Haven is by far the most unique & aesthetically beautiful map in VALORANT.
Riot’s never-ending experiments with map designs started with Haven as they have managed to pack three bomb sites in one map. Needless to say, such unique features come with some particular challenges. Given that Haven has been in the map pool for quite a long time, players have somewhat familiarized themselves with the map. Although, the constant meta changes and agent alterations mean the search for perfect agents for Haven is not ending anytime soon.
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VALORANT offers multiple agent classes with their own set of traits and abilities. Well, players tend to have their own preferences when it comes to agent selection. Unless you are absolutely comfortable with one agent, you might want to explore your options and widen your skills by playing with other agents as well. In this guide, we’ll be making a tier list of agents and judge their relevancy on a massive map like Haven.
Starting from the Duelists, we’ll move over to Initiators, Sentinels & Controllers. The recent updates from Riot have changed some of the typical mechanics of the game. Ability spams are not seen anymore, and the game now demands precise more gunplay too. Specific agents have received heavy nerfs while others are still enjoying their full potentials.
Best Agents for Haven
Duelist
- S-Tier: Reyna, Jett
- A-Tier: Phoenix
- B-Tier: Raze
- C-Tier: Yoru
Reyna & Jett
Although nerfed, Jett’s potential with the Operator is still insane in Haven. She is able to pick enemies off-guard, while Reyna’s Leer gives crucial advantages for the attackers. Additionally, Reyna can rely on herself for health regains, and her Dismiss is quite as effective as Jett’s Tailwind in some cases. Both of these agents can quickly get into a gunfight and escape when needed. Haven features the most suitable terrain for Operators; accurate utilization of this weapon requires the presence of Jett.
Phoenix
Phoenix also has a high pick-rate in Professional matches. Many teams have Phoenix in their agent compositions for Haven. The key factor behind such a high pick rate is Phoenix’s Ultimate “Run It Back “ability. Other than that, his Curveball & Hot Hands also make him self-sufficient. Overall, Phoenix is an excellent option if Reyna doesn’t suit your playstyle.
Raze
Unless you absolutely know what you will be doing with the agent, picking Raze will bring some drawbacks for the team. First of all, Raze can’t heal herself like Reyna or Phoenix, and she can’t escape or dedicate herself to any aim duels without proper support. Although great for clearing corners and forcing enemies out of bombsites, Raze’s potential shines better in other maps like Split.
Yoru
Yoru will need to go through a series of buffs to be even relevant on Haven. Recently, some teams have shown interest in this agent, but none actually worked out. Replacing any Jett, Reyna, or Phoenix with Yoru is not even an option since most of his abilities are not beneficial for the team. Unless your only aim is to lurk or create chaos, picking Yoru is still not a great option in Episode 3 ACT 2.
Controller
- S-Tier: Astra
- A-Tier: Omen
- B-Tier: Brimstone
- C-Tier: Viper
Astra
During the Stage 3 Challengers events, several North American teams have proven the effectiveness of Astra on Haven. Her abilities offer precision and flexibility. In order to clear some specific areas in Haven, Astra’s Gravity Well is an outstanding ability. Other abilities like Nova Pulse & Nebula are also necessary to take map control. Finally, Astra’s Ultimate can provide the ultimate solution for site control.
Omen
In your regular ranked matches, Omen should be the de-facto choice since playing Astra requires teammates with a high understanding of the game. Such teammates are often a luxury, so it’s safer to play Omen whenever possible. Nonetheless, Omen’s abilities are also quite simple and easy to use. His Smokes & Blinds makes him a really strong agent for offensive and defensive playstyles.
Brimstone
Brimstone’s presence in Haven hasn’t been too strong lately. However, even after the meta changes and series of updates, Brimstone remains somewhat mediocre in Haven. Obviously, his smokes are robust and long-lasting, but his other abilities don’t add much value to any team composition.
Viper
If you know the lineups and all the accurate Toxic Screen positions, taking Viper should be an intelligent choice for you. Aside from aiding the team in post-plant scenarios, Viper’s ultimate is also valuable to a certain extent.
Sentinel
- S-Tier: killjoy & Cypher
- A-Tier: Sage
Killjoy & Cypher
Both of them are heavy favorites for many North American and European teams. Even the Korean champion Vision Strikers also preferred Cypher in many cases. It entirely depends on the team composition and your personal preference & comfort. In ranked matches, it’s always wiser to play agents that you are most comfortable with. Since Cypher and Killjoy are both excellent anchor agents, defending sites from the attackers won’t be much of an issue if you know where to place utilities right.
However, there are few things you should consider before taking any of these agents. If you plan to play passive-aggressive, then Cypher is a better option since his abilities are limited with range. Meanwhile, Killjoy’s Ultimate and other abilities provide far better opportunities while retaking sites. So, the choice ultimately comes down to your preference.
Sage
Sage’s Barrier Orb is by far the best ability to hold off B site. Her Slow Orbs, combined with other lethal utilities like Raze’s PaintShells or Phoenix’s Hot Hand, will create a Killzone wherever needed. Except for that, Sage’s Ultimate is definitely a strong ability. Needless to say, her Ressucrtion can sometimes change the fate of the game. Besides these abilities, Sage is also considered the best healer in the game.
Initiators
- S-Tier: Sova & Skye
- A-Tier: Breach
- B-Tier: KayO
Sova & Skye
Both of these agents are extremely capable and effective in Haven. As Initiators, they provide considerable value for their teams. Skye, for example, offers agility and support, while Sova is better for long-range recons and post-plants. Depending on your playstyle, you might pick Skye over Sova when you decide to play aggressively and clear out corners for your Duelist. While playing Sova means you’ll basically feed information to your team and lineup the Shock Bolts to clear out common corners.
It’s safe to say that after the recent updates, Skye’s abilities are no longer as threatening as they used to be. Meanwhile, Sova didn’t receive any severe nerf, and his abilities are still practical for post-plants.
Breach
If you are playing with a team or teaming up with your Duelist, playing Breach will give you serious advantages over your adversaries. Breach’s Fault Line and Flashpoints are perfect for clearing out chokepoints and rush through corners. While His Ultimate ability basically grants easy access to any site. Taken the current meta into account, Breach’s presence can be terrifying if the team composition suites him well.
KAY/O
KAY/O offers some unique abilities, but none of them can bypass what Sova, Breach, or Skye can offer. It’s only suitable to pick KAY/O if you have exact plans. KAY/O’s Flash/drive and FRAG/ment aren’t capable enough to cause much damage to the opponent. You might even end up as a liability for the team if you aren’t confident about picking KAY/O.
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VALORANT’s Episode 3 ACT II didn’t bring any groundbreaking changes to the game, but it has reshaped some of the things that players used to take for granted. Considering the fact that VALORANT’s Last Change Qualifier will take place during Mid-October, Riot won’t be bringing any new changes. However, before VALORANT Champions take place, we might see some updates being dispatched from Riot. Even after such updates, it’s highly unlikely that the developers will push for another meta change right before the Champions. So for now, choosing these above-mentioned agents might help you sharpen your skills and level up your gameplay.
