In VALORANT, a Duelist is an agent designed for aggressive gameplay. They dive into fights, secure kills, and create opportunities for their team. Riot Games describes Duelists such as Jett and Raze as daring fighters who take risks and eliminate enemies using their mobility and firepower.

Picture a lone agent charging through smoke with their gun blazing; that player is embodying the Duelist's role. These agents thrive on adrenaline and bold moves, often being the first to engage the enemy.

Duelists are agents who excel at securing space for their team through sheer speed and mobility. In practice, this means they lead attacks and exploit opportunities. As an official update notes, Duelists serve as the "tip of the spear" in a fight, using their unique abilities to forge ahead. In the game, Duelists typically have skills such as jumps, dashes, and area-of-effect attacks that enable them to close the distance quickly or disrupt enemies. These tools enable them to engage first, and they are often confident in their ability to survive; for example, some can self-heal after getting a kill.

Riot’s agent bios emphasise these characteristics. South Korean agent Jett's profile states that her "agile and evasive fighting style lets her take risks no one else can". Similarly, UK agent Phoenix "rushes into a fight on his terms", using flashes and fire to ignite the battlefield. These descriptions illustrate that Duelists are both fearless and mobile; they can circle fights and catch enemies off guard.

Notable Duelist Agents

Other Duelist agents reinforce this concept. Brazilian Raze "excels at flushing entrenched enemies and clearing tight spaces with a generous dose of 'boom'", using explosive grenades and a rocket launcher to eliminate opponents. Mexican Reyna "dominates in one-on-one combat, celebrating each kill she scores" emphasizing how she builds on her victories by healing or becoming invisible after kills. These agents embody the Duelist archetype: one kill leads to another.

Agents such as Yoru, Neon, and Waylay continue this trend. Yoru's bio states that he “rips holes straight through reality to infiltrate enemy lines unseen”, blending deception and aggression to ambush foes. Neon from the Philippines "surges forward at shocking speeds… then strikes them down quicker than lightning", embodying pure speed. Thailand’s newest Duelist, Waylay “transforms into light itself as she darts across the battlefield, striking down her targets with shards of light”. These Riot Games descriptions all emphasize the focus of the Duelist archetype on high-octane plays and lethal offense, prioritizing movement and firepower over defense.