Welcome to the Radiant Roster: Meet Waylay
VALORANT is set to welcome its 27th agent, Waylay, a Radiant duelist hailing from Thailand. With her unique prismatic abilities, Waylay is poised to shake up the game’s meta and offer players a fresh, dynamic experience. Unlike traditional light-wielding agents, Waylay doesn’t blind her enemies but instead imposes a new debuff called "Hindering." This debuff significantly slows down enemy movement and weapon functionality, making Waylay a formidable force in both offensive and defensive scenarios. Her abilities are designed to create space for her allies and control the flow of the game, making her a valuable addition to any team.
Understanding Waylay’s Abilities
Waylay’s kit consists of four abilities—two basic, one signature, and an ultimate—each with its own unique mechanics and strategic uses. Her first basic ability, Refract, allows her to instantly create a beacon of light on the floor. By reactivating this ability, she can travel back to the beacon as a mote of pure light, becoming invulnerable during the journey. This ability is incredibly useful for retreating to safety or reclaiming space, much like Phoenix’s ultimate but with more manual control. The second basic ability, Light Speed, equips Waylay with a burst of speed, allowing her to dash forward twice. The first dash can be used to move upwards, making it perfect for unpredictable movements or escaping tight spots. This ability is reminiscent of Jett’s Tailwind and Raze’s Blast Packs, offering both offensive and defensive utility.
Crowd Control with Saturate
Waylay’s signature ability, Saturate, is a powerful crowd-control tool. When activated, she throws a cluster of light that explodes upon hitting the ground, applying the Hindering debuff to affected enemies. This debuff slows movement, limits weapon fire rate, reduces recoil recovery, and slows down weapon equip and reload times. Saturate is ideal for flushing out corners or discouraging enemies from peeking certain angles. It can turn the tide of a fight by putting enemies at a significant disadvantage, making it easier for Waylay and her team to control key areas of the map.
Ultimate Power: Convergent Paths
Waylay’s ultimate ability, Convergent Paths, is a game-changer. By focusing her prismatic power, she can create an afterimage that projects a beam of light. After a brief delay, the beam expands, applying the Hindering debuff to players caught in its radius. Additionally, Waylay gains a powerful speed boost after the delay, allowing her to quickly access enemy territory. This ability is perfect for both attacking and retaking sites, as it can clear corners and force enemies to seek safety outside her range. Convergent Paths is a versatile tool that can be used to gain the upper hand in crucial moments of the game.
Playing Waylay: Tips and Tricks
Waylay is the first "space-taking duelist" since Jett and Raze, and she brings a unique set of skills to the table. She excels on packed maps like Bind, Ascent, and Icebox, where her abilities can be used to control tight spaces and create opportunities for her team. However, she may struggle on maps with a lot of open spaces, such as Breeze and Abyss, as she lacks the defensive versatility of Jett. Pairing Waylay with Raze can create a strong double duelist team composition, combining Raze’s explosive power with Waylay’s crowd control. Alternatively, she can be run solo, using her abilities to gather crucial information and control the flow of the game.
Strategic Use of Waylay’s Abilities
To maximize Waylay’s potential, it’s essential to understand how to use her abilities effectively. Refract is best used when you need to take space or gather information. For example, if you’re approaching Ascent B Site, you can leave the beacon in B Main and push the site. If the situation gets too chaotic, you can reactivate the ability to return to safety or reclaim the space in B Main. Light Speed is perfect for making space for your allies and catching enemies off guard. The first dash can be used to move upwards, allowing for unpredictable movements or quick escapes. Saturate is a great tool for flushing corners and discouraging enemy movement. It can be used to set up ambushes or to clear out areas before pushing a site. Finally, Convergent Paths is a powerful ultimate that can be used to gain easy access to enemy territory, clear corners, and force enemies to retreat. By mastering these abilities, you can become a formidable player in VALORANT.
Upcoming Release and New Content
Waylay goes live on March 5 with the release of VALORANT V25, Act Two. Along with her, the act introduces a new weapon collection called Cyrax, which uses starforged crystals to beautify four weapons and the melee. Players can also look forward to grinding toward a new battle pass, packed with both free and premium rewards. The addition of Waylay and the new content in Act Two promises to bring fresh excitement and challenges to the VALORANT community, making it an exciting time to dive into the game. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the scene, Waylay’s unique abilities and the new content are sure to enhance your VALORANT experience.
