Let’s discover Gekko, the brand-new protagonist who joins the battlefield of Valorant. Hailing from Mexico, Gekko brings along a unique troupe consisting of Verti, Altego, Mordicus, and Pogo, fascinating fantastical creatures ready to face any challenge that comes their way. With Gekko’s arrival, the roster of Valorant agents expands to a total of 22 characters.
During the VCT Lock-In, Riot Games showcased this new agent in a preview, and we had the opportunity to test it during a stream. Here’s our report on our experience with this latest addition.
So far, Skye was the only Valorant character capable of summoning creatures to aid in combat. Gekko becomes the second agent to possess this summoning ability, but he never travels alone. Indeed, his abilities allow him to call upon companions who lend him a hand on the battlefield.
Let’s delve into Gekko’s backstory. Hailing from the vibrant city of Los Angeles, this gang leader commands a group of chaotic yet interconnected creatures. While his friends handle dispersing enemies, Gekko rallies his small troupe to launch new offensives.
Each agent in Valorant possesses four unique abilities of their own. These abilities, depending on the role they fulfill, can protect and heal teammates or inflict heavy damage on adversaries. The first two abilities can be purchased with credits, the third is free once per round, while the fourth, called the “ultimate,” charges up as the player performs well in various rounds of a match. Thanks to his diverse set of abilities, Gekko is classified as an Initiator. Initiators are self-sufficient fighters, with the team relying on them to make the most of their capabilities to enter contested areas and push back defenders.
The first ability, Verti (E), involves launching a projectile that releases a plasma rain, blinding enemies. However, this blindness is partial, revealing certain visible information on the edges of the screen. After the explosion, Verti transforms into a small dormant sphere, and Gekko has a limited time to retrieve it for reuse. Although this ability is powerful, there’s only one base charge, so it’s crucial to use it wisely.
Altego (A), on the other hand, is a small penguin that launches forward in a straight line and detects nearby enemies. When in proximity to a target, Altego stuns the enemy by spreading its wings, creating a stunning effect similar to Breach’s. What caught our attention is that this creature can plant or defuse the Spike. However, Gekko must have the Spike in his inventory to perform this action. Like Verti, Altego can be retrieved and reused once it returns to a small dormant sphere.
The third ability, Pogo (C), takes the form of a Molotov that explodes after a certain period, dealing significant damage to enemies in the dark green zone and lesser damage to those in the light green zone. However, Pogo cannot be retrieved for reuse. Therefore, caution is vital to avoid harming allies.
Finally, Gekko’s ultimate ability, Mordicus (X), involves a fish that quickly rushes towards nearby enemies, restraining them similar to Killjoy’s ultimate. Mordicus can be directed to hit enemies for approximately 5 seconds before transforming into a small ball that can be retrieved for a second use. However, the fish can be destroyed if it becomes the target of enemy fire.
Gekko is a natural leader, blessed with remarkable intelligence and keen strategic sense. He knows how to guide his companions to victory. With his army of fantastical creatures, he has established his authority in the depths of the underworld.
In summary, Gekko is a new Initiator agent with interesting and useful familiar summoning abilities in combat. His abilities can be formidable but require strategic use to make the most of them.