VALORANT isn’t just a tactical shooter – it’s a game with one of the deepest lore worlds in modern gaming. The story revolves around enigmatic Radiants, otherworldly powers, interdimensional drifts, and a mirrorverse. There’s a lot to digest, so here’s all of VALORANT lore explained!
Image Source: Riot Games
The VALORANT universe is set in a near-future version of Earth, known as the Alpha Earth. This world mirrors our own, but has undergone significant changes due to a series of events, namely the “First Light“.
Around a decade before the game’s current timeline, a global phenomenon known as the First Light occurred. The First Light happened due to a massive surge of energy that had effects on both Alpha and its parallel counterpart, Omega Earth.
On Alpha Earth, the First Light caused a worldwide blackout that lasted several hours, and when power was restored, the world had completely changed. This incident led to the discovery of Radianite, which is a powerful new energy source that is the centrepiece of VALORANT lore.
The emergence of Radianite has granted several select individuals extraordinary powers. The people granted this power are called Radiants. These powers come naturally or through technology enhanced by Radianite.
Some innate powers include Phoenix’s fire control and Sage’s healing, while other agents like Viper use Radianite-based technology for augmentation.
Kingdom Corporation is the mega-corp that first discovered and commercialised Radianite and powered 75% of the entire world’s energy.
Image Source: Riot Games
Though Radianite was used to power the world, its powers can also be misused. As the dangers of Radianite became clear, the governments and organisations were forced to adapt to these new realities, forming a group called the VALORANT Protocol (VP).
The VALORANT Protocol was founded to protect humanity and regulate Radianite usage. To strengthen its foundation, the organisation recruited agents skilled in combat and Radianite powers.
The group originally conducted solo missions, but began deploying strike teams for increased success rates.
Image Source: Riot Games
The VALORANT lore then introduces a mirrorverse concept, where Earth is split into two parallel realities:
Omega Earth faces the key issue of Radianite depletion. Despite having the technology, they do not have the renewable energy to build upon. As a result, Omega Earth was pushed to desperate measures.
The Kingdom Corporation on Alpha Earth also has a counterpart on Omega Earth, called Kingdom Industries.
Both Earths in VALORANT have near-identical inhabitants and agents, which create “mirror doubles” who fight each other in your typical VALORANT match.
All agents in VALORANT come from different countries and backstories which we’ve covered below.
Country of Origin: United States
Brimstone is the first agent to join the VALORANT Protocol and currently acts as its leader. He is a tech user and a veteran soldier who has seen all kinds of battles, also acting as the ‘father figure’ of the group.
Country of Origin: United States
The second agent to join the VALORANT Protocol alongside Brimstone. Viper was once a brilliant scientist, but can no longer think clearly due to having become hateful and biased in her tests. According to a voiceline from Omen, Viper used to specialise in medicine and healing.
Country of Origin: Unknown
Omen is a Radiant creature who has a mysterious and dark past that is intertwined with Viper’s, though the lore never officially revealed what it was. Omen was ripped apart and transformed from a human to his current state, likely due to the First Light incident.
Country of Origin: Germany
Killjoy is a young, genius inventor who uses various gadgets and bots for combat. She won a lot of awards and became the lead of the Kingdom’s Research and Development division at the age of 18.
Country of Origin: Morocco
Cypher is an information broker who has a dark and mysterious past. He has no ties to anyone and seems to have lost his family. Cypher insists on remaining anonymous and lives like an enigma. He emphasises the need for him to protect his own secrets and does not reveal any personal information.
Country of Origin: Russia
Hailing from the cold tundra of Russia, Sova’s precise archery skills were enhanced with Radianite technology. He has a military background and has encountered his Omega counterpart in the past. Sova lost one of his eyes, likely in the heat of battle.
Country of Origin: China
Sage is a Radiant with innate healing abilities. She has a caring nature and feels compulsion to spread her healing to everyone she can. She is a geomancer with the power to manipulate the earth.
Country of Origin: England
Centering his abilities around fire, Phoenix can set himself ablaze at will and is also able to manipulate his flames to affect the environment. He’s confident, cocky, and cheerful, which often makes him risky, rash, and reckless.
Country of Origin: South Korea
Jett is a Radiant with powers that allow her to control the wind, using it to propel herself. Her Omega counterpart plays a significant role in the game’s lore, often being featured in numerous cinematics.
Country of Origin: Mexico
Reyna possesses Radiant abilities that are linked to harvesting the souls of the people she kills, using them for her own purposes. However, this ability means she needs these souls to survive, and she will die if she runs out of supply.
Country of Origin: Brazil
Having a personality that reflects her explosive and colourful play style, Raze often cracks bad jokes to try lifting the team’s spirits. However, she has a negative view of the Kingdom, as she believes their practices drive people out of their homes.
Country of Origin: Sweden
Breach is a tech user who uses money as his main motivation. He has artificial arms built by himself, with Raze implementing some major upgrades. His previous life was as a mercenary. Similar to Raze, Breach also despises the Kingdom’s views.
Country of Origin: Australia
Skye is a nature lover and a defender of her homeland’s flora and fauna. She used to be a farmer and possesses a calm and caring personality. Her Radiant powers are used to animate wooden figures, which she calls her pack.
Country of Origin: Japan
Yoru’s Radiant powers allow him to open small rifts, which he can go through and teleport with. He is fascinated with his ancient samurai ancestors and travels to uncover the secrets they left behind.
Country of Origin: Ghana
Astra is a Radiant who is a member of the Astral Guardians, which appear to be some kind of cosmic race. Unlike other agents in VALORANT, Astra must first move into a ‘higher place’ with her Astral Form to use her abilities.
Country of Origin: Alternate Timeline Earth
KAY/O’s role has a lot to do with a future event known as the Radiant War. He comes from an alternative timeline several centuries in the future, where Radiants and humans have gone to war. He was designed to kill Radiants.
Country of Origin: France
Chamber is equipped with a Radianite arsenal, using custom firearms, nanotechnology, and teleportation equipment. He was in the French military and worked as a marksman, later transferring to the Kingdom’s weapon design department.
Country of Origin: Philippines
Neon is one of the youngest agents in the VALORANT Protocol. A Rift Storm occurred around Mount Pulag in the Philippines, and its catalyst is assumed to be Neon’s bioelectricity. Neon’s father is known to be a creator of Radiant support technologies, developing a Surge Protector to help Neon control her powers.
Country of Origin: Turkey
Before joining the VALORANT Protocol, Fade terrorised it by blackmailing agents using her powers. She claimed she would reveal all of the Protocol’s secrets to the public. However, a revelation of the existence of another world changed Fade’s viewpoints, making her join the Protocol instead.
Country of Origin: India
Harbor is a tech-user, utilising his Bracelet, which allows him to use his water-based abilities. His Bracelet is an ancient artefact that he discovered on a mission. Omega Harbor was recruited into the VALORANT Legion before his Alpha counterpart.
Country of Origin: United States
Gekko’s group of Radivores was kept inside a Kingdom facility. He broke into it, stole his little crew, and escaped. The VALORANT Protocol notices this altercation, helping Gekko escape and hide. From then on, Gekko stays in touch with the Protocol and eventually joins them.
Country of Origin: Norway
Before joining the VALORANT Protocol, Deadlock was part of an elite Norwegian private military group. During a mission, her team was ambushed, resulting in the death of her teammates and the loss of her left arm. She then joined the Protocol, where her hand was replaced with a prosthetic arm designed by Killjoy. She is left with PTSD due to the traumatic experience.
Country of Origin: China
Iso was an elite assassin for a secretive organisation, becoming a legend due to his ability to complete missions that typically required entire teams. He was then hunted by the Scions of Hourglass and requested to join the VALORANT Protocol to have them protect him.
Country of Origin: Scotland
Clove is a Radiant whose abilities manifested at a young age, giving them immortality. Omen discovered Clove in one of his missions and recognised her potential. She contacted Cypher, leading to her recruitment to the VALORANT Protocol.
Country of Origin: Unknown
Vyse was previously a scientist working for Kingdom Corporation. However, her research attracted the attention of the Scions of Hourglass, leading to an attack that left her team dead. Vyse managed to escape. Seeking vengeance, Vyse joined the VALORANT Protocol to accomplish her objective.
Country of Origin: Colombia
Tejo retired from military service to become a consultant with expertise in strategic operations. He was introduced in the INITIATE V.25 trailer, where he was seen greeting Brimstone, implying an invitation to join the VALORANT Protocol.
Country of Origin: Thailand
Waylay’s past is shrouded in mystery, but hints suggest she might have a criminal background. She encountered the Protocol during a mission in Thailand, where she helped Tejo and the team. Tejo then recommended Waylay’s inclusion after her display of skill.
All maps in VALORANT tell a story, leaving subtle clues, emails, or audio logs that hint at the VALORANT Protocol and Legion’s activities. Most maps are located on Alpha Earth, while some are on Omega Earth.
Most activity in the VALORANT lore occurs in Alpha Earth, as the Omega agents are constantly trying to steal Radianite.
Image Source: Riot Games
Ascent is the site of the infamous “Venice Incident”. Alpha’s Phoenix was duking it out with Omega’s Jett, causing a major Radianite disaster that lifted part of the city of Venice into the air. The city was broken up into many pieces, and Ascent is one of the largest. The Range is also part of the floating city.
A Kingdom Corporation Radianite refinery located in Morocco. Bind plays a significant role for being a strategic site in the ongoing battle for Radianite. It is also Cypher’s hometown.
An island located in the Caribbean that is rich in Radianite. Breeze was turned into a Radianite mining facility. Also features a mysterious teleporter that is linked to Chamber.
Fracture is set in an abandoned Kingdom research facility, located near New Mexico. The site is a joint Alpha and Omega Earth research facility with a large Radianite collider. The two Chambers from Alpha and Omega orchestrated an explosion, destroying the facility.
Unlike other maps, Haven has little lore surrounding it. It is a mysterious stronghold that has Radianite scattered around the map.
Icebox is Kingdom Corporation’s port and cold research facility, located on a small Russian island. Yoru broke into the facility trying to steal armour, which is why there are warnings around the map about an intruder.
Split is the main location of the Kingdom’s Headquarters and Main Research Labs. There are two sides to the map – the side closer to A site is developed and taken over by the Kingdom, consisting of train stations and other Kingdom-related buildings. The Kingdom is slowly taking over the other side, closer to the B site.
Located in East LA, Sunset is a major Kingdom facility built in the middle of a tight community. The location features basketball courts, markets, and repair shops, showing that people live in the area.
Not much goes on on Omega Earth, as the planet is undergoing environmental devastation. However, there are two maps in the pool that take place there.
The first map to be set on Omega Earth. Located in Portugal, much of the city has been flooded as a result of rapidly rising waves caused by the ongoing environmental and climate crisis. Kingdom Industries used Radianite to encase some areas of the city to protect them from the water.
Known as the “City of Flowers,” Lotus carries an explicit connection to a group known as the Astral Guardians. This map is an Omega-only location, as its counterpart on Alpha Earth was destroyed, allegedly due to sabotage.
There’s a lot more VALORANT lore to learn about while playing the game, so make sure you pick up on any small details that Riot have put in! What is your favourite map? Or agent? Let us know in the comments below!
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