VCT 2025 «STAGE 1»

AGENT ANALYTICS

VCT 2025 «STAGE 1» AGENT ANALYTICS

OVERVIEW

VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) 2025 is the fifth annual competitive tournament circuit organized by Riot Games. It consists of three seasons — «Kickoff», «Stage 1», and «Stage 2» — each divided into four sub-regions: Americas (AMER), China (CN), EMEA, and Pacific (PCF).

While «Kickoff» served as a testing ground where teams experimented with compositions, strategies, and ideas that could shape the season’s meta, «Stage 1» was the first season with a well-established meta that required teams to adapt and refine their tactics. During this tournament, the best teams earned regional titles and qualified for VCT Masters Toronto and the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025.

Patch 10.04–10.08

VLR: *AMER, [CN](https://www.vlr.gg/event/2359/champions-tour-2025-china-stage-1), [EMEA](https://www.vlr.gg/event/2380/champions-tour-2025-emea-stage-1), [PCF](https://www.vlr.gg/event/2379/champions-tour-2025-pacific-stage-1)*

Liquipedia: *AMER, [CN](https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2025/China_League/Stage_1), [EMEA](https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2025/EMEA_League/Stage_1), [PCF](https://liquipedia.net/valorant/VCT/2025/Pacific_League/Stage_1)*

This paper presents data on agents based on the results of «Stage 1», compares them to «Kickoff», offers a forecast for «Stage 2», and draws several conclusions.

Other VCT 2025 «Stage 1» papers are available via the links below:

AMER: G2 Analytics — link

CN: XLG Analytics — link

EMEA: FNC Analytics — link

PCF: RRQ Analytics — link

PICKRATE

Figure 1. Pickrate Distribution

Figure 2. Average Pickrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

Figure 3. AMER Pickrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

Figure 4. CN Pickrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

Figure 5. EMEA Pickrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

Figure 6. PCF Pickrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

WINRATE

Figure 7. Average Winrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

Figure 8. AMER Winrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

Figure 9. CN Winrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

Figure 10. EMEA Winrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

Figure 11. PCF Winrate and Its Change Compared to «Kickoff»

CONCLUSION

Figure 12. Agents Distribution: High Pickrate

Figure 13. Agents Distribution: Medium Pickrate

Figure 14. Agents Distribution: Low Pickrate

• Tejo has become a meta-defining and essential agent.
• Omen remains the most popular smoker, while becoming an even more valuable option compared to other smokers.
• Yoru has emerged as a meta-defining duelist due to his high strategic mobility and initiator-like capabilities; Neon remains a strong alternative, while other duelists struggle to compete with them.
• Breach remains the most popular flasher, although Kayo is not far behind in terms of winrate. However, Yoru and Neon can partially replace Breach on his role.
• Cypher, Vyse, and Killjoy are the most optimal anchors to choose. Viper is also a viable option, but her performance is closely tied to Icebox’s presence in the map pool.
• Sova has lost traction and is now on par with Fade among revealers; both currently trail Tejo in competitiveness.
• Breach is the most popular flasher, although Kayo has a higher winrate.
• The remaining agents fall short of the current meta (including the new agent — Waylay), being either suboptimal or significantly underperforming.

FORECAST

With «Stage 1» marking the final season before Tejo’s major rework, analyzing potential shifts in the agent meta becomes important (see Figure 15).

Figure 15. Agents XvY Winrate Matrix

• Yoru and Neon are the most reliable duelists against most opponents, though Yoru struggles against initiators, while Neon excels against all high pickrate agents.
• Sova and Fade are similar initiators, though Fade offers greater potential, and Kayo serves as a strong alternative to Breach.
• While Omen remains the uncontested controller, Viper’s current strength appears tied to Icebox’s presence in the map pool.
• Cypher and Vyse are consistently strong anchors, but Killjoy offers a compelling counterpick against high pickrate agents like Yoru, Tejo, Breach, Cypher, and Vyse.