Here’s Everything We Know About Riot Games’ Valorant So Far


While there’s a lot more to find out about Valorant, the world has come a long way since Riot Games’ debut first-person-shooter game was announced as Project A during their 10th Anniversary stream.

Currently, there isn’t a specific release date for Valorant, but it is believed to on schedule for a summer 2020 release. While a beta version has been confirmed by Riot, there is also currently no set date for that, either.

On its release, there are to be around 10 character to choose from, with their abilities featuring similarities to both Overwatch and Counterstrike.

All characters will have four unique abilities, and two of which you’ll need to buy with money you obtain each round. Once your character has been chosen, you’re locked in for a 24 round match, which can result in sudden death should it result in a tie.

Riot Games has detailed the first eight characters already and what to expect from them.

CHARACTERS:

Valorant
Phoenix / Riot Games

Phoenix is apparently the game’s most aggressive character. His abilities resemble that of Leroy Jenkins, and if you’re looking to rush into battle as fast as possible, he’s you’re go-to guy, partnered with his affinity to fire.

  • Hot hands → Throws a fireball that covers a small area of flames after a few seconds, or when it hits the ground. These flames damage enemies but heal you.
  • Blaze → Summon a wall of fire that blocks the line of sight and injures all agents that pass through it.
  • Curveball → Throws a flashbang.
  • Run it back (Ultimatum) → Marks your current location and starts a timer. When the timer expires — or you die — you are resurrected to the point marked with all your HPs.
Valorant
Viper Riot Games

Viper’s biggest tool is fuel, and she is mostly equipped with toxic, poisonous weapons and gas jets.

  • Snakebite – Fire a projectile that creates a pool of acid.
  • Poison Cloud – Throw a gas bomb that emits a cloud of poisonous smoke at the cost of fuel. You can retrieve the gas bomb and throw it again after a short cooldown.
  • Toxic Screen – Creates a line of gas emitters that can be activated to create a wall of toxic gas at the cost of fuel.
  • Viper’s Pit (ult) – Creates a poison cloud that blankets a large area, letting Viper easily pick off enemies trapped within it.
Valorant
Sova Riot Games

Sova is the Katniss Everdeen of the gang, and if you’re looking for a bow and arrow specialist he’s the character that knows it best.

  • Shock Bolt – Fires a bolt that radiates damaging bursts of static energy on impact.
  • Owl Drone – Use a pilotable, flying drone to scout the map and fire darts that reveal enemies.
  • Recon Bolt – Fires an arrow that emits sonar waves that marks and reveals nearby enemies for as long as it remains in place (can be destroyed).
  • Hunter’s Fury (ult) – Fires up to three energy blasts that pierce walls and travel the length of the map. Any enemies that are hit take near-fatal damage and are revealed to your team.

These are just a few, but there are more detailed character descriptions online where you can really get to grips with the squad. But for now, here’s a mini run-down of the characters and their main abilities.

  • Sova – Fires magic arrows that penetrate walls and can travel clear across the map and deal big damage.
  • Phoenix – Can curve flashbangs around corners.
  • Cypher – A defensive powerhouse who can lay tripmines and stick a camera to a wall to watch for flanking attacks.
  • Jett – Can leap into the air and throw knives for quick, surprise kills.
  • Viper – Can unleash poison clouds that blind enemies or zone them into a deadly ambush.
  • Brimstone – Calls in orbital bombardments that either help friends or obliterate enemies.
  • Sage – Valorant’s resident medic can heal or revive allies.
  • Omen – A shifty rogue who can get behind enemy lines or temporarily blind them.

With the release of official gameplay already making its way online, it’s only a matter of time before players will be entering the realm of Valorant themselves, and I for one can’t wait to see what Riot have pulled out of the bag with their exciting new debut.

[Featured Image Credit: Riot Games]