TL;DR
- Omen dominated with 90% pick rate across all 33 Masters maps
- Sova maintained 84% popularity despite map-specific weaknesses on Split
- Jett led duelists with 73% overall and exceptional Haven/Icebox performance
- Brimstone, Breach, Skye, Viper, and Yoru all had sub-20% pick rates
- Yoru’s 1% usage highlights severe kit deficiencies requiring developer attention
The Valorant Champions Tour Phase One concluded with revealing insights into the professional meta landscape and which agents teams prioritize for competitive success.
While early tournaments like First Strike showcased diverse agent compositions, North American squads rapidly converged on optimized strategies that heavily favored specific characters. This consolidation created clear tier separations between must-pick agents and situational alternatives.
Omen emerged as the undisputed controller choice throughout the competition phase. The stealth-focused agent maintained a staggering 90% overall selection rate and appeared in every single Masters match across 33 maps.
Sova continued his reign as an intelligence-gathering essential with an 84% adoption rate. Professional players consistently valued his reconnaissance capabilities, with Sentinels’ Shahzeeb “ShahZaM” Khan demonstrating particularly aggressive playmaking potential. However, Sova’s dominance faced limitations on Split, where he was selected only once during 112 map appearances.
Jett secured the duelist throne with a robust 73% selection frequency. Standout performances from Tyson “TenZ” Ngo and Andrej “babybay” Francisty showcased her mobility advantages, including spectacular Updraft into Blade Storm combinations that eliminated entire teams.
The agile duelist achieved remarkable 85% usage on Haven and 81% on Icebox, maps that perfectly complemented her vertical mobility and aggressive playstyle that defines North American tactical preferences.
Which Valorant Agents Were Played the Least in VCT NA?
Brimstone, Breach, Skye, Viper, and Yoru formed the bottom tier of agent selections throughout North American competitions. European teams mirrored this avoidance pattern with one exception—Viper saw strategic deployment on Icebox where her area denial capabilities provided unique value.
Across NA tournaments, none of these agents exceeded 20% selection frequency, with only Breach making Masters appearances among the group.
The most alarming statistic belonged to Yoru, who managed only a 1% pick rate despite his design as a lurking specialist. Professional evaluation consistently identified his kit as underwhelming, with audible ability cues undermining his stealth potential and reducing surprise effectiveness.
Riot Games developers have confirmed planned improvements for underperforming agents, specifically mentioning audio adjustments among the targeted enhancements. While specific implementation details remain undisclosed, the competitive community anticipates changes that could revitalize neglected characters.
Player expectations focus on Yoru receiving reduced ultimate point requirements and quieter Gatecrash teleportation sounds to increase viability. Strategic players should monitor patch notes closely, as these updates could dramatically shift the competitive landscape and create new tactical opportunities.
For those mastering agent selection strategies, our Class Guide offers valuable insights into role optimization that translate well across tactical shooters.
Action Checklist
- Analyze current agent pick rates before major tournaments to identify meta trends
- Study map-specific agent performances to understand situational viability
- Monitor professional player streams to identify emerging strategies with underutilized agents
- Review patch notes for agent balance changes that could shift the meta
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Here are the most-picked agents during VCT Phase One in NA Analyzing VCT NA's least-picked Valorant agents and what it reveals about the competitive meta