The Valorant Champions 2023 group stage was a melting pot of diverse Agent lineups spanning every map in the professional pool. However, certain Agents enjoyed more spotlight than others.
Killjoy, Viper, Skye, Raze, and Jett emerged as the stars of the show, boasting a pick rate above 50% throughout the event. These agents became fixtures on specific map choices like Haven, Fracture, and Split. They have earned their place as frontrunners in the current meta, reigning supreme in terms of utility and adaptability across various scenarios.
On the flip side, Agents like Harbor, Chamber, Gekko, Phoenix, Sage, and Cypher struggled to maintain a pick rate above 15%. These selections are currently considered weak within the game, and their appearances were limited to specific maps. Chamber, in particular, found redemption as an entertaining off-meta choice on maps such as Bind, Split, and Haven, following a period of absence due to substantial nerfs.
Sage, Yoru, Gekko, and Phoenix were the niche Agents that made cameo appearances at the event. However, they only secured a handful of picks during the group stage, mostly by select teams like Paper Rex utilizing Phoenix and DRX opting for Yoru, as counterpicks.
Despite certain Agents being pigeonholed into specific situations, two Agents have yet to grace the Valorant Champions 2023 stage.
Two Agents Left Out in the Cold During Valorant Champions 2023 Group Stage Valorant's freshest addition, Deadlock, has yet to make her mark on the VCT stage since her release. This new Sentinel hasn't captured the limelight amongst pro teams, with numerous coaches and players predicting her absence from the picks.
Many pro teams deem her abilities less valuable at the highest level and perceive her as a secondary Sentinel. However, the concept of running a dual Sentinel composition is nearly nonexistent at the moment.
Reyna's Presence Limited to a Single Map in VCT International Event 2023 The other absentee Agent in the group stage is Reyna. The terror of Valorant's ranked ladder hasn't garnered much favor in professional play, despite a few teams at Valorant Champions having experimented with her in the past.
Notably, Paper Rex stands out as a team that has embraced surprise Reyna picks, unleashing their star Duelist Ilya 'something' Petrov on this unpredictable Agent.
Fans must eagerly await the playoff stage of Valorant Champions to see whether teams will turn to Deadlock or Reyna, delivering a strategic curveball and surprising their opponents with unconventional Agent choices.
