Valorant KAY/O Agent Guide: Abilities, Strategies & More

Learn how to use Initiator KAY/O in this Valorant Agent guide.

Kayo guide earlygame
Let's learn how to use the toaster! | © Riot Games / EarlyGame

KAY/O arrived in Valorant in the Episode 3 Act 1 update with very little fanfare. The Initiator seemed to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, but his effectiveness has grown as players have mastered his abilities, and he is very much in vogue in the current Valorant meta. We rank him as a B-Tier agent.

A disrupting force, KAY/O's are, in large part, about stopping opponents' from using theirs - limiting them to shooting only. He also possesses a frag/molly hybrid and up to two flashes, giving him incredible utility when compared to some other Agents.

If you are keen to know more, this KAY/O Agent guide will explain all about Valorant's robotic menace.

Valorant KAY/O – Abilities

FRAG/ment

Official Ability Description: EQUIP an explosive fragment. FIRE to throw. The fragment sticks to the floor and explodes multiple times, dealing near-lethal damage at the center with each explosion.

Cost200
Charges1
Duration4 seconds
Damage25-60 per tick (Min. outer radius-inner radius), 1 tick/sec

FLASH/drive

Official Ability Description: EQUIP a flash grenade. FIRE to throw. The flash grenade explodes after a short fuse, blinding anyone in the line of sight.

Cost250
Charges2
Wind up1.6 seconds (Primary), 1s (Alt)
Debuff2 second Flash

ZERO/point (Signature Ability)

Official Ability Description: EQUIP a suppression blade. FIRE to throw. The blade sticks to the first surface it hits, winds up, and suppresses anyone in the radius of the explosion.

CostFree
Charges1

Debuff

Supression (8 seconds)

Cooldown

40 seconds

NULL/cmd (Ultimate Ability)

Official Ability Description: INSTANTLY overload with polarized radianite energy that pulses from KAY/O in a massive radius. Enemies hit with pulses are suppressed for a short duration. While overloaded, KAY/O gains combat stim and can be re-stabilized if downed.

Kayp ultimate 5
KAY/O when using his Ultimate ability. | © Riot Games
Cost7 Ult Points
Overload12 seconds
Buffs15% Fire rate, 10% Reload speed, %10 Recovery speed
DebuffSupression (4 seconds)
Downed15 seconds
HP (Downed)850 seconds
Stabilization3 seconds
Revive time1.55 seconds

Valorant KAY/O – Tips And Tricks

  • KAY/O is great for entering sites; his ZERO/point can be used early on to get intel on a site or angle of attack. Follow up with the FRAG/ment to clear off opponents buying your space or time.
  • KAY/O is equally powerful on the defensive, ZERO/point can give you a heads up on an attack, while also nullifying the opening volley of utility.
  • KAY/O's suppressive abilities are powerful on the attack, helping to nullify the likes of Killjoy and Viper's defensive abilities.
  • KAY/O's FLASH/drive can be thrown underhand. Take note though, KAY/O makes a loud noise when thrown giving opponents a chance to divert their gaze.
  • KAY/O's Ultimate is one of the strongest in the game. Throw a flash, pop the Ultimate, and push onto the site. The defending team will find their abilities unusable and if you get taken down early, there is always a chance you can be revived.

Valorant KAY/O – Lore

KAY/O is part of the VALORANT Protocol but initially came from an alternative future. KAY/O was built by humans to kill Radiants and, in the alternative timeline, he claims he killed Reyna.

Based on his voice lines, it also appears he has a close relationship with Brimstone which you can see in KAY/O's reveal trailer. KAY/O's dog tags, which hang around his neck, suggest he may have fought under his command. He also has a relationship with Sova.

According to an official Valorant quiz, KAY/O uses Polarized Radianite to nullify opponents' abilities.