10 Killjoy Tips Every VALORANT Player Should Know

The queen of defense and a fantastic Sentinel, Killjoy is the best answer to a powerful attack. In this article, we'll summarize her playstyle and share 10 tips with you.

With her sleek gadget arsenal, Killjoy can literally become an angel of death for enemies. Thanks to her toolkit, players can easily read and counter various enemy strategies. Understanding Killjoy's preferred playstyle will help players maximize her devastating potential. Here's how we'd break it down:

Avoid Areas Where Enemies Are Present

Unlike other agents, Killjoy's gadgets have varying degrees of vulnerability due to their limited health. In turn, players need to pay close attention to how other agents' gadgets and utility could potentially damage a device before deploying it. For example, while the Turret has 125 HP, the Lockdown device has 150 HP. Meanwhile, enemies can destroy both Nanoswarm grenades and Alarmbots in just a few hits. For this reason, players are advised to avoid placing Killjoy's devices in open areas unless absolutely necessary. Likewise, players should avoid walls that enemies can shoot through with high-penetration weapons.

Alarms Matter More Than Damage

Despite the number of agents and unique abilities in the game, information is still what governs the strategic side of any match. Any team that can gather data on enemies without risking death can gain a major advantage in a fight. Killjoy is alerted whenever a device enters combat or is destroyed. In these situations, a communicative Killjoy can give her team an opening to flank the enemy, ambush them, or even push toward the objective while they're distracted.

Always Account for Choke Points

Of course, Killjoy can place her gadgets almost anywhere and redeploy them almost anytime. Even though they don't deal much damage, their ability to stall an enemy's advance can give Killjoy's team plenty of time to deal with them. For this reason, Killjoy should note where the choke points are on any given map. Noting these spots and scouting safe deployment areas can turn a Nanoswarm into a trigger for a play.

Excel at Space Denial With Nanoswarm

With Nanoswarm (C), Killjoy can place a hidden Nanoswarm grenade that she can detonate on command. Once activated, the grenade bursts apart from other launchers and explodes into a swarm. The damaging nanobot swarm can deal 45 damage per second to nearby enemies for four seconds. Since enemies can still destroy a Nanoswarm grenade before activation, Killjoy may still need to be creative with her placements so as not to waste her grenades. Besides space denial in tight fights, Nanoswarm is a one-to-one counter for neutralizing distractions. When placed on a site, activating a Nanoswarm mid-planting can stop and kill a defuser. When possible, Killjoy should spam Nanoswarms in and around the site. With good timing, these will be enough to secure the Spike.

Alarmbot Can Cut Off Pushes

The Alarmbot (Q) is a sleek stealth bot that hunts down enemies who enter its range. Once triggered, the Alarmbot runs at its target and explodes on contact. When this happens, enemies take a 4-second "Vulnerable" debuff. With a well-placed Nanoswarm, the vulnerability and damage combined can deal enough damage for Killjoy's team to finish off a squad. This combo can even take down enemies on its own. Alternatively, the Alarmbot pairs very well with the Turret. This way, the Alarmbot can deal significant damage before opponents can even confront the Turret. On offense, the Alarmbot can discourage enemy push attempts. Meanwhile, Alarmbots on defense can help secure unwatched routes.

Turret Adds Extra Firepower

The Turret (E) gives Killjoy incredible supporting fire. Once activated, a deployed Turret fires at all enemies within a 180-degree cone. It has 125 HP and can deal a burst of 12 to 24 damage depending on distance. Essentially, players should avoid relying on the Turret to finish off enemies due to its low DPS. And while enemies can destroy the Turret quickly, having it triggered will also give away their position. Enemies hit by the Turret will likely be slowed, leaving them open for a finisher. On offense, Turrets can secure flanks. Meanwhile, defensive setups can reinforce areas of interest with a protective Turret.

Lockdown Completely Disrupts the Fight

Killjoy truly excels with her Ultimate, which provides her signature Lockdown (X). Once equipped, Killjoy can activate Lockdown after a 13-second setup period. However, triggering it will detain all enemies caught within its radius for 8 seconds. Like Killjoy's other devices, enemies can also destroy the Lockdown device, which has 150 HP. Given its long detain duration, Lockdown effectively renders an area useless. Enemies will either need to leave cover to escape the Lockdown's radius or rush Killjoy and her team before it goes off. On offense, approaching a Lockdown position can scatter enemies in a fight. Meanwhile, defensive setups can use Lockdown (X) to reposition the team or buy enough time to secure a counter-attack.

Redeploy Based on the Situation

Compared to other agents, Killjoy can actually redeploy every device she uses throughout a match. Thanks to this feature, Killjoy should take advantage of her ability to change her playstyle mid-match, especially if she's placed her devices in safe areas. To maximize these opportunities, Killjoy is advised to place Alarmbots within the Turret's line of sight to maximize her defense. When Killjoy is deployed alone, she should try placing her Nanoswarms and Alarmbots in inconspicuous spots, such as corners or around scattered objects.

On Defense, Defending Means Deterring, Not Destroying

Unlike other agents, Killjoy's best single source of protection is how she uses her gadgets in a fight. Essentially, Killjoy should focus on staying alive so that Lockdown can come online for the defense whenever her team needs it. Killjoy can also act as a secondary Controller thanks to her bots' scouting ability. She should signal her team when her bots come under attack, or she can lie in wait and ambush enemies with her devices.

On Offense, Attacking Means Waiting for the End of the Round

Unlike other agents, Killjoy doesn't have any ability that directly affects her combat performance. While Killjoy isn't an agent that's very useful on offense, she should focus on protecting the flank or the back line on attack to keep enemies from ambushing her team. Aside from that, Killjoy shines on offense while defending a planted Spike. For example, Turrets and Nanoswarms can easily fill a nearby area for a clean kill. Likewise, Alarmbots can warn of incoming enemy defusers. And a well-placed Lockdown can stall long enough to stop defusers from finishing off the objective entirely.