Valorant: New Agent Killjoy Analysis

Valorant Act II is just around the corner and it’s bringing a new Agent with it.

Along with an overhauled ranking system, that I’m hyped for – Killjoy will be introduced. Her skill set details have been released:

  • Alarm Bot
    • Essentially a landmine version of Raze’s boombot. You can throw it down and it will go dormant, if someone enters its range, it will walk up to them and explode in the fasion of Raze’s boombot.
  • Turret
    • Self-explanatory turret, you throw it down and it covers a 180 degree cone and will shoot any enemy that enters that field of vision.
  • Nanoswarm
    • Looks like an AOE damage grenade. You can throw it like a grenade and then activate it to create a circle area of damage that lasts for a few seconds.
  • Lockdown
    • Looks like you place it down (can’t throw it) and it needs to wind up for about 10 seconds. Once it winds up it will cause a slow effect on anyone within a *very large radius*. The slow lasts for 8 seconds and also disarms them.

Thoughts

Killjoy is looking to be a very viable hero. Her defensive capabilities and even offensive both look strong af. I can sense a cross between Cypher and Raze.

On defense, her turret can quite literally cover an entire extra angle for you. The Alarm bot can work just as well as a Cypher trip wire to alert you when an enemy is entering and Nano swarm can slow a push from the enemy team. Not to mention lockdown can help push enemies off an entire site or force them to try to look for the device to shoot down, pushing them out of position. If you crossfire with your turret, enemies will have to choose between shooting you or the turret, either way you can deal some damage to them before they push the site.

Offensively, once again, lockdown can defend a site for an entire 10 seconds once you have the bomb down, or you can use it to push even. Grenades are always useful, so nanoswarm and even the alarm bot can clear deep corners if you don’t want to wide peek them. The turret remains useful for covering the bomb as well, so if you are the only player left, you get an extra set of eyes.

I get the feeling everyone will call Killjoy broken. Reyna definitely was overpowered on release, and she has since received some ninja nerfs making her more in line with the rest of the roster.

Check out the ability videos below:

Valorant Act II Gets New Ranking System

Valorant released details on the new ranking system and new agent leaks

Ranking has been the root cause of much tilt and anger among all Valorant players. Understandably, deranking stresses everyone out and tough games against hackers and smurfs doesn’t help any. Riot has released details on their latest overhauled ranking system which introduces a ton of interesting features and mechanics.

Big changes:

  • They will display Act Ranks which are essentially a summary of your games for the season
  • You will have a badge that acts like a heat map that shows your best wins of the season at the highest level you have reached
  • A new “proven skill” concept will be shown which is the 9th best game you had of the season
  • Games at higher ranks will push out your lower ranked games
  • Act I may not get this new badge according to Riot’s post
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Your act rank will be a compilation of your wins at the highest levels you played at

This new concept should help curve the smurfing problem as people will be motivated to keep playing on their mains since losses will be scrubbed out as you win more games at higher ranks. Many people are achieving a rank that they are happy with and preserving their accounts while creating new ones to stomp on lower ranked players. At the end of it all, only your highest ranked and best game wins will matter and be displayed.

BONUS for you guys, the new agent has leaked – Killjoy. More details to follow soon. Stay tuned.