In Valorant, picking the right agent for your playstyle and team composition is crucial to success. Two of the most popular agent classes, Duelists and Sentinels, serve very different roles, and knowing when to pick one over the other can significantly impact your team's performance. This guide will help you understand the strengths of Duelists and Sentinels, when to play each role, and how to maximize their impact in a match.
Understanding Duelists: The Aggressive Playmakers
Duelists are designed to take fights head-on, with abilities that allow them to enter engagements, create space, and secure kills. Their primary job is to lead the charge, take risks, and open up the map for their team. If you enjoy fast-paced, high-risk, high-reward gameplay, Duelists are likely your go-to agents.
Key Duelists:
Jett: With high mobility and a deadly ultimate, Jett excels at taking aggressive peeks and making quick escapes.
Phoenix: A self-sustaining duelist, Phoenix can heal himself with his abilities and is great at controlling tight spaces with his fire-based kit.
Raze: Armed with explosives, Raze is perfect for clearing out enemy positions and applying constant pressure with her damage-dealing abilities.
Reyna: Reyna’s kit is focused on self-sustain after getting kills, making her a strong choice for fraggers who thrive in 1v1 fights.
When to Play Duelists:
You’re expected to create openings: On attack, Duelists should be leading the charge, often taking the first peek and securing a pick to open up bombsites.
You excel at fragging: If you’re confident in your aim and ability to win duels, picking a Duelist is ideal. You’ll often be the one expected to secure kills for your team.
Your team lacks aggressive playmakers: Duelists thrive in aggressive roles, and if your team has more passive agents (like Sentinels or Controllers), playing a Duelist can bring balance.
You need mobility or disruption: Many Duelists (like Jett or Raze) offer high mobility or disruptive utility, allowing you to disorient or overwhelm opponents, especially in fast engagements.
How to Excel as a Duelist:
Be aggressive but calculated: As a Duelist, it’s your job to take engagements, but don’t be reckless. Use your abilities to create safe opportunities to peek and fight.
Entry frag effectively: On attack, be the first one in and create space for your team. Whether it’s using Jett’s dash or Phoenix’s curveball, you need to open up the bombsite.
Self-sufficiency: Duelists often need to rely on their own abilities to sustain in fights. Don’t always expect support—learn how to take advantage of your kit to stay alive.
Understanding Sentinels: The Defensive Experts
Sentinels, on the other hand, are the backbone of any defensive setup. Their kits are designed to lock down areas, support teammates, and deny enemy pushes. Sentinels excel at controlling space and providing valuable utility that can prevent enemy advances or slow them down significantly.
Key Sentinels:
Sage: As the game’s main healer, Sage excels at stalling pushes and reviving fallen teammates. Her wall and slows are perfect for delaying attackers.
Killjoy: Killjoy’s turret, Alarmbot, and Nanoswarms make her a great choice for locking down sites with automated tools that punish enemy advances.
Cypher: A master of information gathering, Cypher’s tripwires and cameras allow him to detect enemy movements, making it difficult for attackers to enter his controlled space.
Chamber: Though not a traditional Sentinel, Chamber offers strong defensive tools, including teleportation for repositioning and a high-impact ultimate for holding angles.
When to Play Sentinels:
Your team needs defensive utility: If your team is lacking in the ability to hold off enemy pushes or needs help controlling space, Sentinels are a must. They’re invaluable on defense, helping secure bombsites and slow down enemy advances.
You excel at supporting your team: Sentinels aren’t usually in the spotlight when it comes to fragging, but they provide immense value by supporting the team. If you prefer a more strategic, supportive role, Sentinels are a great choice.
Your team needs to lock down sites: On defense, Sentinels shine. They can control key areas of the map with their utility, forcing enemies to rethink their strategy or burn valuable utility to clear the area.
You’re on a map with strong defensive positions: Some maps, like Bind or Split, have tight corridors or choke points where Sentinels like Sage and Killjoy can thrive by stalling pushes with their abilities.
How to Excel as a Sentinel:
Hold angles and delay pushes: Use your utility to delay or deny enemies from taking control of the map. A well-placed Killjoy turret or Cypher tripwire can completely stop a push or give your team enough time to rotate.
Support your teammates: As a Sentinel, your goal is to make life easier for your teammates. Sage’s healing and resurrections, for example, can turn the tide of battle, while Cypher’s information gathering ensures your team is never caught off guard.
Control the post-plant: Sentinels are especially useful during post-plant situations. Killjoy’s Nanoswarms or Sage’s walls can stall defuses, while Cypher’s traps provide crucial information when defending the spike.
When to Pick Duelists vs. Sentinels
Deciding whether to play a Duelist or a Sentinel depends on several factors, including the map, your team composition, and your personal playstyle. Here are a few scenarios to help guide your decision-making:
Pick Duelists When:
You’re on attack-heavy maps: Maps like Bind or Ascent that require fast-paced aggression can benefit from having more Duelists to create openings.
Your team needs aggressive entries: If your team lacks players who can consistently take fights and create space, a Duelist can help break through enemy defenses.
You’re confident in your aim: Duelists thrive in high-pressure situations where they need to secure kills. If you're feeling sharp and ready to frag, a Duelist is the right choice.
Pick Sentinels When:
You’re on defense-heavy maps: Maps with tight chokepoints, like Split or Icebox, benefit from Sentinels who can hold off pushes with utility.
Your team needs more defensive power: If your team is full of aggressive agents, a Sentinel can provide much-needed support, helping to control the map and provide information.
You’re comfortable in a support role: Sentinels often shine in roles where they aren’t necessarily getting kills but are setting their team up for success by locking down areas and providing crucial utility.
Balancing Team Composition: Mixing Duelists and Sentinels
A balanced team in Valorant typically includes a mix of Duelists and Sentinels, ensuring both aggressive plays and strong defensive setups. Having at least one Duelist on your team allows for aggressive map control and entry fragging, while a Sentinel provides the utility to hold sites, gather information, and support the team during post-plant situations.
Tip: Communication is key! Duelists and Sentinels need to work together. For example, a Jett can dash in and create space while Sage follows up with a wall to secure a plant. Combining aggressive and defensive playstyles maximizes your team's overall effectiveness.
Final Thoughts: Play the Right Role at the Right Time
Valorant is all about adapting to different situations, and knowing when to play a Duelist versus a Sentinel can significantly improve your overall performance. If you're someone who thrives on aggressive plays and high-impact frags, Duelists are your best bet. However, if you prefer a more tactical, supportive role, Sentinels will allow you to shine by controlling the battlefield and providing crucial utility.
Ultimately, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these two roles will help you decide when to play each, giving your team the perfect balance of aggression and defense. Choose wisely, communicate with your team, and dominate the battlefield!