“VALORANT’s New Duelist, Waylay, Is Here – Best Maps, Abilities & How to Unlock Her!”
VALORANT fans, get ready! Riot Games has officially unveiled Agent 28, Waylay, a lightning-fast Duelist from Thailand who is set to redefine aggressive gameplay when she launches on March 5th with Episode 2025 Act 2.
Waylay’s Playstyle – Speed & Strategy Combined
Waylay isn’t just another Duelist—she’s the first entry-focused Duelist Riot has released in five years! Designed with a mix of high mobility and strategic execution, she excels at outmaneuvering opponents, catching enemies off guard, and pulling off clutch plays with her Light Speed ability.
According to Riot Games’ Agent Lead, John Goscicki, Waylay brings a cerebral approach to combat:
“She is a seasoned duelist with years of experience. We designed her to feel like the ‘big sister’ of the roster—someone with confidence, intelligence, and deadly precision.”
Best Maps for Waylay – Where She Dominates
With a total of 17 maps in the game, finding the right battleground for Waylay’s hyper-aggressive movement is key. Riot Games’ Senior Agent Designer, June Cuervo, has revealed the maps where she truly shines:
Waylay’s Best Maps:
Icebox – Plenty of tight angles and vertical spots for her to quickly reposition. Ascent – Compact bomb sites with multiple corners make her unpredictable. Split – A Duelist’s playground with enclosed spaces that favor her quick movements. Pearl – Tight entryways and unique angles amplify her ambush potential.
However, not every map plays to her strengths.
Waylay’s Weak Maps:
Breeze – Open bomb sites make it harder for her to find cover. Abyss – Large, exposed areas limit her movement-based advantage.
Cuervo explains, “Maps where bomb sites have lots of nooks and crannies to dash to, like Icebox and Ascent, are where Waylay thrives. However, on large open maps like Breeze, she struggles because she lacks Jett’s 360-degree escape tools.”
How to Unlock Waylay
Once Waylay becomes available, players can add her to their roster through several methods: Complete the Recruitment Event – Unlock her by earning XP within a limited-time event. 8,000 Kingdom Credits – If you miss the recruitment window, she can be unlocked later. 1,000 VP – Buy her instantly if you don’t want to grind. Xbox Game Pass Perk – Subscribers can connect their Xbox and Riot Games accounts to unlock her on Day 1 for free!
Final Thoughts – Is Waylay a Game-Changer?
With her fast-paced, high-skill playstyle, Waylay is set to shake up the Duelist meta in VALORANT. Whether you’re looking to ambush enemies, reposition quickly, or dominate close-quarter fights, she offers a unique alternative to Jett and Reyna. If you’re ready to master her aggressive movement and mind games, Icebox and Ascent are where you’ll want to test her first!
Will Waylay be your new main? Get ready to lock in, dash forward, and take over the battlefield when she drops on March 5th!
