With each new season, more and more players join Valorant, many of whom are unfamiliar with the meta and often unsure of which agents to unlock first to avoid regretting their choice later. Currently, there are 24 agents in the game, with the 25th in development, making it easy to make a mistake in selection. However, after reading this guide, where we showcase and explain the best agents for beginners to unlock first, your decision will be much easier.

How to Make the Right Choice?

If you’re new to games like Valorant, it’s easy to make the wrong choice even after reading this guide and reviewing all the agents we suggest. This is likely because you haven’t yet discovered which type of agent you enjoy playing the most. Agents are divided into specific roles: Duelist, Controller, Initiator, and Sentinel. The gameplay for agents of the same type can feel very different, making it easy to make a mistake in your selection. However, this guide will help minimize the chances of making such a mistake.

Understand Agent Roles:

• Agents are divided into four roles: Duelist, Controller, Initiator, and Sentinel.
• Each role has a unique playstyle that can impact your overall gaming experience.

Identify Your Playstyle:

• If you like to be at the forefront of action and get kills, start with a Duelist.
• Prefer strategic control of the map? Controllers are your best bet.
• Want to support your team with information and setting up plays? Go for an Initiator.
• If you like defending and locking down areas, Sentinels are your role.

Experiment with Free Agents:

• Before unlocking, try out the free agents available to get a feel for each role.
• This will help you better understand which type of gameplay suits you best.

Consider the Current Meta:

• Research the current meta to see which agents are most effective in the game.
• While this shouldn’t be your only deciding factor, it can help guide your choice.

Make Your Decision:

• Based on your preferred playstyle, experimentations, and research, choose the agent that aligns most with how you want to play.

Now, let's take a deeper dive into which agent in a particular category is suitable for Valorant beginners in 2024.

Agents Beginners Should Unlock in 2024

At this point, we will review several agents that beginners should consider unlocking first. The agents will be categorized based on the following criteria:

• Relevance in the current meta
• Role (Duelist, Initiator, Sentinel, and Controller)
• Ease of use for beginners
• Agent for Sniper
  

Below you can see specific Valorant character options that we think are perfect for those who are just starting out in the game.

READ MORE: Valorant agents tier list after patch 9.03

Meta Agents

As of writing this guide, two agents who were not previously in the meta have suddenly become very relevant: Clove and Iso.

Iso

Iso is a Duelist whose abilities and purpose in the game are extremely straightforward, making him an excellent choice for beginners. All of his abilities are easy to understand and use, and after a few games, you’ll be able to grasp all their nuances. Iso’s gameplay is heavily focused on shooting, so if you have experience with shooters but are new to the world of Valorant, Iso will be the perfect choice for you.

Clove

Clove is the newest agent in the game and belongs to the Controller class. His unique advantage over other agents is that he can use his main ability, Ruse (E) (smoke screen), even after death. This ability, along with other skills that allow him to heal or weaken enemies, offers a unique and fast-paced gameplay experience unlike any other Controller.

Easy Agents for Beginners in Valorant

Not all beginners want to unlock meta agents right away, as they are just starting their journey in the game. Many prefer to play characters that are easy to understand, allowing them to enjoy the process and explore the new world of Valorant.

Sage

When it comes to simple and easy characters, Sage is the first that comes to mind. Her abilities are straightforward, as they all focus on supporting her team. However, managing her can be slightly challenging due to the use of Barrier Orb (C), which requires some practice to place correctly. All other abilities are intuitive: slowing down enemies, healing, and resurrecting teammates. If your skill level is low, you won’t regret unlocking Sage. However, if you’re a confident player with above-average skills, Sage may not be among the top-tier agents at higher ranks.

Reyna

Reyna is a great pick for beginners who come from other shooters and have strong shooting skills. Her abilities are mainly focused on self-play, as she can heal herself, blind enemies, and become invulnerable for a short period. This agent is popular across all ranks in Valorant, so if you enjoy fast and aggressive gameplay, choosing Reyna will bring you lots of fun.

Agent for Sniper

Some beginners prefer playing with sniper rifles, but Jett, who is available to everyone, might not be to their liking. There is another option for such players.

Chamber

Chamber is the true king of sniper rifles. With his ability, Rendezvous (E), he can teleport to safety after a missed shot or other danger. His ultimate ability, Tour De Force (X), provides him with an additional sniper rifle with better characteristics than the Operator. So, if you enjoy playing with snipers, choose Chamber - you won’t regret this choice.

READ MORE: Valorant agents with the lowest pickrate after patch 9.0

Controller

Since we’ve already discussed Clove, the next or alternative choice could be Omen, an interesting and fairly easy-to-understand character. His main value lies in his Dark Cover (E) ability and teleportation, which allows him to create chaos within the enemy team, who will have no idea where Omen is or what he might do next. Playing effectively with him can be challenging, but if you take the time to watch professional matches or streams, you’ll quickly learn how to act on the map.

Initiator

Gekko is a slightly more complex but very interesting agent who will bring you a lot of joy with the various creatures he befriends and controls. One of these creatures has become a symbol of Valorant—Wingman, who can not only detect enemies and stun them but also plant and defuse the Spike. Gekko’s uniqueness and appeal lie in his ability to retrieve most of his abilities and reuse them after a certain period.

Duelist

Raze is the third most powerful agent after Reyna and Iso in the current meta for beginners and the most challenging of the three. Effectively using Raze requires a lot of practice. The main difficulty lies in mastering her ability to jump and move quickly across the map using Blast Pack (Q). It’s also important not to miss your abilities, as they are all explosive and can harm not only enemies but also your teammates.

Sentinel

Cypher is a controller agent who stands out for his abilities to gather information and control the map. The main challenge in playing Cypher is placing his traps and cameras correctly. His Trapwire (C) and Spycam (E) can help detect enemies and provide constant surveillance of key points on the map. Cypher requires strategic thinking and the ability to anticipate enemy actions, but when used correctly, he can become an integral part of the team.

Conclusion

Unlocking your first agents should be done thoughtfully, as the first two can be unlocked relatively easily and quickly, while subsequent ones will be much harder without spending currency. Therefore, approach this decision responsibly, or you may regret your choice and be disappointed in Valorant. While we can’t definitively tell you which agents to unlock first, you’ll certainly find something in our list of recommended agents for beginners in Valorant in 2024.