Updated on November 25, 2:15 p.m. (GMT+8): Updated for relevancy based on the most recent Valorant patch notes.
Sentinels’ star duelist Tyson “TenZ” Ngo thinks that KAY/O has the best flash in Valorant.
As it turns out, KAY/O is also growing in popularity in the Valorant meta. A big part of why he is being picked more often is his flash, says TenZ.
When patch 4.04 went live on tournament servers in Week 5 of the VCT NA Stage 1 Challengers group stage, the robotic initiator‘s pick rate had increased from 27 percent to 45 percent.
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Sentinels TenZ explains why KAY/O has the best flash in Valorant
Flashes are crucial in Valorant, particularly on attack, because they can help teams take favorable battles by blinding opponents. Agents like Breach and Skye have proved indispensable when executing fast pushes, with their ability to push defenders off angles that they’re holding.
While KAY/O’s most unique ability is his Zero/Point blade that suppresses agent abilities, his Flash/Drive flashbang may just be the best one in the game.
“KAY/O’s flashes are the best flashes in the game,” said TenZ. “You could set up a perfect pop flash and it will work every single time.”
TenZ also compared the robot agent’s flashes to the ones in CS:GO. The two work very similarly: you left-click to throw it further with a longer fuse, or right-click to lob it a short distance and activate a shorter fuse.
“In CS people would have lineups and god flashes, which you literally can’t do anything against. You have to watch a VOD of them throwing the flash so you know how to dodge it,” TenZ explained.
“When I played Rise on Haven, I was literally looking out for the flash,” he recalled. “I could not see the flash. I knew it was coming every time, but I just didn’t see where it was coming from so I just got full-blinded every single time.”
One of the reasons why Flash/Drive is so strong is because it is difficult to pick up on the sound or visual cues that signal a flash is coming, says TenZ.
KAY/O had an overall pick rate of 45% and was the most selected agent on Ascent at Valorant Champions 2022, according to vlr.gg.
However, after the most recent changes to the agent in patch 5.07, the initiator agent’s pick rate could differ next season.
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