Disappointing Agent Selection in VALORANT
Selecting agents in VALORANT can be a frustrating experience. Despite the growing pool of agents available, it seems like everyone wants to play duelists and expects someone else to be the healer, usually requesting Sage.
Community-wide Issue
This isn’t just something that my friends and I have noticed in our solo queue games. It’s a problem that spans the entire VALORANT community. A Reddit thread from Aug. 15 revealed that players are constantly yelling at others to play healer.
Strange Request
Interestingly, the players who demand a Sage never choose the agent themselves. I’ve experienced this firsthand when I decide to play Skye, for example. They criticize me for not picking Sage, as if it’s still the best choice in 2020.
According to one player, it’s strange to encounter so many Reynas who demand a healer. They argue that if these players want kills so badly, why do they choose duelists in the first place?
Another player expressed their frustration by saying they instantly quit the game whenever someone asks for a healer during agent selection.
Loud Microphone Chatter
Another issue that irks the community is players talking loudly on the microphone during agent selection. Many players, including myself, end up muting the comms in order to avoid the edgy players who didn’t get their desired agent.
Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. In many cases, players who didn’t choose their agent quickly enough will either troll the game from the start or dodge the match altogether.
Find a Group of Friends
Given these ongoing problems, the best solution is to play with a group of friends rather than solo. Most of these issues have persisted since 2020, making it nearly impossible for Riot Games to change the community’s culture.
Related: Best agents in VALORANT: Ranked tier list