The year 2024 has been a pivotal one for Valorant and its esports scene, offering numerous exciting moments and significant changes. While the main event of the year was the VALORANT Champions 2024 tournament, there were also other important developments, such as improvements in gameplay and player achievements. In this article, we will look at the most prominent tournaments, the best players, and updates that made a lasting impact this year.

Best Valorant Tournaments in 2024

VALORANT Champions 2024 — the biggest tournament in the VALORANT discipline — marked the conclusion of the VALORANT Champions Tour series held throughout 2024. In this event, 16 top teams from around the world competed for a prize pool of 2,250,000 USD. The event took place in Seoul, South Korea.

The most significant and most-watched Valorant tournament was Champions 2024, which wrapped up the 2024 VALORANT Champions Tour. Sixteen of the best teams from across the globe battled for the prize pool of 2,250,000 USD. The event was held in Seoul, South Korea. EDward Gaming claimed first place, defeating Team Heretics 3-2 in the grand final. At its peak, the tournament garnered 1,412,558 viewers on official broadcasts.

Second in importance was VCT 2024: Masters Tokyo, where teams competed for 1,000,000 USD. fnatic emerged victorious, defeating Evil Geniuses 3-0 in the grand final. The tournament peaked with 830,369 viewers.

These tournaments highlighted the incredible talent of Valorant players and the dedication of Valorant professional teams, making 2024 a landmark year for the esports scene.

Best Valorant Teams in 2024

Currently, no single team in Valorant stands out with total domination, but the strongest teams from each region can be identified. These Valorant teams have consistently performed at the highest level throughout the year:

• Europe: Team Heretics
• North America: NRG Esports
• Brazil: 2Game Esports
• Asia-Pacific: Boom Esports
• Korea: Gen.G
• China: EDward Gaming
• Japan: Riddle Order
• LA-S: LEVIATÁN
• LA-N: E-Xolos LAZER
• Oceania: JiJieHao
• Female teams: Shopify Rebellion

These Valorant professional teams showcased their regional dominance and skill, contributing to the excitement of the competitive scene.

Best Valorant Players in 2024

The year 2024 has been a remarkable period for the professional Valorant scene. Fans were treated to many intense matches, unexpected turns, and incredible individual performances. The best Valorant pro players showcased their skills at international tournaments, providing us with numerous highlights. Here are the players who left the most significant mark this season:

• Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang: this outstanding duelist from EDward Gaming played a crucial role in securing China’s first international Valorant trophy at the VALORANT Champions 2024. His exceptional performance earned him the MVP award of the tournament.
• Erick "aspas" Santos: representing Leviatán, aspas achieved an impressive 1.26 rating in the VCT 2024 season, topping the global rankings. His consistent high-level gameplay solidified his reputation as one of the best duelists in the world.
• Enes "RieNs" Ecirli: a key player for Team Heretics, RieNs earned recognition for his versatility and impact, particularly at the VALORANT Champions 2024 tournament, where he was among the top players in kills.
• Wan "CHICHOO" Shunji: a versatile player from EDward Gaming, CHICHOO showcased his adaptability and ability to clutch crucial moments, which were key to his team’s success throughout the year.

Notably, all of them are young, aged between 18 and 20. This is a significant indicator, as many esports organizations prioritize having younger players in their rosters, considering them more promising in their perspective.

Best Valorant Change in 2024

The most significant event and change in Valorant's professional scene was the retirement of North America's most famous and star player, Tyson "TenZ" Ngo. In September 2024, he announced his departure from the competitive scene, citing a loss of interest in the game and a desire to focus on content creation and other aspects of his life.TenZ mentioned that he had planned to retire after the 2024 season began. He expressed dissatisfaction with the increasing randomness in the game and the changes in its dynamics, which influenced his decision.After retiring from professional esports, TenZ continues to collaborate with Sentinels as a content creator and streamer. He has also not ruled out the possibility of temporarily returning as a substitute player if the team faces such a need.

Best Valorant Update in 2024

Valorant stood out in 2024 with an update that introduced the Regen Shield, a revolutionary feature that changed the game’s strategy. The shield costs 650 credits, absorbs 25 damage per hit, has 50 durability, and regenerates over time, encouraging longer battles. This update is one of the many Valorant patches that brought transformative changes to the game, significantly impacting both casual and competitive play.

The update also made significant changes to agents, such as improved abilities for Cypher and Sage, as well as weapon adjustments, including upgrades to the Phantom and changes to the number of bullets in the Frenzy and Ghost. Additionally, new agents, Controller Clove and Sentinel Vyse, were added to the game. Clove has firmly established herself in the ranked mode meta, while Vyse remains one of the least popular agents due to her weakness and unfavorable positioning compared to other Sentinel role agents.

What to expect from Valorant In 2025?

Well, in 2025, we can at least expect the release of a new agent whose teaser has already gone viral online. It is anticipated to be an Initiator hailing from Colombia. It’s unlikely this agent will be the only one Riot Games releases in the upcoming year.

Additionally, as fans of the game, we look forward to major tournaments, exciting new skin collections – perhaps even in collaboration with someone, who knows? We’ll be keeping an eye on announcements from the Valorant developers and keeping you updated on all the events throughout 2025!

Conclusion

2024 has been a significant year for the Valorant scene, with several key events and changes. The highlight of the year was the VALORANT Champions 2024 tournament, where EDward Gaming claimed the grand prize. Several players, such as Zheng "ZmjjKK" and Erick "aspas," also stood out with their excellent performances at international tournaments.A major moment was the retirement of Tyson "TenZ" Ngo from the professional scene, which had a broader impact on esports. Additionally, the introduction of the Regen Shield update, along with the addition of Vyse and Clove to the agent pool, influenced the game’s strategy and meta.