VALORANT is free to download and play, so like many free blockbuster games before it, unlocking new content can be a tedious process—the point being that these processes can, of course, be alleviated by spending real world money. Since the game revolves around a central cast of heroes (called Agents in its in-game parlance) the first marker of progress for new VALORANT players becomes unlocking its full roster. Eventually this task hinges upon activating "Contracts," a system never outright explained within the game. Fortunately, despite being obtuse, the system is not complex; it can, however, be relatively time-consuming.
Unlocking Your First Two Characters
From the start, five Agents are available to play: Sova, Jett, Phoenix, Sage and Brimstone. The additional five agents—Raze, Viper, Omen, Breach and Cypher—must be unlocked. The first two of these, up to player choice, are easily unlocked soon after starting the game.
Upon opening VALORANT for the first time, players will be tasked with three varieties of missions. One is simple, daily tasks that can be completed for additional XP to that earned through playing matches; another is a Beta battle pass, unlocking new Beta-exclusive rewards as XP is earned; and the third is a series of rewards unique to new players. Leveling up to level 5 will unlock one Agent through that series of rewards, and level 10 a second Agent.
Activating New Contracts
From there on out, Contracts are required to unlock the three Agents that remain. First, to find these Contracts, click on the "Collection" tab at the top of the screen. Then select "Agents" just underneath it. With an Agent selected, a button that says "View Contract" can be found near the lower right hand side of the screen that, when clicked, shows each reward tier in that agent's contract. A separate button in the lower-middle of the screen can then be used to Activate said contract.
These work similarly to the initial series of rewards used to unlock the first two Agents—they just require considerably more XP to level up. Each tier, however, can be unlocked for 200 RP or about $2.00. Since the associated Agent is unlocked upon completing the fifth tier, the agent themselves ultimately costs 1000 RP or about $10.00.
Contracts can also be activated for any of the free Agents as well as the first two unlocked Agents (whose first five Contract tiers will be already completed). Among the rewards in these Contracts are "Gun Buddies," or charms that can adorn your guns, and unique character-themed weapon skins.
If you decide that Omen just isn't worth playing and would rather work toward Sova's unique weapon skin, you can pause Omen or any other Agent's contract to begin working on another one with the ability to return to the previous Contact at at any point with your progress retained.