January 10, 2024
Since its release in 2020, Valorant has been a top competitor in the FPS realm. It’s so popular it has won the Best Esports Game in 2022 and 2023. With it being such a popular game, the meta is always changing. What are the best agents to play? This is a question a lot of people ask, especially those new to the game. This article will look at some of the top agents of 2023 with stats provided by Blitz.gg.
Valorant in 2023 spanned from Episode Six, Act One, which started in January of 2023, to Episode Seven, Act Three, which will end on January 9th of 2024. There were a few new agents to hit the scene this year, including Gekko, Deadlock, and Iso, who I’m sure we’ll see more of at the top of 2024’s list, but there were some clear standouts this year who could not be knocked off their pedestal. Here is a look at the top five agents of 2023.
5. Omen
The number five spot goes to Omen. Omen started the year on the lower end and began to pick up steam further into the year. Even though he did not start the year in the top 5, his numbers consistently put him near the best of the best. Omen had an average pick rate of around 5.2% for the six acts this year.
Omen is probably one of the best lurk Agents to main. He has long-range smokes that allow him to keep his team safe while he causes chaos on the complete opposite side of the map. His skills include ‘Shrouded Step, Paranoia, Dark Cover, and From the Shadow. He can block an opponent’s vision, he’s suitable for flanking, and he’s great for spike plants when his ultimate is ready.
4. Sage
Sage has consistently been one of the top agents of 2023. This makes sense since she’s one of the only support agents with good team heals and has the ability to resurrect a fallen comrade in a game where numbers are your biggest advantage. Her skills include Barrier Orb, Slow Orb, Healing Orb, and Resurrection. She’s good for players who want to take a more defensive role since she can heal, slow enemies down, and resurrect allies.
Don’t be fooled by her support role. There is more to Sage than just heals. Her Barrier Orb can help her get into unique spots that allow her to take down unsuspecting opponents more easily. It is common to see ‘Battle Sages’ that take the fight to the enemy rather than hanging back with the team.
Sage is a good starter agent and can be used in many unique ways the more comfortable you get with her. She can be seen in most team compositions as she provides incredible value with her healing and resurrection abilities.
3. Jett
Jett remains a fan-favorite duelist. Though she can be complicated to get the hang of at first, once you master her movements, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her skills include Cloudburst, Updraft, Tailwind, and Blade Storm. Jett is suitable for players who like to play aggressively, no matter if they are rushing the site or hanging back with an Operator. Her quick movements make her a perfect agent for aggressive peeks, and her Updraft skill allows her to get to places most other agents can’t.
She is built around speed and can easily throw opponents off balance with her quick movements and vertical abilities. She can launch upwards of forward, and her passive allows her to glide rather than fall to the ground. If you’re just starting with Valorant, Jett can be the pretty difficult character to pick up. However, with practice, Jett can quickly help dominate a map. Once you know how to use Jett creatively, you can potentially wipe out an entire team with just her ultimate ability in combination with her other abilities.
2. Raze
Coming in at number 2 is Raze. While Jett may have had a higher average pick rate, Raze had a higher average win percentage throughout 2023, and the two agents went back and forth for the number 2 ranked spot.
Raze is a powerhouse agent with an explosive kit with a Boom Bot, Paintshells, Blast Pack, and Showstopper. She can clear areas using her Paintshells and Boom Bot to create space for her team and deal massive damage. Raze is another character with great mobility, though it may take some practice to use her Blast Packs to their fullest extent.
1. Reyna
Across the board, Reyna was the top agent of 2023. She had the highest pick rate, the most matches played, and the highest win rate throughout the year. Reyna is the meta of the moment.
It’s no surprise Reyna is one of the top agents. Her kit allows her to be offensively and defensively aggressive. Her kit includes Leer, Devour, Dismiss, and Empress. Reyna can create space for her team, blind her opponents, and check corners before pushing in. Her dismiss ability allows her to make a hasty escape, so she can defend a site and get early picks without being traded.
Reyna is a great character and ideal for beginners because she can heal or evade with successful kills. In addition, she can help you learn how to create advantages for yourself when dueling. However, she lacks a lot of utility, so if you’re not comfortable being aggressive, communicate and rely on your teammates for support.
So there you have it! Your top Valorant Agents for 2023 are Omen, Sage, Jett, Raze, and Reyna. This year saw a heavy emphasis on duelists with aggressive playstyles, so make sure you get your practice in for 2024. If you would like to get more familiar with this year’s top agents, be sure to check out our Beginner Guides, and take a more detailed look at their kits and tips and tricks for these top agents.