Summary
Valorantis filled with various agents and abilities which players are constantly trying to keep up with. As Riot Games tries to consistently keep up to date with the latest Meta and find ways to balance it between the agents, some abilities become more overpowered than others.
The constant patches change whichValorantabilities are the best, but consistently there are some abilities between the various agents that allow for huge advantages to players who are able to use them. Some of the usages of certain abilities are situational, but some abilities are always useful to have around.
Updated July 16, 2025 by Chris Harkin:Although Valorant is updated frequently, and various abilities are often nerfed or changed entirely, many of the same abilities manage to stay on top of the power ratings for extended periods. Their usage is key to much of the strategy in Valorant.
Although an individual ability doesn’t necessarily make an agent one of the very best in the game, some of these abilities are still game-changers in the right situation. Valorant is a game of strategy and trying to keep it balanced is a non-stop task that requires constant supervision. For this reason, this article will continue to receive updates as the abilities in Valorant continue to change.
1Viper’s Pit (Viper)
An Ultimate Ability That Offers Huge Protection
Viper’s ultimate ability creates a huge poisonous cloud that covers a large area. This allows Viper to hide inside and protect the spike if it is active, or a site alternatively. Either way, it completely blocks enemies from the area for as long as Viper stays inside, and decays enemies who step within, making any fight a hefty advantage to Viper.
Because of her abilities, in particular this ultimate, Viper has the title of being the best spike defender inValorant. Enemies stepping into the Viper’s Pit will have reduced visibility and so little health that Viper can shut them down easily. Taking on multiple enemies and clutching looks a lot more possible with the Viper’s Pit helping, making it one of the most consistently overpowered ultimate abilities in the game.
2Dimensional Drift (Yoru)
The Ultimate Tool For Sneaking Around Enemies
Few ultimate abilities can shift a round in the direction of the player like Yoru’s Dimensional Drift. This ability allows Yoru to enter an invulnerable, invisible state for enough time to get out of an area or sneak behind some enemies to catch them unawares.
While Yoru is drifting, he can still use other abilities, allowing him to blind enemies for teammates, or to allow himself time to come out of the drift and kill them unawares. This makes for a brutal ultimate ability that can turn a round on its head. Yoru’s abilities make him a strong agent already, but this in particular can devastate an entire enemy team if used properly and in conjunction with allies.
3Devour (Reyna)
A Self-Heal For A Duelist Makes Her Ridiculously Strong
Reyna is considered one of the best individual characters in the game. If a team is working well together, they can bring down even a great Reyna player. But in a situation where both teams are doing their own thing, Reyna is devastating. Devour is one of the best abilities in the game because it allows Reyna to heal herself using the corpse of an enemy.
This capability makes it very difficult to take down Reyna when she goes on a rampage, and especially at lower levels, players will often find a Reyna near the top of the scoreboard asone of the best duelist charactersinValorantfor picking up kills near-continuously as the rounds go by. Devour is not Reyna’s only great ability, but it is the one that allows her to trade health in duels and regain that health to be at full strength again for more individual battles.
4Killjoy (Killjoy)
An Ultimate That Can Completely Ruin An Enemy Team’s Round
Killjoy’s ultimate ability, named after her, has been steadily becoming stronger and a more vitally game-changing ability over recent patches. Since Chamber was brutally nerfed by Riot Games,Killjoy is the best Sentinelin the game and her ultimate ability is a major part of what makes her great.
The ultimate deploys an attack with a wide range which contains and totally paralyzes enemy players caught inside of it. This can be used while the spike is planted to chase off all opposition, and almost no enemy utility can destroy it before the lockdown is complete anymore.
5Trip Wire (Cypher)
The Best Way To Watch A Team’s Back Without Wasting Agents
Cypher has always been a great characterto have on aValorantteam, primarily because of the frustration involved in trying to sneak up behind him. Cypher’s trip wire is a valuable piece of utility that stops enemies from getting near him often.
While this is valuable in itself, the trip wire can also be used to block enemies in a rush to enter a site that Cypher is holding. Adding this to his camera and other utility makes Cypher a deadly opponent to try and get the drop on for any player or character.
6Updraft (Jett)
Allows Players To Reach All Sorts Of Positions
Jett is one of the most continuously beloved agents inValorant. Meta changes are constantly shifting the landscape of which characters are best in the professional setting, but Jett is almost always one of the top duelists in the game. Currently, it is pretty much undeniable.
With new maps released where she flourishes, and a move set which is always devastating to square off against, Jett is one of the greatest agents inValorant.Her updraft ability is huge, enabling her to get to locations quickly and easily that are inaccessible to almost every other agent in the game.
7Wingman (Gekko)
Allows The Spike To Be Planted Remotely
Gekko is one of the newest agents inValorantand while the Meta could change at any time, he is still considered to be hugely overpowered. His Wingman ability is one of the more unique ideas that Riot Games have added to a character’s ability, having several uses but one in particular which can be devastating.
When Gekko has the spike, Wingman can take it and plant it for him, enabling him to continue shooting at enemies in the meantime. It can also defuse the spike similarly for him, which is completely ludicrous and will possibly be nerfed in the future.This ability is great for new playerstrying to learn how to gain points quickly.
8Leer (Reyna)
One Of The Most Effective Blinds In The Game
Reyna once again appearsfor this move which can devastate players, again used more at lower levels of play than at professional ones. Even so, Leer is a devastating move that is incredibly difficult to deal with. It blinds enemies and can be fired through walls, but can be destroyed by enemies.
The problem is that this weakness is actually another strength. Either enemies stay blind or snap to destroy the leer, which allows Reyna to snap around a corner and hit them while they are distracted. Both ways, Reyna gets the advantage and the win with minimal danger to herself at all times.
9Sova (Shock Arrow)
Allows Sova To Root Out Enemies Hidden In Corners
Sova is another agent who has long been consideredone of the best inValorant. Despite nerfs in the past limiting some of his abilities, Sova has stayed near the top of the game. Part of that reason is the incredible versatility of abilities such as the Shock Arrow.
This damaging AOE shot can be fired from Sova’s bow with the player choosing how many times it will bounce before landing. This is one of the most complicated pieces of equipment to get to grips with inValorant, but it is worth it as one of the very best there is because of how many places it can hit, eliminating enemies hiding in many difficult-to-reach corners.
