Valorant Agent Tier List: Best Agents for Patch 13.09 (Season 2026 Act 6)
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- Rebuilt the tier list for Patch 13.09 (Season 2026, Act 6), grouped by role.
- Added the four agents released since our last update: Waylay, Veto, Miks and Hush.
- Fixed agent roles and added a roles table.
- Added a summary of the biggest balance changes since early 2025.
- Rechecked Clove after the Patch 13.09 nerf and added a short FAQ.
💡 Highlights
- Updated for Patch 13.09 (Season 2026, Act 6).
- Clove is the top Controller. Neon and Phoenix lead the Duelists.
- Sova and Fade are the strongest Initiators, and Cypher leads the Sentinels.
- There are now 30 agents, including newcomers Waylay, Veto, Miks and Hush.
- Hush arrived on October 27, 2026 and is too new to rank.
Last checked: Patch 13.09, October 2026.
This list shows which Valorant agents are strongest in the current ranked meta. We looked at several recent tier lists and ranked match data, then grouped the agents that most sources agree on. A low spot doesn’t mean an agent is bad. Your own skill on an agent matters more than any list.
What’s Changed Since Our Last Update
Valorant has had a lot of patches since early 2025. The biggest changes for this list are:
- Four new agents: Waylay (Duelist), Veto (Sentinel), Miks (Controller) and Hush (Duelist). There are now 30 agents.
- Patch 11.08 made most utility recharge slower. Initiators like Sova and Fade got longer cooldowns on their main abilities.
- Neon was nerfed in Patch 12.09 but still ranks near the top.
- Phoenix’s ultimate now costs 7 points, up from 6 (Patch 13.02).
- Clove’s Pick-me-up speed boost was cut from 15% to 10% in Patch 13.09, and killing her after Not Dead Yet now gives the killer an ultimate point and a signature refresh point. Ranked data from October 30, 2026 still puts her at the top of the Controllers.
Valorant no longer uses Episodes. It now runs one Season a year with six Acts. We are in Season 2026, Act 6.
Best Controllers
- Top pick: Clove. She is the highest-rated Controller across the lists we checked. Her smokes work even after she dies, and she can fight like a Duelist.
- Strong: Viper. She does well in ranked if you are patient and know her lineups.
- Pro favorite: Omen. He is a common pick in pro play but has a lower win rate in solo queue.
- Situational: Brimstone, Astra, Harbor and Miks. Miks is the newest Controller and is still finding his place.
Best Duelists
- Top picks: Neon and Phoenix. Neon is fast and hard to pin down. Phoenix can heal himself and doesn’t need much help from the team.
- Strong but split: Jett and Raze. Many players still love them. Sources disagree on how strong they are right now.
- Situational: Reyna, Yoru, Iso and Waylay. Yoru and Iso got small buffs in July 2026.
- Too new to rank: Hush. She arrived in Patch 13.09 on October 27, 2026. Give the meta a few weeks before judging her.
Best Initiators
- Top picks: Sova and Fade. Both are strong in every list we checked. Sova gives the best long-range info. Fade is great for aggressive teams.
- Solid: Skye. She sits in the middle tiers of the lists we checked and still gives good flashes and info.
- Situational: Breach, Tejo, Gekko and KAY/O. Breach got buffs in Patch 12.00 but still has a low win rate in ranked.
Best Sentinels
- Top pick: Cypher. He rates well in every source. He is a safe pick for holding a site alone.
- Strong: Killjoy and Sage. Killjoy is great on defense. Sage has one of the best Sentinel win rates in some data, even though fewer people play her.
- Situational: Vyse, Chamber, Deadlock and Veto.
Agent Roles at a Glance
| Role | Agents |
|---|---|
| Duelist | Jett, Phoenix, Reyna, Raze, Yoru, Neon, Iso, Waylay, Hush |
| Initiator | Sova, Breach, Skye, KAY/O, Fade, Gekko, Tejo |
| Controller | Brimstone, Viper, Omen, Astra, Harbor, Clove, Miks |
| Sentinel | Sage, Cypher, Killjoy, Chamber, Deadlock, Vyse, Veto |
How to Use This List
- Pick one agent per role you enjoy and get good at them.
- Match your pick to the map. Some agents are much stronger on certain maps, so see our guide to the best agents for each Valorant map.
- Build a balanced team. One Duelist, one Initiator, one Controller, one Sentinel and one flexible pick is a safe default.
- Check back after big patches. Season 2027 is expected to start with Patch 14.00, and the meta usually shifts then.
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Final Thoughts
Hope this Valorant tier list helps you get a grip on the Patch 13.09 meta. Climbing isn’t just about picking the right agents. It’s about practice, trying new things and, most of all, team play. A tier list only shows general trends. An agent outside the top picks can still carry games if you master them and make them work for your team. Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
In Patch 13.09, Clove is the top Controller, Neon and Phoenix lead the Duelists, Sova and Fade lead the Initiators, and Cypher leads the Sentinels. Clove was nerfed in 13.09 but still ranks first among Controllers in ranked data from October 30, 2026.
Hush is a Duelist who arrived in Patch 13.09 on October 27, 2026. She is still new, so there is not enough data to rank her yet. Expect her place to settle over the next few weeks.
There are 30 agents as of Patch 13.09. Hush is the newest.
