Ranking the VALORANT Agent Releases in 2022
The year 2022 was a successful one for VALORANT, as the game celebrated its second birthday with a strong presence among both casual and competitive players.
Riot Games, the development team behind VALORANT, has made impressive additions to the game this year. They introduced one new map and three new agents, along with a wide range of cosmetic items.
Agent Releases in 2022
Today, we will focus on the three agents released in 2022: Neon, Fade, and Harbor. Each agent has a unique role, design, personality, and place in the meta. But which agent stands out as the best addition to the VALORANT lineup?
Here is our ranking of the agent releases in 2022, from worst to best.
3) Harbor
Harbor’s release was highly anticipated, with teasers and a water-themed map leading up to his arrival in October. Players loved his design and representation as an Indian agent. He also had an exciting cinematic trailer that showcased his abilities and fun personality.
However, Harbor has struggled to find his place in the game. As a controller, he doesn’t fit seamlessly into the meta and has been overshadowed by other controller agents like Brimstone, Omen, and Astra. He received buffs in a recent patch to improve his viability, but his presence and pick rate remain lower compared to other agents.
Despite his great design and potential, Harbor ranks last on our list due to his challenges in gameplay.
2) Fade
Fade captivated players with her beautiful design, mysterious aura, and unique abilities. She entered the game as a balanced agent, neither overpowered nor underpowered. Her release brought a new dimension to the initiator class, but it lacked the same level of promotion as the other agents.
While Fade’s design, backstory, and voice lines were intriguing, her release seemed to come out of nowhere and didn’t align with the game’s overall concept at the time. More promotion and development of her character would have been appreciated.
Despite these shortcomings, Fade was still a fantastic addition to the VALORANT lineup in 2022.
1) Neon
Neon’s release was a highlight of the year. She filled a much-needed representation gap for Southeast Asian fans and brought a relatable and refreshing perspective to the game. Her cinematic showcased a young girl decorating her room, dancing alone, and collecting plushies, adding personality and charm to her character.
In terms of gameplay, Neon provided a balanced and fun experience. Her unique movement style, extensive kit, and tracking-based ultimate ability made her a standout agent. Neon also helped to balance out the dominance of the fast agent Jett in the game.
Overall, Neon’s release had a significant impact both in-game and in terms of representation.
What’s Next?
We are excited for the future of VALORANT and look forward to the agent releases in 2023. We hope to see more diversity, representation, and cohesive concepts in the upcoming agents and maps. Riot Games has done a great job so far, and we are eager for what’s to come!