As per usual, a new Agent will be introduced during Valorant Episode 9. They were not released right at the start of the Episode with Act 1, but we were given a number of hints about the characters. Here is what we know so far, and what we can predict about the next Agent to join Valorant.
We don't get new content in Valorant as constantly as Fortnite or CoD, but Riot do provide a steady stream of new maps and Agents each Episode. The last new Agent, Clove, was released in Episode 8 Act 2, and before her Iso, in Episode 7 Act 3. Now we are in Episode 9, we know that a new Agent is coming soon.
So far, the devs have been tight-lipped about the new character, and leakers haven't revealed too much either. But a few key details were teased in a recently released trailer for Episode 9, and in one of the new Battle Pass rewards. We can also use our knowledge of the general Valorant release schedule to make a prediction about this new Agent's release date. Let's start there.
Episode 9's New Agent: Release Date
We predict the new Agent will be released in Episode 9 Act 2, which is expected to begin on Tuesday, August 20. With the new content release schedule for Episode launches, it could also be on the Wednesday or Thursday of that week.
There was a chance that the new Agent would be released with Episode 9 Act 1, but with Riot hard at work right now for the console port's release (which is excellent, by the way), this new Agent will need to wait until at least Act 2 or possibly even Act 3. Given Clove, the last Agent to be released, has been in Valorant for three Acts, we think the new Agent is coming sooner rather than later.
Episode 9's New Agent: Physical Appearance
We think this Agent is going to be a slender woman with long fingers, or possibly claws. This is based on the only physical depiction we've seen of them so far, which is from an Easter egg you can find on the new map Abyss.
If you go into a private match on Abyss and activate a cheat called "Ghost Mode" (which allows you to fly around the map), then you can get close to this glass structure near the B-site, inside which you can see the silhouette of a figure believed to be the new Agent:
The figure, who can be seen just to the right of the crosshair in the screenshot above, paces left and right behind the glass. It looks like a feminine figure, who is tall and slim, and based on the hands held behind their back, they have long fingers or claws.
Our claw theory is also supported by this very brief close-up of the new Agent's hand that appeared at the very end of the Abyss trailer:
This is certainly going to be an Agent closer to Omen rather than Raze or Gekko. Less laughing, more snarling.
Episode 9's New Agent: Background
We know almost nothing about their background or lore, but there is a new Playercard available in the Episode 9 Act 1 Battle Pass that the community are certain relates to the new Agent. It shows a silver and purple rose, surrounded by thorns, and is called "In Bloom".
We are therefore convinced that whatever this new Agent's background, they have some kind of affinity with nature, and we expect them to have a dark personality, given the cold color palette and the emphasis on thorns. We think the thorns will also be relevant to the Agent's abilities.
If you've played the other big Riot hit League of Legends, then this might all seem very familiar to you, and that's because they have a Champion called Zyra who is also all about thorns. They might not be explicitly related to each other, but it's not unrealistic to imagine the design of this new Agent was inspired by Zyra.
Episode 9's New Agent: Ability Predictions
All we have to go on when predicting the new Agent's abilities is a final shot from a recently released trailer for Episode 9, which depicts thorns sprouting from the ground — an ability that doesn't exist currently in Valorant:
Given that there are only five Sentinels but at least six of every other Agent type, we think the new Agent will be a Sentinel that can produce thorns from the ground that will slow or damage enemies, perhaps both. It may be that the thorns can be laid as a trap, or they may instead need to be deployed like a grenade, we simply can't say at this point.
Besides the thorns, the new Agent's claws also seem particularly significant, but it's impossible to predict what a claw-based ability would look like. Maybe a stronger melee?
And there you have it, everything we know, or can at least predict, about the next Agent coming to Valorant in Episode 9. What do you think about them so far, do they sound like an Agent you'll be saving the Kingdom Credits for?