Riot’s successful (so far) journey into the class-based shooter genre with Valorant interestingly produces the tight FPS gun-play fans of the genre love. Combining the elements of bomb defuse and agent abilities for a first to 13 deathmatch is exhilarating and is aiming to be among the big esports like CS: GO and Riot Games’ League of Legends. With any game that features a cast of characters with huge tool-set ranges, there’s always a new hero changing the formula. Announced this morning on the Valorant YouTube channel is the newest control operative, Killjoy. The Germanic tinkerer uses her electronic expertise to control a variety of defense mechanisms to oppress opponents all over the map.
In a new dev log written by, well, Killjoy herself, she details the exquisite utility her technology can bring to the table. With multiple ranged and trap type weapons, Killjoy’s overall toolkit is versatile and works alongside many other Sentinel agents that can defend and hold territory. Perhaps her most destructive ability is the turret that automatically targets and eradicates threats that come into the weapons range. Within the 180 degrees cone the turret can visually see, crafty players will be sure to find nifty spots to hide and confuse enemies for easy distractions and eliminations. For a more up close and personal approach,
Killjoy also has access to one of the most deadly traps in Valorant. Placing down a small AlarmBot, any combatant who steps within its wide circumference triggers an explosion. With a wide area of effect, players caught will take double damage for a short time. Much like the hidden traps of Cypher, her ability seems to work much more effectively and is deadlier than other traps. Killjoy also uses an area of effect damage trap that conceals itself and activates at will. Similar to Viper’s chemical spill ability, the damage over time is minimal but can be just the right amount of hit points to down a foe.
Finally, her ultimate ability to Lockdown places a spike-like machine anywhere on the map. Taking 15 seconds to charge, the object creates a field and detains enemies for easy kills. Shutting down the opposition’s control to use weapons, abilities or movement is very strong; but, they can destroy it before it completes the windup to catch the trickster off guard. For the strategic elements of Valorant, Killjoy shines through despite rehashing similar archetypes from other class-based shooters. Acting as Valorant’s 12th agent, Killjoy will go live in an update on August 4th.
