How to Valorant: Breaking down the tech of the controller Omen

The Grim Reaper of Valorant, chances are, if you heard him, he may already be behind you. Much like his kin Brimstone, his kit is simple in design. Few agents match his low skill barrier of entry, however, the skill expression of Omen, is one of the deadliest in the game when mastered. One of the earliest agents to hit the server in beta, Omen served as one of the first meta definers for the game in its infancy.

Abilities Breakdown

Omen has four abilities, much like the other Valorant agents. He has two purchasable abilities, one signature ability (replenishes every round), and an ultimate ability (earned through ult charges).

Omen’s first ability is Shrouded Step, allowing the player to select a close-by location and teleport there after a short channel. His second ability is Paranoia, where Omen equips a blinding orb. Firing it throws a large projectile that causes Nearsight to any player it touches. The projectile can pass through walls and can only be physically avoided.

Omen’s signature ability is Dark Cover, where he enters a shadowy realm and selects an area to place the cover. The cover has a travelling speed and forms a hollow cover at the location. He has two charges and gains a single one at the start of every round if he starts with none. The second charge is purchasable and Dark Cover regains the charge after cooldown. His ultimate is From the Shadows. Equipping a tactical map, he selects a location to channel teleport. He can cancel during the duration of the channel.

Playstyle

Omen is an intensely aggressive Controller. Piloting him with confidence and game sense is the key to maximising this agent. His insanely flexible kit allows for a multitude of plays, both for solo and ally support.

Team Comps

Omen shines on team comps with fast paces. Agents such as Jett, Raze, and Neon especially pair well with his quick travelling Paranoia. His flexibility means he can be played on virtually any map, aside from potentially Breeze.

Tips to Level up your Omen game

Omen’s Paranoia is one of the strongest abilities in the game. As the only undodgeable ‘flash’ in Valorant, it makes Omen one of the strongest combo pairings in the game. In early iterations of the game, Raze or Jett, and Omen, presented a deadly combination that snared unsuspecting victims. 2 years on, it is still one of the strongest combos when timed well.

From the Shadows is one of the most underrated ultimates in the game. Frequently earning the misnomer of weakest ultimate, it allows for massive brain plays and rotates. Set ambushes for rotators and cause chaos. Pair playstyle with more aggressive Shrouded Steps can really get the jump on opponents, what more because most would never expect such risky plays. Shrouded Step and Paranoia is another pairing as old as the game. Flash and TP behind them for easy kills.

Lastly, From the Shadows can be used as a scouting tool for information, as well as to grab the spike. Truly the master of flexibility, Omen’s potential is only as limited as the player piloting.

Image credit: WIW Ferrera