VALORANT characters list: all agents by role and release order

Wessel Minnie
Chadley Kemp
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Table of Contents
  1. TL;DR
  2. How many agents are in VALORANT?
  3. Full VALORANT characters list by role
  4. VALORANT agent release order timeline
  5. Who is the new agent in VALORANT?
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs
  8. REFERENCES
Group of VALORANT agents standing together in official VALORANT artwork
Image credit: Riot Games

TL;DR

  • VALORANT has 28 agents, each categorized into one of four distinct roles: Duelists, Controllers, Initiators, and Sentinels.
  • Agent 8 remains a mystery, while Agent 30 — likely of Croatian origin — is the next VALORANT character to join the ever-expanding agent roster.

VALORANT boasts an expansive roster of playable characters called “agents,” each with their own unique ability kits, personalities, and backstories. Since launch, Riot has steadily brought new additions almost every Episode, keeping the meta fresh and exciting.

In this guide, we’ll tell you how many agents there currently are, provide a release timeline, the full list of VALORANT characters by role, and a few interesting tidbits about them. 

How many agents are in VALORANT?

There are currently 28 agents in VALORANT. Agent 30 was briefly teased at the end of the Masters Santiago trailer. 

In the trailer (at timestamp 1:51), Killjoy and Clove can be seen tracking the new VALORANT agent. The coordinates shown point toward Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, suggesting that Agent 30 may be of Croatian origin.

While Riot has not yet confirmed a release date for Agent 30, it is highly speculated that the new character will be added with Season 26 Act 2 on March 18, 2026.

Hand holding a device displaying GPS coordinates in a VALORANT cinematic
The GPS coordinates 45°48′ CC” N 15°57′ UX” E point to Zagreb, Croatia / Image credit: Riot Games

Full VALORANT characters list by role

There are four agent roles in VALORANT, including six (6) Controllers, eight (8) Duelists, seven (7) Sentinels, and seven (7) Initiators.

You can view all VALORANT characters by role below, including their lore-based agent numbers.

VALORANT agent release order timeline

The VALORANT beta launched with only 10 agents: Brimstone, Viper, Omen, Cypher, Sova, Sage, Phoenix, Jett, Raze, and Breach. Despite being released nearly six years ago now, many of them remain meta agents in VALORANT today.

To learn more, you can check out the VALORANT agent release order timeline in the table below. We’ve included the country of origin, release date, and the number assigned to each agent, along with their respective in-game roles and voice actors for good measure.

#AgentRelease dateRoleCountry of originVoice actor
01BrimstoneApril 7, 2020 (Beta)ControllerUnited StatesSteve Blum
02ViperApril 7, 2020 (Beta)ControllerUnited StatesAshly Burch
03OmenApril 7, 2020 (Beta)ControllerUnknownJason Marnocha
05CypherApril 7, 2020 (Beta)SentinelMoroccoNabil Elouahabi
06SovaApril 7, 2020 (Beta)InitiatorRussiaAaron Vodovoz
07SageApril 7, 2020 (Beta)SentinelChinaNaomi Yang
09PhoenixApril 7, 2020 (Beta)DuelistUnited KingdomAfolabi Alli
10JettApril 7, 2020 (Beta)DuelistSouth KoreaShannon Williams
12RazeApril 7, 2020 (Beta)DuelistBrazilCarolina Ravassa
13BreachApril 7, 2020 (Beta)InitiatorSwedenDavid Menkin
11ReynaJune 2, 2020 (Launch)DuelistMexicoKarina Altamirano
04KilljoyAugust 4, 2020SentinelGermanyEva Feiler
14SkyeOctober 27, 2020InitiatorAustraliaMiranda O’Hare
15YoruJanuary 12, 2021DuelistJapanDaisuke Takahashi
16AstraMarch 2, 2021ControllerGhanaEffie Nkrumah
17KAY/OJune 22, 2021InitiatorAlternate EarthGabe Kunda
18ChamberNovember 16, 2021SentinelFranceHugo Pierre Martin
19NeonJanuary 11, 2022DuelistPhilippinesVanille Velasquez
20FadeApril 27, 2022InitiatorTürkiyeSelin Çuhadaroğlu
21HarborOctober 18, 2022ControllerIndiaSunil Malhotra
22GekkoMarch 7, 2023InitiatorUnited StatesAlejandro Ruiz
(creature voices from Jan Johns, Kellen Goff, and Paul Guyet)
23DeadlockJune 27, 2023SentinelNorwayNora Gjestvang
24IsoOctober 31, 2023DuelistChinaJames Zhao
25CloveMarch 26, 2024ControllerScotlandIsla Campbell
26VyseAugust 28, 2024SentinelUnknownMarta Svetek
27TejoJanuary 8, 2025InitiatorColombiaVictor Turpin
28WaylayMarch 5, 2025DuelistThailandMo Rodvanich
29VetoOctober 7, 2025SentinelSenegalBamar Kane
30TBDMarch 18, 2026 (speculated)Controller (speculated)Croatia (speculated)TBD

VALORANT agent numbers explained

Importantly, the number of VALORANT characters does not match the numerical agent designations.

This is because agent numbers are directly linked to the game’s lore. Specifically, the agents are numbered in the order they joined the VALORANT Protocol (VP) of Alpha Earth.

For example, the first two characters to join were Brimstone (VP-01) and Viper (VP-02). While these two agents were both in the game’s beta, we also had Breach (VP-13). 

The first ten VALORANT agents were all in the VP-01 to VP-13 range, with VP-04 (Killjoy) and VP-11 (Reyna) added on or shortly after launch. Notably, one character, Agent 8, never joined the character roster.

Where is VALORANT’s mysterious Agent 8?

To date, Riot has not revealed Agent 8 (VP-08)’s identity. There’s also no indication when the character will be released in the game.

In fact, they are the reason why the number of characters in VALORANT does not correlate with the agent numbers. For example, Veto is Agent 29, but there are currently only 28 characters in the game.

There have been several hints and teases surrounding Agent 8 over the years. During a Reddit AMA on June 3, 2021, VALORANT Narrative Lead Joe Killeen was asked about Agent 8’s potential release and cryptically replied:

“As soon as they get back.”

The last mention of Agent 8 came from a Clove (Agent 25) voice line, where the character says:

“So are we gonna talk about the empty locker back at base? The one with the scratched out 08? Anyone? No one? Okay…”

Clove was released on March 26, 2024.

Scrapped VALORANT agents

Three scrapped VALORANT agents have surfaced through early development data mining and internal game files.

While Riot Games has never officially confirmed these scrapped VALORANT characters, the discoveries offer a glimpse into the experimental designs that may have helped shape the agents that eventually made it into the game.

  • Crusader: Could have been an early concept of Breach during development, with flash/stun mechanics in the Controller role.
  • Joules: A precursor to Killjoy, with a Shock Grenade and a Seeker Bolt ability datamined.
  • Shatter: A possible prototype for Yoru or maybe Phoenix. Shatter had a “decoy” ability that could create a clone to distract and deal damage.

Take the information about scrapped agents with a grain of salt, as it all came from unofficial sources during the game’s early development phase.

Astra agent selection screen in VALORANT
Riot will continue to add new VALORANT agents to its ever-expanding character roster over time / Image credit: Chadley Kemp for Esports Insider

Who is the new agent in VALORANT?

As pointed out by Esports Insider Deputy Editor, Rabia Sayal, Agent 30 is likely of Croatian origin. After all, the coordinates of the capital of Croatia were spotted in the Masters Santiago teaser trailer.

We also spotted a device similar to Brimstone’s Stim Beacon when the barrier opens right at the end of the trailer. 

Since 2024, developer Riot Games has released one Duelist, two Sentinels, and one Initiator. That said, it’s suspected that Agent 30 could be a Controller. Take this as speculation until the expected full reveal on March 15 during the Masters Santiago Grand Final.

Lastly, the Masters Santiago trophy is themed around the new VALORANT agent. However, no precise details could be deduced from the design. 

Conclusion

VALORANT’s roster of unique agents continues to grow. With every character’s release, the game’s sci-fi lore gets pushed forward, revealing new intricate plot details.

For us, the most exciting aspect of a new agent is its ability kit, bringing potential new gameplay elements, and therefore, a shift in the esports meta.

FAQs

When is Agent 8 coming to VALORANT?

Riot Games has not revealed when Agent 8 will appear in VALORANT.

When will the next VALORANT agent release?

The next VALORANT agent release date is strongly suspected to coincide with the launch of Season 26 Act 2 on March 18, 2026.

Who is the youngest VALORANT agent?

The youngest agent is Neon (VP-19), who is 19 years old. Interestingly, her agent number appears to correspond with her age.

Who is Agent 30 in VALORANT?

Agent 30 is rumored to be a Controller of Croatian origin. However, these details come from leaks and speculation, so they should be treated cautiously until Riot Games confirms them.

What is Sova’s real name?

Sova’s real name is Alexander ‘Sasha’ Novikov. The Russian agent is also known by aliases such as Filin, Brother of Steel, and String.

REFERENCES

Wessel Minnie

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From his first taste of esports as a member of Bravado Gaming, a top South African organization, to a content creator and Senior Editor at various publications, Wessel "Sillicur" Minnie has built up nearly two decades of experience. While he isn't clicking heads with vigor on local CS2 servers, he's sniffing out interesting news to discuss with readers. Wessel believes that high-quality, well-researched content is what the industry needs, and deserves.
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