Is WayLay a copy of other agents in Valorant?

WayLay is the newest Valorant ^[1] agent to join the roster of playable characters and she’s already making waves for her controversial abilities that some players don’t like. With high-speed movement similar to Neon and the ability to play vertically like prime Jett, many may assume Riot Games just pulled WayLay by combining the abilities of multiple already existing characters, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of many.

Today, we want to answer the question of whether WayLay is really just a copy of multiple agents. By pitting her against existing characters, we’ll be able to accurately assess her abilities to determine whether Riot Games has created an entirely original character or someone who shares the essence that was already existing in the game.

Without any more delay, here’s what to know about WayLay’s abilities and whether they’re actually like other Valorant agents.

WayLay’s Abilities

WayLay’s kit introduces a mix of abilities that reminds players of existing agents like Jett. Her Light Speed ability allows her to dash twice, with the first one being able to go upwards, comparable to Jett’s Updraft and Tailwind. Both agents are incredible in vertical mobility, allowing them to reach higher positions and evade danger. However, WayLay’s dash is more versatile because it lets players dash twice. 

WayLay’s Refract allows her to create a beacon and return to it as an invulnerable mote of light, which resembles Yoru’s ability to teleport wherever he places his rifts. The execution is different since WayLay’s Refract shows teammates and enemies where she’s going, but its use case is the same. This overlap suggests that WayLay’s design borrows elements from previous movement-focused agents.

Hindering

WayLay introduces a new debuff called Hindering, which slows enemy fire rare, movement speed, and other aspects. This mechanic is an evolution of other crowd-control abilities in Valorant, like Sage’s Slow Orb or Viper’s Decay. Although Hindering is unique because it has multiple debuffs, slowing opponents to disrupt their movement isn’t new. 

Sage’s Slow Orb has been an essential ability since the launch of Valorant, and WayLay’s Saturate ability, where she throws a cluster of lights that explodes and hinders enemies, feels like an aggressive version of her utility.

WayLay’s ultimate, Convergent Path, creates an afterimage that projects a beam of lights and hinders enemies, similar to Breach’s Aftershock or Fade’s Nightfall. These abilities focus on area denial and disrupting enemy movement, but with different executions. One thing that makes WayLay’s version stand out is that it adds a speed boost for herself, making it a hybrid of offense and defense. 

A comparison between WayLay and Jett

The most striking similarities are between WayLey and Jett, Valorant’s iconic movement-based duelist. Both agents excel in covering space quickly by using their dashes to engage opponents or treat them. WayLay’s Light Speed mirrors Jett’s Tailwind by offering players the ability to reposition aggressively or defensively. However, WayLay’s dash is more flexible because she can do two horizontal dashes or one upward dash, whereas Jett’s dash is limited to a single horizontal movement.

Another point of comparison is their ability to disrupt enemy setups. Jett can throw smokes to provide cover for her team, while WayLay’s Saturate can hinder enemies to create opportunities for her team to push. Although both abilities work differently, they both prevent opponents from making plays. Both agents are designed to be entry duelists who can create space and rush in. However, WayLay’s Refract gives her an advantage in survivability because she can return to a safe position after pushing, unlike Jett.

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WayLay’s unique status effect

Despite numerous similarities, WayLay isn’t a copy of Jett or any other agent in Valorant. Her hindering debuff adds another layer of strategy to her toolkit. Even though her abilities may seem similar to Jett’s, her playstyle is distinct because she relies on aggressive space-taking and team coordination so her allies can take advantage of hindered opponents.

Riot Games has emphasized that WayLay isn’t intended to replace Jett but to provide an alternative for players who want a movement-based duelist with different strengths and weaknesses. Her kit may seem familiar, but she’s designed to cater to different playstyles instead of replacing previous agents.

References

1. [1] "official Valorant homepage". playvalorant.com. Retrieved March 05, 2025