Vyse is an agent who debuted on August 29, 2024, expanding the list of sentinels. His ability set differs somewhat from his counterparts, introducing new mechanics, such as disarming opponents. In this guide, we’ll break down Vyse’s abilities, provide tips on using them, and discuss other key details like the best maps and characters for effective duo play.

In this artcle:

• Disrupt All Plans
• Vyse’s Unique Trait
• Vyse's Abilities and Tips on Using Them
• Best Maps for Vyse
• Synergy with Other Agents
• Pro Tips
• Conclusion

Disrupt All Plans

Vyse is a sentinel who can heavily disrupt enemy plans with his abilities, putting opponents in difficult situations while creating favorable conditions for himself and his team. His ability arsenal is extensive: from walls and "combat grenades" to flashes and the ability to disarm enemies. Below are tips and strategies for both defense and attack:

Defense Tips:

• Place Sheer (Q) in choke points where enemies might come through to gather information and prevent them from taking positions easily.
• Set up Razorvine (C) in advance in corridors or near Spike plant locations to use it safely from a distance.
• Avoid placing your abilities in the same spots each round to avoid predictability. It’s better to switch their placement or divide them between two points — A and B.
• Arc Rose (E) blinds enemies, so it's best placed behind or at high points to blind as many enemies as possible without affecting your own team.
• Don’t rush into battle until you've used all your abilities. Many players correctly position their abilities but die before they can activate them.
• Try to defuse the Spike and collect points on the map more often to charge your ultimate faster, making retakes significantly easier with it.

Attack Tips:

• Use Sheer (Q) to gather information on flanks by placing it behind you to get alerts when someone crosses it.
• In post-plant situations, placing Sheer (Q) and Razorvine (C) in choke points can delay enemies and buy valuable time.
• Plant the Spike and collect ultimate points on the map to charge Steel Garden (X) faster, which can disarm defenders and help take the site.
• Before taking a position, set up Arc Rose (E) and activate it to blind potential enemies and gain an advantage.

Vyse’s Unique Trait

The main feature of Vyse among all Valorant agents is his ultimate ability, Steel Garden (X), which can disable the use of primary weapons like the Phantom, Vandal, Operator, Judge, Spectre, and others for enemies. This drastically alters gameplay when this agent is present, as opponents must constantly be on guard, knowing they can be disarmed.

READ MORE: Valorant Cypher Agent Guide: Master His Spy Skills with Tips & Abilities

Vyse's Abilities and Tips on Using Them

Razorvine

Razorvine (C) is a type of combat grenade that can be set in advance and activated when needed. Damage is only dealt to those within its radius who are moving. Players who stay still take no damage. It has two charges.

Useful Tips:

• Set up Razorvine (C) in advance to avoid risking time during engagements.
• This ability slows down agents caught in its radius.
• Combine with Sheer (Q), placing them together: the wall blocks the player's retreat, while Razorvine (C) damages them as they run to safety.
• Activate the ability carefully, as it can harm you and your teammates.
• The throwing mechanics allow for tossing it from safe spots. Learn a few lineups on your favorite map to surprise enemies.

Sheer

Sheer (Q) is a trap wall that automatically activates when an enemy passes through it, making them an easy target without support from their teammates left on the other side.

Useful Tips:

• The ability can only be retrieved during the buy phase.
• Sheer (Q) is completely invisible until activated.
• Use Sheer (Q) as an information-gathering tool, as it notifies you when someone passes nearby.
• The ability has a limited range, so it won’t fully cover large chokepoints. Ensure the wall completely blocks enemies’ paths after activation.
• Sheer (Q) lasts for a limited time after activation, so use this time to neutralize enemies while they are unsupported.
• Combine Sheer (Q) with other agents’ abilities, like Raze’s Paint Shells (E). Trapping enemies with the wall can allow you to throw a grenade and easily eliminate them.
• Enemies cannot destroy it either before or after activation.

Arc Rose

Arc Rose (E) is a metal rose that blinds enemies when activated. It’s harder to execute than other similar abilities but comes with its own advantages.

Useful Tips:

• You need to place the ability on a wall or other vertical surface before activation and press the activation button again to blind enemies who can see the metal rose.
• Enemies can destroy the ability, but it remains invisible to them until they get close.
• Arc Rose (E) can be picked up again after being placed.
• It has two placement options: on a wall or through it. These options are toggled using the right mouse button. If the ability is highlighted in yellow, it can be placed; if red, it cannot.
• Vyse informs the team when an enemy has been blinded or the ability has been destroyed, providing extra information on the enemy’s approximate location.

Steel Garden

Steel Garden (X) is the ultimate ability, creating a zone around Vyse where all enemies lose the ability to use their primary weapons after a short period, leaving them with only pistols and abilities.

Useful Tips:

• Steel Garden (X) is extremely effective on both defense and attack, so charge it as quickly as possible by planting/defusing the Spike and collecting ultimate points on the map.
• Coordinate with your team before using the ability to make the most of the time when enemies cannot use their primary weapons.
• There’s no point in using this ability when enemies are in an economic or incomplete buy round, as they already lack primary weapons like the Vandal, Phantom, or Operator.
• The mini-map shows the radius of Steel Garden (X), so ensure the ability covers as much of the map’s active area as possible and includes the most popular enemy positions.

Best Maps for Vyse

Given Vyse's abilities, the agent is not suited for large and open maps like Breeze or structurally complex ones like Icebox. He performs best on compact and closed maps with narrow chokepoints. Here’s a list of maps where Vyse shines:

• Lotus
• Bind
• Ascent
• Haven
• Sunset

Synergy with Other Agents

Like other agents, Vyse is designed to synergize with others, creating strong combinations. We’ve prepared a top-3 list of agents who, in our opinion, work best with Vyse:

• Raze
• KAY/O
• Killjoy

READ MORE: Valorant Killjoy Agent Guide: Tips, Abilities & Tactical Mastery

Pro Tips

We’ve selected a game where professional player Peter "Asuna" Mazuryk from the American club 100 Thieves played one of his standout matches, racking up 32 kills. Watching this video will help you better understand Vyse’s core mechanics and discover interesting tips for your own gameplay.

Conclusion

Vyse is the newest agent in Valorant as of October 2024. However, after his addition, his popularity quickly declined. Currently, Valorant players tend to choose other sentinels, like Killjoy or Cypher, over Vyse. In our opinion, this isn’t due to the agent being weak, but because Killjoy and Cypher have become familiar to everyone, and their abilities are more suited for holding back enemies and gathering information. Meanwhile, Vyse is a new agent who requires considerable effort to master. However, this doesn’t mean the agent isn’t worth your attention. By following our tips, you’ll be able to perform effectively on the battlefield, and in the future, Vyse might receive a buff due to low popularity, giving you an advantage over others as you’ve already spent time mastering him.