Being a tactical shooter, Valorant’s extensive line-up of agents doesn’t exactly feature many hard supports, with most agents offering a versatile kit that can aid all sorts of play styles. Since the game lacks an actual ‘support’ role, it’s difficult to pin down what exactly makes an agent a support character.
It all boils down to how well an agent can assist their teammates in entering or defending a site, winning frags, and gaining access to vital intel about the enemies’ whereabouts. Based on these terms, several agents can be pinned as supports, with some better than others in terms of overall team play. It's pertinent to note that any agent can be played as a support character, though some have a more team-centric kit, denoting them as a better support.
6 Sova
Despite not being a support in the traditional sense, Sova’s kit allows him to serve the team as the perfect intel-gathering support. Supporting the team goes beyond simply healing or providing cover, as uncovering the enemy’s location is just as crucial in locking down a site.
Sova’s ‘Recon Dart’ is one of the best abilities for intel in the game, allowing him to scan the entire site from a safe distance. If the dart fails, Sova can back the team up with his ‘Owl Drone,’ scanning uncharted territory and marking any belligerents along the way – the perfect setup for the team to enter and secure the site.
5 Astra
Astra’s kit makes her an excellent support, assisting allies in both entering and defending any site with ease. With two types of crowd control, smokes, and a bullet and sound-blocking global wall, Astra is one of Valorant’s most versatile support. What truly sets her apart is the fact that her abilities are global, meaning Astra has complete control of the map from safety.
Her ‘Nova Pulse’ can render enemy agents debilitated in a wide area, while Gravity Well can force opponents into plain sight. However, Astra’s ult ability is where she truly shines as a support, as Cosmic Divide’s global wall can slice up entire maps and allow the team to force its way into the site. While Astra may seem like the perfect support, the extreme difficulty of mastering her intricate play style is what puts off many players, making her an exclusively high-elo agent.
4 Fade
Fade can easily creep in on her enemies, revealing their location and slowing them in their tracks. The versatility of her kit further allows her to be useful in both attacking and defending scenarios. ‘Haunt’ and ‘Prowler’ are perfect for revealing enemy locations and forcing opponents out of corners, while ‘Seize’ can stop them in their tracks in plain sight.
Prowler's versatility also comes in handy, serving not just as an intel-gathering ability but also as a disarm, making quick work of enemies caught in the beast’s wake. Fade’s ultimate ‘Nightfall’ is one of her most resounding support abilities, as its large area of effect can cover entire sites and deafen any opponent caught in the onslaught. With a complete loss of sensory information, the opponents are forced to leave the site and regroup, giving allies the perfect opportunity to rid any fleeing opponents.
3 Kay/O
Despite being deemed as a hard initiator, Kay/O is currently one of the best supporters in the game, aiding allies with his suppression capabilities and giving way to interesting team plays. Being the only agent in the entire game with ability suppression, Kay/O automatically becomes a must-pick for any team.
Kay/O’s E ability ‘Zero/Point’ and ultimate ‘Null/CMD’ essentially perform the same function – suppressing enemy abilities and rendering any utility useless. With Valorant being a tactical shooter based entirely around utility, taking away the opponents' abilities leaves behind a weakened team that has no other choice but to pick direct trades in plain sight.
2 Skye
Being one of the only two healers in the entire game, Skye is what many would call a traditional support of sorts. However, Skye’s role as a support agent goes far beyond simply healing, as this rough Australian has several animals up her sleeve that do plenty to aid the team. In terms of information gathering, Skye’s Trailblazer can easily make its way into enemy territory, revealing the location of opponents with the added benefit of concussing those caught in its jump.
Her ultimate ability ‘Seekers’ serves a similar role, revealing the location of enemies and concussing those that get hit. Skye’s ‘Regrowth’ is one of her best support abilities, able to turn the tide of battle in her team’s favor. Skye can only heal others with Regrowth, making it a truly selfless ability.
1 Sage
Sage needs no introduction as her position in the meta has remained unchanged since the game's launch, a fact that speaks volumes of her well-rounded supporting capabilities. Even after multiple nerfs and changes to her stats, Sage remains a widely popular agent among all elos – a clear reflection of her immensely useful presence on the battlefield. Sage’s ‘Healing Orb’ is her primary support ability, healing injured allies with her vitality.
However, Sage’s true support characteristics lie in her ultimate ‘Resurrection,’ essentially turning a round into a 5 versus 6. Her revive is quite overpowered, as it can come in clutch and turn around any dire situation. What makes Sage such a well-rounded support is that every single one of her abilities aids her team one way or the other, with her slow orbs and barrier walls playing similar roles. Her versatile yet team-centric kit makes her the best support agent in Valorant, with no other agent dethroning her for the title anytime soon.
Valorant is available on PC.