Valorant is a colourful, tactical team-based FPS created by Riot Games. The title has multiple unique characters in the Agent pool for players to choose from, all of which have their own specific abilities and are divided into four specific classes — Duelists, Controllers, Sentinels, and Initiators. Astra is an incredibly strong Controller agent suited towards more experienced Valorant players.
Here's our comprehensive guide to playing as Astra in Valorant.
Read More: Valorant: How Agent Contracts Work
Is Astra Good in Valorant?
As per Valorant's backstory, Astra is Ghanaian Controller Agent that harnesses the energies of the cosmos to reshape battlefields to her whim. She is arguably one of the strongest Controllers in the game, although other players feel that Viper is still stronger.
Regardless, Astra is far more efficient than good old Brimstone, and much more sneaky than the ominous Omen, but she does require unlocking before being available to play as. Additionally, mastering her abilities is no easy feat, and it requires hours of rigorous practice and experience playing Valorant.
Is Astra Good for Beginners?
Realistically, Astra is an Agent with a high skill ceiling. Players need a lot of time just to master her abilities and mechanics. Thus, she is not the best Agent for beginners.
Astra is more of an advanced Controller in Valorant, and if beginners want to start with this Agent, then it's best to at least take plenty of time to understand her abilities first.
How To Play As Astra — Abilities & Skills
In case you do not know how powerful Astra truly is, here are her abilities:
Gravity Well - Players can place Stars in Astral Form, and these Stars can be activated to form a Gravity Well. Players in the area are pulled toward the centre before it explodes, making all players still trapped inside vulnerable. Cooldown timer is 25 seconds.
Nova Pulse - Players can activate a previously placed star to detonate a Nova Pulse. The Nova Pulse charges concuss all players in its area. Cooldown timer is 25 seconds.
Nebula - Players can activate a previously placed star to transform it into a Nebula (smoke).
Ultimate: Astral Form / Cosmic Divide - Astra's ultimate Cosmic Divide can only work from her Astral Form. Players can activate the Astral Form where they can place Stars with the primary fire button. When Cosmic Divide is charged, players can select two points on the map and divide them with their infinite Cosmic Divide. It connects the two points you select. Cosmic Divide blocks bullets and heavily dampens audio.
Dissipate - This is used to return a Star to be placed in a new location after a delay. Dissipate briefly forms a fake Nebula at the Star’s location before returning.
Note: All of Astra's abilities are based on her stars, which she can place in her Astral form.
An Explanation of Astra's Stars/Astral Form
Stars are inactive when placed during the buy phase. When the barriers drop, her Stars charge for 1.4 seconds before becoming active and usable.
On Attack, Astra can now see the Spike’s location while in Astral Form. This representation does not animate, so it will not provide additional information on the status of the Spike.
Astra's Best Weapons
The best weapons for any Agent will depend on their play style. So if you're aggressively pushing sites for entry, then these weapons will be the best choice.
- Ghost
- Stinger
- Spectre
- Phantom
- Ares
In case you are hanging back as Astra and adopting a passive play style, then work your way around with the following weapons:
- Bulldog
- Guardian
- Vandal
- Odin
- Operator
Tips for Playing Astra in Valorant
Astra's strength lies in her ability to inflict damage with her range of abilities, as well as provide effective cover. The smoke helps as a substitute for Brimstone or Omen, whereas the concussion makes up for the flash/stim beacon.
Astra's Stars can be placed anywhere across the map, which makes it perfect for line-ups and setups. The only disadvantage is that the opponents can also see Astra's Stars. Due to this, Astra players need to have comprehensive knowledge of every nook and corner of the map. This way they can place their Stars beforehand, place them in unsuspected areas, and retrieve them if the enemy is pushing another site.
When it comes to Astra's ultimate, there is not much that opponents can do. Astra's Cosmic Divide will divide the map in two by cutting up a barrier between areas. This allows her teams to rush in on site, or set up camp at specific angles. Opponents cannot hear teammates footsteps through Astra's ultimate, and the best part is that Cosmic Divide also blocks bullets. The only downfall is that Astra's ultimate is not long-lasting as Viper's ultimate, but it's still equally effective.
Astra players always tend to move with their team, as this allows them to stay protected while going in their Astral Form. While players can play this Agent aggressively, it is best to work around the team and take fights instead of getting greedy for that early frag.
Astra's Weaknesses
Astra's weakness is also the source of her strength in Valorant. Her Astral Form sends the agent into a higher plane, from which she can see the entire map. However, her vulnerable human body will be left behind on the map in a meditating position. Thus, she is most vulnerable to opponents while she is using her Stars.
At the same time, Astra's ultimate creates a sound barrier that also stops bullets. This is easily one of the most powerful ultimate abilities in Valorant. Regardless, there is always a vulnerability in each ability, and likewise, Astra's ultimate is no different. Firstly, placing the correct divide will take a lot of practice.
For a truly effective use of Astra, players need to be able to communicate. This is to ensure Astra is protected while in her vulnerable state, as so the team can coordinate while Astra is using her ultimate ability. Lack of communication and poor map knowledge will not help Astra players to take advantage of such a powerful range of abilities; both of these are crucial.
That's all you need to know about trying to play and counter Astra in Valorant. To find who is best for you to play as in Valorant, check out our tier list of all agents here.
This article was updated on 17th November 2021 by Kelsey Raynor.