The first patch of VALORANT Act 5 (Patch 13.04) has arrived, and it brings a massive shakeup to the competitive landscape. Breeze has been removed, making way for the highly anticipated return of Abyss. Because this is the patch that will lead players into Champions, the map pool is officially locked in.
Understanding which agents thrive on specific maps is the fastest way to climb the ranks. Here is a complete breakdown of the best agents to play in Patch 13.04, featuring strategies for the returning Abyss and the newly evolved meta on maps like Ascent, Haven, and the newly released Summit.
The Return of Abyss: Jett and Chamber Dominate
Abyss has returned to the map pool for the first time since Patch 12.04, and the agent balancing changes made in the interim have heavily shifted how the map is played.
Duelists: Because of the recent nerfs to Neon and Raze (specifically the removal of Raze’s quick-cast Satchel), Jett is now the undisputed S-tier Duelist for Abyss. Her ability to abuse the verticality of the map, deploy Cloudbursts for safety, and take risky angles off the map makes her invaluable. Raze, on the other hand, struggles heavily due to the large, open spaces.
Sentinels: The long sightlines of Abyss make it arguably Chamber’s best map in the entire game. His Operator-centric playstyle thrives here. Running a double-sentinel composition with Chamber and Sage (who can heal chip damage from long-range skirmishes) is currently one of the strongest defensive setups available.
Initiators & Controllers: Sova remains the king of info gathering across the massive sightlines. For smokes, Astra has returned to the S-tier. Her global map presence and the sheer value of her Cosmic Divide ultimate make her the optimal controller for Abyss.
Ascent: The Rise of the Solo Phoenix
Ascent’s meta has seen a surprising evolution. While the traditional Sova/Jett exact compositions still exist, a new “deathball” style is dominating ranked play.
The strongest composition currently features Phoenix as a solo Duelist, supported by a double-Sentinel setup (usually Killjoy and Chamber) and Fade as the primary Initiator. Phoenix acts as an incredible defensive anchor on Ascent, while Fade’s shorter-range utility perfectly compliments Phoenix’s aggressive, close-quarters flashes on attack.
Note: Reyna is currently in the worst spot she has ever been on Ascent, heavily outclassed by Phoenix in the same role.
Haven: The Double Duelist Fast-Hit
Haven is currently ruled by aggressive, fast-hitting Double Duelist compositions. The goal is to explode onto a site before the defending team’s spread-out players can successfully rotate.
Jett and Neon are the premier build-around Duelists here. When building your team, your Sentinel choice will dictate your secondary Duelist:
- If you have a Cypher: You are playing a retake/lurk style. Pair Jett with Yoru, Phoenix, or Iso for maximum entry support.
- If you have a Killjoy: You are playing a strong anchor style (similar to the Leviatán pro comp). Pair Neon with Phoenix to flood the site and hold strong against retakes.
Summit: Neon’s Playground
The newest map in the pool, Summit, is still developing its meta, but clear winners are emerging.
Neon is pulling away as the absolute best Duelist on Summit. Her speed allows her to pressure Mid instantly, slice up Garden, and rotate on defense faster than any other agent. Her stuns are also incredibly potent in the map’s confined main chokepoints. Yoru is also establishing himself as a top-tier pick, specifically in higher ELOs.
Interestingly, Summit’s layout makes it less reliant on heavy smokes. This paradoxically makes Clove and Viper (who either have weak or inflexible smokes) incredibly strong, as their other utility shines without the team being punished for a lack of visual denial. Vyse is also emerging as a dark horse Sentinel pick, as her Arc Roses and Razorvines can completely lock down Garden and B-Site simultaneously.
