When you first install Valorant and launch the game, a lot of people are surprised to find fewer usable agents on the character select screen than they expected. The screen shows tons of agents, yet only a few are actually available to pick and play. This isn't a bug; it's Valorant's basic structure. Aside from a few starter agents, the rest are all locked, and you have to unlock them yourself to use them.
The good news is that unlocking isn't hard, and you can do plenty of it without spending a cent as long as you put in the time. In this article, starting from why agents are locked, we'll work through the three unlock methods, the special restriction on new agents, and what order free-to-play players should unlock in, step by step.
Why Are Valorant Agents Locked?
In Valorant, an agent isn't just a skin; it's a core element that changes the gameplay itself. Each agent has unique abilities and an ultimate, so which agent you pick can completely change the strategy of a round. That's why Riot designed it so new players, rather than getting flooded with every agent from the start, unlock agents one at a time as they learn the game.
As a result, a new account starts out able to use only the starter agents, and you have to unlock the rest through play or through payment. The narrow set of choices may feel frustrating at first, but it's actually a structure that's good for building your fundamentals with a small number of agents.
The 3 Ways to Unlock Valorant Agents
There are three broad ways to unlock agents in Valorant: agent contracts, which you can clear for free; Kingdom Credits, a currency you earn through play; and VP, which you pay real money for. Let's look at each one.
1. Free Unlocks via Agent Contracts
The most basic method is the agent contract. Activate the contract for the agent you want, then play games to earn XP, and once that XP reaches a certain tier, the agent unlocks for free. You don't have to spend any money, and you just have to play matches like normal, which makes this the most important channel for free-to-play players.
You can only have one agent contract active at a time, so it's best to decide which agent you most want to use first and set that contract. Progressing through a contract gets you not only the agent unlock but extra rewards along the way too.
2. Instant Unlocks with Kingdom Credits
Kingdom Credits (KC) are an in-game currency you earn through play. Game activities like playing matches or progressing agent contracts build up Kingdom Credits, and once you've gathered enough, you can use them to instantly unlock the agent you want. Unlike agent contracts, where you slowly fill up XP, the advantage here is that with enough credits you can unlock right away.
The exact amount of Kingdom Credits needed for an unlock can change over time, so it's most accurate to go by the price shown in the in-game store.
3. Instant Unlocks with VP
VP (Valorant Points) is a paid currency you top up with real money. With VP, you can unlock the agent you want right away without having to grind XP or gather credits. It's the option to pick when you want to save time or use a specific agent immediately, and if spending money feels like a stretch, there's no need to use it.
Newly Released Agents May Not Be Unlockable Right Away
Here's one thing to watch out for. Newly released agents often have Kingdom Credit unlocks restricted for a set period right after launch. That means if you want to use a brand-new agent right away, the only routes open during that window are often progressing an agent contract or paying with VP.
So you may run into a situation where you try to buy a new agent right away with your saved-up Kingdom Credits and can't. When that happens, don't rush; activate an agent contract to unlock through play, or wait until the restriction lifts and then unlock with credits. The restriction period and conditions vary from time to time, so check the in-game guidance as your reference.
A Recommended Unlock Order for Free-to-Play Players
If you're gathering agents without spending money, it's more efficient to unlock in an order that helps your play rather than just unlocking whatever looks good. Generally, we recommend unlocking agents in the role you tend to play first.
- Priority 1: Unlock a core agent in the role you play most first
- Priority 2: An agent who can fill a role your team comp is often missing
- Priority 3: Broaden out with agents who click for you and get you good win rates
- Note: If you're not in a hurry, unlock new agents after their Kingdom Credit restriction lifts
Rather than greedily trying to unlock every agent from the start, mastering two or three agents you use often will help your skill improve more. Your agent pool naturally grows over time, so early on, selecting and focusing is the right answer. If you enjoy other FPS titles alongside Valorant, like Counter-Strike or Apex Legends, it's also fun to compare each game's character structure.
If You Pulled Off a Career-Best Play With a Newly Unlocked Agent
The moment you land your first great play with an agent you worked hard to unlock is one of the most thrilling experiences in Valorant. But that decisive moment usually shows up without warning, so even when you want to watch it again, you'll often be disappointed to find no recording of it.
Keep the free game recorder DOR running and you won't miss moments like these. DOR automatically detects the instant your first ace lands with a newly unlocked agent and saves it as a clip, so your best plays get saved on their own without you hitting a record button. Run DOR while you enjoy Valorant, and the very process of unlocking agents one by one stacks up as a highlight record.
