffs, it doesn’t make sense to prefer him as a controller on any map.

Reyna, in the right hands, can be your ticket to Radiant, regardless of the map, and that’s a problem. Her toolkit is a high-stakes, aim-dependent gamble, holding you back from reaching your full potential on bad aim days.

D Tier: Harbor, Sage, Pheonix

Harbor has been underperforming since his release, with a mere 17% playtime in VCT Masters Tokyo, a rare sight for new agents in Valorant’s first few months. His toolkit’s innate limitations hinder his success across maps. It’s partly because he has to throw his utility and can’t activate and deactivate at will.

Sage’s popularity has been waning for some time, and Vyse’s arrival will likely further diminish her pick rate. Unless Riot buffs her healing abilities, Sage no longer offers a unique value proposition. Phoenix may have a loud personality, but his toolkit is surprisingly mute. In some locations, his ultimate can be a difference-maker between a win and a loss, but for the most part, teams can do just fine without him. However, with upcoming patch 9.10 changes, Pheonix may become more viable with a wall that penetrates through objects and curveball regaining after two kills. But it’s too soon to place him anywhere above D tier.

This wraps up our ultimate Valorant tier list for Episode 9, Act 2.