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Is Valorant’s new character Iso the next Reyna?

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Is Valorant’s new character Iso the next Reyna - Featured

Valorant just unveiled its new character, and soon, we’ll see another Duelist joining the roster. Although his overall appearance is intimidating and aims to bring something fresh to the table, we can’t help but compare Iso to Reyna, who is arguably one of the best Duelists in the game right now. Could Iso replace Reyna as one of the top picks among casual and pro players?

Is Iso a capable and effective Duelist in Valorant?

The new Agent is set to join the game at the end of October, but we’re already seeing his abilities being used by Valorant content creators with early access to Iso. Though new mechanics are introduced with his skills and Ult, it seems Riot wants Iso to be on the same level as Reyna.

Those who prefer using Reyna know that she can shine independently because of her blinds and Ult, which allows her to overheal herself in combat. As for Iso, what he can bring to the table as a Duelist is literally isolating enemies and creating new plays for his team.

Push enemies out of choke points with Undercut

His Q allows him to apply the Fragile/Vulnerable effect on his enemies; like Reyna’s Leer, it can pass through solid objects like walls. This can be a great way to force an enemy who is camping in corners or behind walls to come out and reposition.

Not any better than Reyna’s Dismiss

As for his E, Iso can get a temporary shield in exchange for damaging a downed opponent or eliminating them altogether. One of the downsides to this is the shield only applies to Iso, so we can actually start seeing that he’s leaning more toward being a solo/selfish Agent.

Rush in with no fear

His C acts quite similarly to that of Overwatch 2’s Reinhardt or Brigitte’s skill that lets them deploy a shield during battle. The difference with Iso’s shield is that it will keep moving forward once fired. Think of Harbor’s Cascade, but the major difference is that Iso’s Contingency blocks incoming bullets, allowing your team to push or retake the site.

Leave it all up to Luck and Skill

Finally, many players are talking about Iso’s Ultimate called Kill Contract. In simple terms, Iso briefly takes one enemy and himself out of the match and transports them into an arena. The two players will then engage in a traditional duel where both of them cannot use their abilities the whole time.

They can only use their guns while Iso’s Ult is active, and whoever is the last one standing successfully leaves the arena. Both players will be eliminated if no one dies in the arena. If you ask us, the true victor here is the player with the better aim.

Because of his Ult, we can’t help but feel a bit on the fence about Iso’s potential as a great Duelist in Valorant. He’s not exactly beginner-friendly, as players will think twice before selecting him. We can’t ignore the pressure that comes from your teammates expecting you’ll have great aim and execute entries for them since you’re the Duelist, so this can be a lot for those of us who just want to try out a new Agent.

Pros & Cons

There are ways for Iso to perform as his team’s Duelist successfully.

  • On maps with three sites, there will normally be a Sentinel locking down either A, B, or C. It gets pretty frustrating if you and your team can’t enter a site because of Killjoy’s annoying Turret or Alarm Bot. Cypher’s Traps, Cage, and Camera are also a few utilities that are hard to get around.
  • Iso can have his team scout another site while he tries taking out whoever the Sentinel guarding one site is. The best way to do this is by activating your Ult and forcing them into a duel. If your Iso cannot win the 1v1, one teammate can wait until the arena disappears and the enemy Sentinel appears back in the game. Then, it’s all up to your team to take the Sentinel out and rush the site before other enemy players rotate.
Is Iso the next Reyna in Valorant - Haven
Image Courtesy of Riot Games
  • Another use for his Kill Contract is to gain the upper hand on enemies who are saving or depending on their Ult for their weapons. The most common Agents who usually save their Creds for the next round if they have an Ult are Chamber and Jett. You can easily win the duel if they only have a Classic and you have a powerful Vandal or Phantom in your hands.
  • You can push site or retake with your teammates by timing your Contingency so that the enemy will waste their bullets trying to shoot your shield. Then, perform a crossfire so that they won’t have any escape.
  • As for his Undercut, the best way to use this is by pairing it with either one of Raze’s Nades or a Shock Dart from Sova. Enemies afflicted with the Fragile state can easily be taken out with utils like Raze’s or Sova’s as long as you aim for the most common choke/hold points, especially if you are Attacking.

However, you must also consider team comps, enemy Agents, and whatever map you’re playing on.

  • As we mentioned earlier, Iso’s Ult shines the brightest on maps with three sites. But if you were to use him in a smaller map like Bind, it might be tricky trying to get around with this Agent. He isn’t as flexible as some say he is.
  • Compared to other Duelists, there’s no way for you to move freely with Iso. His kit doesn’t feature any movement skills like Reyna’s Dismiss, Jett’s Dash, or even Raze’s Satchels to get him out of tough situations when in battle.
  • With the current meta in the game, where most players prefer running double Controllers or Initiators, we don’t see Iso having a place there yet. There’s also no telling if pro players will dare use him during official matches against other teams since his kit isn’t really that groundbreaking.
    • This depends on whether Riot will launch another set of nerfs to Agents that Iso may be weak against. Fingers crossed that Riot will skip nerfing Viper or Killjoy again in this coming update!
  • It’s risky to solo as this Agent. The most effective way to use him is by pairing him up with other characters that complement his kit.

Will Valorant players pick him over Reyna?

Honestly speaking, we don’t see that happening anytime soon. Although Reyna is a very selfish Agent, with her Leers being the only ability that benefits her team, she is a force to be reckoned with, particularly if the player using Reyna has great aim. Iso is still weak, so it’s possible for Riot to introduce buffs to the Agent so more and more players will try him out.

If you also want to climb the ranks in Valorant, you will rely mostly on skill and aim. Sure, Reyna is selfish, but she can also heal herself, escape difficult crossfires, and provide blinds for her team without the risk of flashing them. Currently, only three Agents can provide one-way flashes or blinds: Reyna, Gekko, and Fade.

With the current state of Iso’s kit, it might be a while before we can see his pick rates increase. Though his playstyle is interesting, other Duelists can still execute the role more effectively.

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