What Is the Lore Behind Valorant? Plot, Characters, & More

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Everything you need to know about this first-person shooter game

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: October 30, 2025

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Plot

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Gameplay

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Valorant Agents

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Key Terms

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VALORANT is a 5v5 tactical first-person shooter game that takes place in a near-future version of Earth. The game’s “lore” refers to the characters, places, and events that take place in-universe. Whether you’re a noob or an experienced player, keep reading, as we’ll explain everything you need to know about VALORANT’s plot, gameplay, and characters.

What is Valorant about?

VALORANT takes place in a future version of Earth. A cataclysmic event known as First Light split the planet into two (Alpha and Omega) and revealed Radianite, an energy source that grants mystical powers. The VALORANT Protocol is a group of agents whose goal is to protect the people of Alpha Earth.

Section 1 of 4:

Valorant Backstory & Plot

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VALORANT takes place in a near-future version of Earth. After a cataclysmic event known as First Light, Earth was split into two planets: Alpha Earth and Omega Earth. The specifics of First Light remain unknown, but it ushered in significant changes to life, technology, and governance across the planet. Its impact on Earth and its inhabitants shapes the backdrop of VALORANT.^{[1]
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- The First Light occurred due to a massive surge of energy that caused a worldwide blackout. When the lights came back on, cities lit up with glowing crystals, strange structures formed, and people began to develop supernatural abilities.
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First Light led to the discovery of a mysterious energy source known as Radianite. Radianite is said to be a clean, renewable energy source that symbolizes the potential and mystery surrounding the world’s transformation. Select individuals, known as Radiants, also begin to manifest extraordinary abilities. The Alpha Earth agents’ goal is to protect the people from Radianite, while Omega Earth agents go to Alpha Earth to steal more.^{[2]
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- Radianite can be harnessed for energy, technology, weapons, and to augment human abilities.
- Based on the VALORANT cinematic “Shattered,” the Omega agents are interested in Radianite to use it for life support, possibly for the planet. This is not confirmed, though.
- Radiants are a minority within society, but are generally accepted during the time of the game’s events.
- Radianite’s existence wasn’t completely unknown before First Light; a mysterious organization known as the Scions of Hourglass worked to keep its existence a secret.
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The VALORANT Protocol formed in response to the aftermath of First Light. The VALORANT Protocol is a clandestine organization composed of agents from diverse backgrounds, including Radiants and those wielding Radiant technology. The team maintains stability and protects against threats in this altered world.^{[3]
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- The VALORANT Protocol was formed by a shadowy individual known only as Brimstone. They are a global initiative that operates outside of traditional national alliances.
- The earliest members of the Protocol include agents Brimstone, Viper, Omen, Sova, and Killjoy. We’ll explain who the VALORANT agents are in the Valorant Agent Backstories section below.
- VALORANT Legion is Omega Earth’s counterpart to VALORANT Protocol. They are one of the threats the Protocol protects against.
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The Kingdom Corporation sought to control Radianite. Soon after the First Light, a powerful megacorporation known as Kingdom rose to prominence. They were the first to capitalize on Radianite, using the new energy to construct massive refineries and mining operations that controlled and distributed it. Kingdom positioned itself as a savior, providing clean energy and advanced infrastructure. However, they secretly used Radiante for experiments and influenced governments using their power.^{[4]
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- Some VALORANT agents used to work for Kingdom, while others have always opposed them.
- The lore doesn’t specify the full extent of Kingdom’s involvement.

Section 2 of 4:

Valorant Gameplay

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VALORANT lore is revealed through gameplay. As you play the game, you’ll learn details about the VALORANT world through gameplay, cinematics, and the agent trailers. Cinematics show stories about the VALORANT Protocol while on missions. Many maps throughout the game feature interactive lore elements, such as images, emails, and voicemails that show more about the map or the current activities of the VALORANT Protocol.^{[5]
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- VALORANT’s core gameplay involves one team seeking to detonate a spike and steal surrounding Radianite, while the other defends their homeland.
- The Ascent map on Alpha Earth marks major lore moments. A VALORANT trailer displayed the “Venice Incident,” in which Alpha Phoenix and Omega Jett brawled and caused a Radianite explosion that turned the city into floating ruins.
- Not every aspect of gameplay is related to the game’s lore. The fights played by players are not canon and have no effect on the lore.

Section 3 of 4:

Valorant Agent Backstories

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Duelists Agents are playable characters in VALORANT, and each is a part of one of 4 classes. Duelists are self-sufficient fraggers who are expected to get high frags (kills) and seek out engagements first. Agents under this role have abilities that allow them to focus on being the first to enter sites and engage with enemies. Here’s a list of all the current duelists:^{[6]
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- Phoenix: A duelist from the UK who boasts a toolkit including walls of fire, fireballs, and the ability to resurrect at a chosen spot. He is a Radiant.
- Raze: A Brazilian demolition expert who wreaks havoc with explosive gadgets like her rocket launcher, Boom Bots, and Blast Packs.
- Jett: A South Korean duelist known as the master of skies who uses her agility and precision to dominate from above. She is also a Radiant.
- ISO: A versatile Chinese fixer who excels in dismantling opposition with his adaptability and strategic prowess. He was initially ordered to assassinate Omen by the Scions of Hourglass, but ended up joining the VALORANT Protocol instead.
- Yoru: A Japanese Radiant, known as the master of deception, who can manipulate reality with rifts and mirror images to confuse his enemies.
- Reyna: A Mexican duelist who can use soul orbs to heal herself and become invulnerable. She is a Radiant who is a dark and ethereal force on the battlefield.
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Initiators Initiators challenge angles by setting up their team to enter contested ground and push defenders away. Agents with this role focus on initiating attacks on-site and flushing out hidden enemies to assist their team when charging into battle. Here are the current initiators:^{[7]
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- Skye: A versatile support agent from Australia who uses trinkets and animals to heal allies and track enemies. She is also a Radiant.
- Fade: A Turkish bounty hunter who uses dark mist and illusions to disorient and control her enemies. She is also a Radiant.
- Gekko: An agent from Los Angeles who commands a group of mischievous creatures whose energy disrupts enemy formations.
- Neon: A Filipino Radiant who harnesses the power of electricity to blind and incapacitate her opponents while enhancing her speed and strength.
- KAY/O: KAY/O is a robotic powerhouse that kills Radiants using flash and explosive grenades to suppress their enemies.
- Breach: A Swedish bionic whose powerful energy waves blind and disorient his enemies.
- Sova: A Russian reconnaissance pro who uses drones and arrows to gather intel and disrupt enemy movement.
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Controllers Controllers are experts at cutting through dangerous territory to set their team up for success. They assist their teammates by cutting enemy vision, taking control of an area, and forcing enemies into choke points. Here are all the current controllers:^{[8]
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- Harbor: An Indian controller who commands the power of the ocean and uses waves and geysers to protect allies and disorient enemies.
- Viper: An American chemist who uses poison clouds and toxins to disorient and damage her enemies. She seems to know more about Omen and his backstory than she lets on.
- Brimstone: An American controller who is a ruthless attacker and one of the prominent leaders of the VALORANT Protocol. He uses grenades and smoke clouds to control space and bombard enemies.
- Clove: A Scottish controller who is also the newest VALORANT agent. She is immortal, defying death with abilities that manipulate essence and project vision.
- Astra: A Ghanian who wields cosmic power, manipulating stars to control the battlefield and shape the course of the match. She is the only known Astral Guardian on Alpha and Omega Earth, and she is also a Radiant.
- Omen: A shadowy figure who uses orbs and teleportation. He was initially sent to assassinate Viper due to her work as a Radianite chemist but ended up joining the VALORANT Protocol. His memories from before Viper’s assassination attempt were wiped, so they have a tense relationship. He is also a Radiant.
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Sentinels Sentinels are defensive experts who can lock down areas and watch flanks, both on attacker and defender rounds. Their focus is on defensive play, and they support the rest of the team by providing intel, anchoring down sites, and preventing the enemy from flanking. Here are the current sentinels:^{[9]
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- Killjoy: A genius inventor from Germany, whose nanoswarms and alarmbots can control enemy movements and lockdown areas
- Cypher: A Moroccan agent who is the go-to for enemy information; he has a robust surveillance network and is always watching.
- Deadlock: A Norwegian operative specializing in securing areas and neutralizing threats with advanced nanotechnology. After losing her arm in a mission, she befriended Killjoy, who made her a prosthetic.
- Chamber: A French weapon designer whose versatile skillset ranges from scanning traps to summoning powerful weapons and creating teleportation anchors.
- Sage: A Chinese healer who controls the battlefield with barriers and slowing fields. She is also a Radiant.
- How well do you know the VALORANT characters? Take our “Guess the Valorant Agent” quiz to find out!

Section 4 of 4:

Key Terms

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Learning a game’s lore all at once can feel a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry—the more you play, the more you’ll understand. In the meantime, here are some key terms to remember:
- Alpha Earth: Known as Earth-1, Alpha Earth is the primary location in VALORANT. All but two of the maps take place on Alpha Earth.
- Omega Earth: Known as Earth-2 or the Mirror Earth, Omega Earth is an alternate universe of Alpha Earth. The maps set on Omega Earth are Pearl and Lotus.
- Kingdom: A powerful corporation that first rose to prominence by harnessing radianite following the First Light. They control three-quarters of the world’s energy production and claimed Radianite was “beyond safe” in its advertisement. The Kingdom once employed agents Brimstone, Viper, Omen, and Killjoy before they joined forces to establish the VALORANT Protocol.
- Astral Guardians: A group whose sole purpose is to protect space-time and reality from total ruin and collapse. Only one agent, Astra, has been identified as a guardian so far.
- Atlas: An Omega-only organization known to be involved with interdimensional security.
- REALM: An Alpha-only organization dealing in the recovery of artifacts from the black market
- Scions of Hourglass: A secretive organization that attempted to keep the existence of Radianite a secret before its modern rediscovery; now in conflict with the VALORANT Protocol
- BFL: Before First Light
- AFL: After First Light
- 0 YFL: The Year of First Light