Valorant is an engaging multiplayer game that mixes FPS gameplay with unique ability-based elements. Although each game mode is generally a simple team versus team, the game’s world has vast lore that justifies why you find yourself in this fight in the first place.

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While Riot finds plenty of ways to incorporate easter eggs and tell more of the overarching story, plenty of plot elements and lore come from the major cinematic releases that accompany each episode. There have been five episodes since Valorant’s launch, and we rank them by their story-building and impact on the post-Radianite Earth.

5 Ignition - Episode 1: Duelists

Jett dashes past Phoenix's flame wall as he faces away with his gun drawn

Duelists is the cinematic that started it all. It does a great job of introducing the world of Valorant and its mechanics, although it doesn’t really give much exposition. It is an awesome showcase for both Jett and Phoenix’s abilities, while immediately establishing how important the Spike is.

The whole conflict in this cinematic revolves around Phoenix, in communication with Sage, trying to stop Jett from planting the Spike. We start seeing clues about the multiverse and Protocols in the video, but the major clincher is seeing the extremely massive damage caused by the detonation of the Spike.

The way the explosion affects Venice’s streets is still apparent in the actual levels you end up playing in. It’s a solid introduction to the in-game lore, but suffers from using information that aged like milk and has since been retconned.

4 Formation - Episode 2: Retake

Phoenix complains about getting shot as he and Yoru walk away from the Kingdom site, with their backs turned to the camera

Retake is a lot of fun to watch and perfectly makes use Phoenix and Yoru’s high-octane gameplay style with their abilities. It dives right into the action and feels much like an actual match with the entries charging in full force and lurkers taking out whoever has the Operator.

Although Cypher is criminally underutilized here, we are introduced to Yoru’s ultimate in a cool way, and both Viper and Jett’s abilities are smoothly integrated. The already exciting cinematic sees a lot of duels and counterattacks, then nears its end with a great Spike defusal sequence.

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In terms of lore, we see what looks like the map Icebox representing an Alpha Kingdom facility. There is technically not that much by way of overall lore set pieces, but it manages to showcase the extent of Radiant powers in a really engaging way.

3 Disruption - Episode 4: Warm Up

Raze, Yoru, Jett, Sova, Phoenix, and Killjoy all look down at Kayo as he regains consciousness on the ground, Yoru extends his hand to get payment

What makes Warm Up so great is the sheer joy you can feel from our resident agents. It’s a stark contrast to the impending danger they are always in during the other cinematics, but it still manages to establish some more lore and provide character development.

Here we see Alpha agents at their headquarters, having fun, hanging out, and trying to outscore each other in a training fight against “Max Bot”. It’s a more humorous take than we’ve seen in previous episodes, and even sees the likes of Brimstone, Kay/o, and Phoenix donning more relaxed gear than usual. It also furthers the relationships between characters, most prominently noticeable with Raze and Killjoy as well as Yoru and Sage. Cypher dies again, but this time in a fun nod to the running gag of his role in cinematics.

More than the entertaining notions of seeing so many agents in one video, Warm Up also gives us plenty of little easter eggs. Eagle-eyed viewers will likely spot a map of Omega Portugal with Pearl, markers that show just how big Valorant HQ and the protocol is, Kingdom Credits that suggest Alpha Earth creating a new currency, and an abandoned locker for an unknown agent. Through all the character quirks and environmental details on display here, we get to see more subtle yet impactful world-building.

2 Reflection - Episode 3: Duality

Omega Phoenix, on the left,. stands with his hands at the ready while Alpha Phoenix, on the right, lowers his gun in disbelief

Although Duality was actually released a few months before Reflection officially started, it fits the role as the third major cinematic, and ties into the lore established throughout that episode. From the minute it kicks off with snippets from the news across the globe, viewers are immediately sucked in.

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This cinematic does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of expanding the lore of Valorant. In the newsreels alone, we learn that it’s been a decade since First Light, there is a Radianite Power Program, and the presence of Radiants is sparking concern in the general public. We learn about Brimstone’s role as the leader of the pack and how Killjoy and Viper interact.

The most iconic reveal, though, is Alpha Phoenix coming face to face with Omega Phoenix. This is the first major cinematic that decides to answer the question of how we’re fighting agents that are exactly the same as us. ‘Duality’ kicks the story of Valorant into high gear as it directly touches on the Mirrorverse and sets up the motivations of both sides.

1 Dimension - Episode 5: Shattered

Neon slides on the floor as she emits biolectric shots from her fingers to electrocute an Omega enforcer with a Bulldog gun

Shattered feels like the perfect juxtaposition to Duality, yet it manages to be even more impactful to the overarching narrative dictating Valorant’s episodes. The cinematic already starts strong, but it has the most chilling ending among all the episode releases.

It’s the first major episode cinematic that heavily features Reyna and Neon, and it does a spectacular job of showcasing their abilities in a powerful way. It’s hard not to focus on the cool animation, rad integration of their skills, and Killjoy’s adorable bots, but this cinematic actually feels like it’s changing the game.

We learn that Omega Earth is not actually trying to weaponize Radianite, and instead aims to sustain its Life Support System. Further exploration from the team reveals a comic shop that shows the Alpha team being portrayed as the villains threatening the LSS and the city of Pearl. Large statues depict the Omega team as beacons of hope and inspiration. Plus, the working Large Radian Collider in the area also firmly confirms that in-game matches in other maps prior to this cinematic are being held on Alpha Earth.

Throughout the entirety of Valorant’s existence since its release, players are meant to feel like the heroes fighting against cheap and corrupt copies. What makes this cinematic so powerful is the message that things may not be so black and white. It shatters a lot of the preconceived notions players may have about the story from previous arcs and makes room for future episodes in an ominous and exciting way.

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