Here’s a look at the different roles found in games such as VALORANT, Apex Legends, CS2, and more.
In team-based games, understanding your role can be just as crucial as your aim or mechanics. However, what exactly are these roles? Here’s a quick breakdown of the different roles you can find across some popular titles.
Gaming roles in VALORANT
In first-person shooter (FPS) games such as VALORANT, Apex Legends, and Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), every player has a purpose. VALORANT, in particular, has the Duelist, Initiator, Sentinel, and Controller roles.
| Role | What They Do | Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Controllers | Agents who control and make space for their team. | Astra, Brimstone, Clove, Harbor, Omen, Viper |
| Duelists | Self-sufficient fraggers who also seek out engagements. | Iso, Jett, Neon, Phoenix, Raze, Reyna, Waylay, Yoru |
| Initiators | Sets up their team for entry into contested areas and pushes defenders away by challenging angles. | Breach, Fade, Gekko, KAY/O, Skye, Sova, Tejo |
| Sentinels | Defensive agents who lock down areas and watch flanks. | Chamber, Cypher, Deadlock, Killjoy, Sage, Vyse |
Apex Legends roles
Meanwhile, for Apex Legends, there are the Assault, Skirmisher, Recon, Controller and Support roles with multiple legends in each category.
| Role | What They Do | Legends |
|---|---|---|
| Assault | Legends who can access hidden loot in weapon supply bins and carry extra ammo. Their abilities are useful in the middle of fights. | Ash, Ballistic, Bangalore, Fuse, Mad Maggie |
| Skirmisher | Legends who can see what’s inside care packages for the team. Their abilities are useful in terms of getting in and out of fights. | Alter, Horizon, Octane, Pathfinder, Revenant, Valkyrie, Wraith |
| Recon | Legends who can scan survey beacons to reveal enemy positions. Their abilities are great for scouting. | Bloodhound, Crypto, Seer, Vantage |
| Controller | Legends who can activate ring consoles to reveal the location of the next circle. Their abilities can help trap enemy players and fortify areas. | Caustic, Catalyst, Rampart, Wattson |
| Support | Legends who can craft unrecovered or expired ally banner cards and access extended supply bins for healing and survival items. | Conduit, Gibraltar, Lifeline, Loba, Mirage, Newcastle |
Gaming roles explained: CS2
Next, for CS2, roles include Entry Fragger, Rifler, In-game Leader (IGL), Lurker, Support and AWPer.
| Role | What They Do |
|---|---|
| Entry Fragger | The first to push into areas and create openings for the team. |
| Rifler | The player who is versatile and is skilled with rifles for engagements. |
| IGL | The leader who coordinates strategy and calls shots. |
| Lurker | The player with good map awareness who lurks around to catch opponents off guard. |
| Support | The player who provides utility such as grenades, smokes, and flashes to help their teammates. |
| AWPer | The player who specializes in using the sniper rifle to control sightlines and take long-range engagements. |
Overwatch 2 roles
In terms of a hero shooter like Overwatch 2, there exists the Tank, Damage (DPS), and Support roles.
| Role | What They Do | Heroes |
|---|---|---|
| Tank | Tank heroes make space for their teammates and push their team forward. | D.Va, Doomfist, Hazard, Junker Queen, Mauga, Orisa, Ramattra, Reinhardt, Roadhog, Sigma, Winston, Wrecking Ball, Zarya |
| DPS | DPS heroes engage or flank enemies directly in order to secure kills. | Ashe, Bastion, Cassidy, Echo, Genji, Hanzo, Junkrat, Mei, Pharah, Reaper, Sojourn, Soldier: 76, Sombra, Symmetra, Torbjorn, Tracer, Venture, Widowmaker, Freja |
| Support | Support heroes empower their teammates and help them survive. | Ana, Baptiste, Brigitte, Illari, Juno, Kiriko, Lifeweaver, Lucio, Mercy, Moira, Zenyatta |
League of Legends roles
As for a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) like League of Legends, the main roles are Attack Damage Carry (ADC), Support, Mid Laner, Top Laner, and Jungler.
| Role | What They Do | Champion (Can Depend On Build) |
|---|---|---|
| ADC | This player is the primary damage dealer in the late game and is typically in the bottom lane with the Support player. | Caitlyn, Jinx, Kai’Sa |
| Support | This player protects the ADC, provides vision, and helps supports the team with their utility. | Nami, Thresh, Seraphine |
| Mid Laner | This player farms for gold and experience and can roam to help out their teammates. | Ahri, Yasuo, Yone |
| Top Laner | This player is usually a tank or bruiser who holds a solo lane and can engage or split-push. | Darius, Ornn, Camille |
| Jungler | This player secures camps and objectives while helping out with ganks. | Lee Sin, Elise, Amumu |
That’s all for now. Good luck with your gaming adventures.