Why look beyond Clove

Clove, introduced in 2024, offers a unique Controller playstyle in Valorant, blending aggressive entry capabilities with post-mortem utility deployment. Their ability to deploy smokes after being eliminated provides sustained map control even when down an agent, which can significantly impact late-round scenarios. The ultimate, Not Dead Yet, allows for a self-resurrection, encouraging high-risk, high-reward plays by requiring a kill or assist shortly after revival to survive permanently as detailed on the official Valorant Clove agent page.

However, Clove's kit has specific limitations that might lead players to consider alternatives. The ultimate's conditionality means a failed resurrection attempt can leave the team at a numerical disadvantage. Furthermore, while their smokes are flexible, they lack the global presence of agents like Omen or the immediate, precise deployment of Brimstone's Sky Smokes. For teams requiring more traditional, defensive smoke deployment, or agents with greater self-sufficiency in duels without the resurrection gamble, other options may prove more consistent. Players seeking agents with more direct offensive impact or less conditional utility might also find Clove's kit less suitable for their preferred tactical approach.

Top alternatives ranked

  1. 1. Omen — The shadowy teleporter with global presence

    Omen is a Controller agent in Valorant known for his versatile and global smoke utility, Dark Cover, which can be placed at long distances, offering flexibility in controlling sightlines across the map according to the Valorant Wiki Omen entry. Unlike Clove's localized and post-death smokes, Omen's smokes are precise and can be deployed from safety, making him effective for both offensive pushes and defensive holds. His Shrouded Step ability allows for short-range teleports, enabling unexpected flanks or repositioning. Omen's ultimate, From the Shadows, provides global teleportation, allowing him to quickly relocate or gather information, creating significant pressure on opponents. This contrasts with Clove's self-resurrection ultimate, which focuses on individual survivability rather than global map manipulation. Omen excels in disrupting enemy lines and creating unpredictable plays, offering a more strategic and less duel-centric approach to controlling space compared to Clove.

    Best for: Global smoke presence, strategic repositioning, information gathering.

    See the full Omen agent profile.

    Learn more about Omen's abilities on the official Valorant Omen page.

  2. 2. Brimstone — The tactical commander with precise area denial

    Brimstone serves as a foundational Controller in Valorant, distinguished by his precise, satellite-delivered Sky Smokes that allow him to block multiple sightlines simultaneously and accurately as described on the Valorant Wiki Brimstone page. His utility is designed for coordinated team plays and structured executes, offering clear paths for entry or defense. The Stim Beacon provides a significant combat buff to allies within its radius, increasing fire rate, which can turn the tide in direct engagements. His ultimate, Orbital Strike, delivers a high-damage area-of-effect attack from the sky, excellent for clearing entrenched enemies, denying defuses, or forcing opponents out of cover. Compared to Clove, Brimstone offers a more traditional and less individually aggressive Controller experience, focusing on team empowerment and static area denial rather than personal dueling and post-mortem plays. His kit is particularly strong in post-plant situations where his ultimate can deny defuses effectively.

    Best for: Precise smoke placement, team combat buffs, strong post-plant utility.

    See the full Brimstone agent profile.

    Explore Brimstone's strategic utility on the official Valorant Brimstone agent overview.

  3. 3. Jett — The agile duelist for aggressive entry and quick escapes

    Jett is a high-mobility Duelist agent in Valorant, renowned for her ability to aggressively entry frag and create space for her team with rapid movements and evasive maneuvers according to her Valorant Wiki entry. Her Tailwind dash allows for instant repositioning or engagement, making her a primary choice for players who favor fast-paced, direct confrontations. Jett's Updraft enables vertical movement, reaching elevated positions or escaping dangerous situations. While she also has smokes, Cloudburst, they are short-duration and primarily used for quick bursts of cover for herself or her team's entry, distinct from Clove's sustained area denial. Her ultimate, Blade Storm, equips her with lethal throwing knives that reset on kill, making her a formidable force in eco rounds or clutch scenarios. Jett's playstyle emphasizes individual mechanical skill and aggressive dueling, offering a direct contrast to Clove's Controller role, even though both can initiate fights. Jett's focus is on securing first bloods and escaping, while Clove's aggression is tempered by her team-oriented post-death utility.

    Best for: Aggressive entry, Operator usage, creating space, rapid repositioning.

    See the full Jett agent profile.

    Find out more about Jett's abilities on the official Valorant Jett agent page.

  4. 4. Reyna — The self-sustaining duelist for snowballing engagements

    Reyna is a Duelist agent in Valorant designed for aggressive, high-impact plays and self-sustainability in duels as detailed on her Valorant Wiki page. Her signature ability, Leer, blinds enemies in a specific direction, setting up easy picks for herself or her team. What truly sets Reyna apart is her ability to consume soul orbs dropped by fallen enemies she damaged. These orbs can be used for Devour, which rapidly heals her, or Dismiss, which makes her intangible and invisible for a short duration, allowing her to escape or reposition after securing a kill. This self-healing and escape mechanism enables Reyna to chain multiple kills and snowball rounds. Her ultimate, Empress, significantly boosts her combat stats, including fire rate and reload speed, and automatically casts Devour and Dismiss on kills. While Clove encourages aggressive plays with a safety net, Reyna rewards pure fragging power with immediate health regeneration and evasion, making her a more self-reliant and less team-utility-focused aggressive option.

    Best for: Aggressive entry fragging, self-sustainability in duels, clutch situations.

    See the full Reyna agent profile.

    Discover Reyna's unique abilities on the official Valorant Reyna agent page.

Side-by-side

Feature Clove Omen Brimstone Jett Reyna
Role Controller Controller Controller Duelist Duelist
Primary Playstyle Aggressive Controller, Post-death utility Strategic Controller, Global presence Tactical Controller, Area denial Aggressive Entry Fragger, High mobility Self-sustaining Fragger, Duel-focused
Smoke Type Localized, post-death deployable Global, precise, rechargeable Precise, multi-smoke deployable Short-duration, personal cover None
Unique Utility Self-resurrection ultimate, decay ability Global teleport ultimate, short-range teleports Stim Beacon, Orbital Strike ultimate Dash, Updraft, Blade Storm ultimate Health regeneration, intangibility/invisibility on kill
Aggression Level High (enabled by ultimate) Medium (strategic flanks) Low (utility focused) Very High (entry focused) Very High (duel focused)
Team Support Post-death smokes, entry assistance Global smokes, information gathering Team buffs, strong site executes Space creation, first bloods Limited (self-reliant)
Complexity Medium Medium-High Low-Medium Medium Medium

How to pick

Selecting an agent alternative to Clove depends largely on your preferred playstyle, team composition, and the specific tactical needs of a given map or match. Clove occupies a niche as an aggressive Controller who can continue to influence the round even after being eliminated, primarily through their post-death smokes and conditional self-resurrection.

  • If you value global map control and strategic flexibility: Consider Omen. His ability to deploy smokes across the map from any position and his global ultimate, From the Shadows, provide unparalleled strategic depth for controlling sightlines and repositioning. Omen is ideal for players who enjoy outsmarting opponents with teleports and precise smoke placement, rather than direct dueling. This makes him particularly strong on larger maps or when your team needs to quickly adapt to enemy pushes on different sites.
  • If you prefer structured executes and reliable area denial: Brimstone is a strong choice. His Sky Smokes are delivered with pinpoint accuracy and can quickly cover multiple entry points, making him excellent for coordinated pushes or holding defensive lines. The Stim Beacon also offers a tangible combat advantage to allies, fostering collective team aggression. Brimstone is best suited for teams that execute planned strategies and benefit from consistent, predictable utility. His ultimate, Orbital Strike, is also a powerful tool for denying defuses or clearing tight spaces, offering a more direct form of area denial than Clove's decay.
  • If your priority is aggressive entry fragging and creating space: Look towards Jett. While Clove can be aggressive, Jett is purpose-built for it. Her dash and updraft abilities allow her to quickly enter sites, secure early picks, and escape danger. Jett's ultimate, Blade Storm, provides a high-skill, high-reward weapon that can dominate rounds. She provides raw offensive power and mobility, which is distinct from Clove's utility-focused aggression. Jett excels when paired with an Operator, allowing her to take aggressive peeks and quickly reposition.
  • If you thrive on individual dueling and self-sustainability: Reyna is an excellent alternative. Her kit is centered around securing kills and converting them into health regeneration or temporary invulnerability/invisibility. Reyna can snowball rounds effectively, making her a powerful agent for players with strong mechanical aim who can consistently win duels. Unlike Clove, who relies on an ultimate for a second chance, Reyna's survivability is tied directly to her fragging, making her a more self-sufficient carry agent. Her Leer ability also provides a strong initiation tool for direct engagements.

Ultimately, the choice between these agents and Clove depends on whether you prioritize Clove's unique post-death utility and conditional resurrection, or if your team composition and personal playstyle would benefit more from global control, structured executes, raw entry fragging, or self-sustaining dueling capabilities.