Master the Game: How to Play Omen in Valorant?

If you’re a fan of playing as Omen in Valorant, you’ll want to know all about his unique abilities and how to use them effectively.

In this article, we’ll break down Omen’s abilities such as Paranoia, Dark Cover, Shrouded Step, and From the Shadows.

We’ll also provide tips on how to maximize his strengths, minimize his weaknesses, and play him strategically on different maps like Bind, Ascent, Haven, and Split.

Stay tuned for expert tips and tricks to help you master Omen and dominate the game!

What Are Omen’s Abilities?

Crippling Shroud is Omen’s E ability. The C skill is a puff-ball of smoke that spreads a debuff to other players for a few seconds after touching them, which causes a mild slowdown similar to post-plant Brimstone’s Stim Beacon slows.

Paranoia is Omen’s Q ability. The C skill is a tether to a specific location, and you send out a large energy sphere in front of you towards that location. If it bumps into anything, all enemies in the path of the sphere have their vision reduced to a minimalist view of shapes and the spotlight of color around their scope, and can barely hear anything.

Shrouded Step is Omen’s C ability. Omen uses the C skill to teleport himself to the location within a medium range visible view of the area.

Paranoia

Paranoia is Omen’s key ability, costing 400 credits and up to 2 Ultimate Points. Paranoia is a tactical ability deploying a shadowy mist in a straight line in any direction. The projectile creates a conventional blind effect with infinite distance for the maximum of 2.5 seconds. This ability can be used at the beginning of a round to delay the enemy team, gain information, weaken a rush or to break an offensive hold. It can additionally be used towards the end of a round as an offensive push or defensive stall.

Dark Cover

Dark Cover is Omen’s signature ability. He can throw an object that obscures vision and re-use the ability to launch another object in a different location or retrieve the current object. Each object can be fired until their potential fades away or is destroyed. A set trivia is that Dark Cover’s belt has a small patch on it which shows you how many Dark Covers you have remaining before you have to restack them.

Shrouded Step

Shrouded step is another silent ability that relcates Omen and is crucial in keeping the enemy guessing because they will not know where he is. This is a 100-credit ability that allows Omen to teleport from a mid-point to a predetermined place for a charge of two seconds. Once Omen has teleported, he can cancel the ability to react further if he suddenly finds himself in danger. But during the charge-up, Omen can see his target location and select it at will. When he arrives at the target location, Omen’s visibility is reduced but all his other outward features work normally. If this is combined with his Paranoia (flash/smoke) or his fast-charging Dark Cover, Omen can catch his opponents in prime positions such as around corners or in weapons reload vulnerable state providing Omen with a significant advantage.

From the Shadows

From the Shadows (Ultimate) is Omen’s most powerful and versatile ability. From the Shadows (Ultimate) is an ability that shares its power with the other abilities and makes Omen one of the strongest agents in the game of Valorant.

The central part of From the Shadows is a mini map of the Valorant map that players can navigate. While there is no time limit for their journey, as soon as the ability is activated, it leaves a shadowy image in Omen’s place that the opposing team can follow. Therefore use the ability from hidden positions and move to your destination in such a way that you do not cross the path of that shadowy image. The use of Smoke (C) can help with this.

The highlight of From the Shadows is its long range. Omen is one of the best agents for gathering valuable intelligence due to the ability’s range. He can take advantageous positions and scout mid-map for the enemy team or positions the Fraggers can hide. A downside of the ability is that it leaves Omen vulnerable for a brief moment both as he is transporting and as the shadowy image appears. It takes foresight to use, and it puts Omen in a risky situation. It is an ability that should be used with smoke and/or blinding majority opposition. Even an Omen main such as Shane “shahZaM” McKerral has paid the price for not considering these details.

Once the ultimate is activated, Omen has 40 seconds to choose the teleport destination. A key thing to remember is that omen can cancel his ultimate anytime he is not in the teleport realm. This gives you the flexibility to cancel out of the teleport and keep your shadow alive for next time if you realize you’re walking into an opponent’s line of sight.

How to Use Omen’s Abilities Effectively?

EFFECTIVE USE OF OMEN’S ABILITIES

• Shrouded Step:

  Use it as both fake burst movement to confuse enemies about position and real position changing ability. Along with making noise, opponents additionally see an after-image of omen stepping out from the shroud, adding to the chance your misleading portal will work. Although it is worth noting this effect will not allow the omen player to know where the shroud is.

• Paranoia:

  Use it first when entering hot engagement points, as this reduces the risk of being taken down quickly. Paranoia is most helpful against multiple enemies in the same location.

• Dark Cover:

  Best as a first agent to enter sites so as to block vision within the smoke and allow his team to push forward. It is strong when pushing with a team – protects ingress, planting or planting teammate, and closing angles to isolate an enemy for advantageous fights. It is useful to conceal the team’s retreat as they come into site entry against an overwhelming stack from defenders. It does not reveal the gun when firing.

Using Paranoia to Blind Enemies

It is suggested that in sites where the same third-person position can be peeked repeatedly (e.g. Ascent B defense or Split A defense), one of Omens in-team roles should be to interrupt or pick off foes that are trying to take it. Omen is also useful for team-wide initiation assistance. Upon detonation, Paranoias can be great for pushing an area with several enemies. Aim it at the side of a building, not at the ground, because the height at which it detonates is what is essential about Paranoia. It should be used to smokes, thereby either blinding others or neutralizing the smoke.

Strategically Placing Dark Cover for Map Control

One of the most important abilities for map control is Shrouded Step (C), which allows Omen to place Dark Cover (smoke). The smoke blocks line-of-sight, causing the enemy to either push the smoke blindly or change their planned route entirely, thus providing reconnaissance regarding their locations and actions within the game.

Throughout all maps and game rounds, Omen’s Shrouded Step should be used in various ways. Where on the map it is used is dependent on the team and what can provide them the most advantage.

Different positions where Omen’s Dark Cover can help gain map control in a game are shown in the following images. The Dark Cover (#1) in a hallway on Haven is used to prevent the enemy from seeing the team pushing the site. The Dark Cover (#2) at the entry to C site on Haven forces the enemy to push the team to know where they are. The Dark Cover (#3) at long A hall on Bind prevents enemies from holding with Operator snipers and gaining information to make highly strategic plays. The Dark Cover (#4) at mid on Breeze can cover the team’s movement, keeping them safe and fogging mid to prevent possible sniper shots.

These examples of using Dark Cover in Omen’s favored position will help you understand the diversity of its use.

Using Shrouded Step for Sneaky Plays

If you find good map landmarks, Shrouded Step can be used on Omen’s turn to pass through opponents undetected. Locating Sage’s wall as opponents in the Sultan Region of Split pinches on Side a or Heaven. The space in front of Tube, for example, grants players a perfect panorama from which to scope out the two pathways they want to enter without being spotted. As always, use his smoke to have cover or create a fake scenario where the enemy has to be on the lookout.

Mastering From the Shadows for Ultimate Flanks

From the Shadows (Ultimate ability) is Omen’s ability to teleport across the map and surprise enemies from behind. He is invulnerable during the teleport and cannot conduct attacks, but can return to his original location if he needs to. The best times to use the ultimate ability is during the final plan of attack when the team attacks a site or during extreme flanking to take another site.

Possible scenarios include using a From the Shadows teleport onto the site with your team inside it to make it impossible to defuse the Spike. Alternatively, using From the Shadows while the team is faking a push to another site to catch the defenders off guard with extra pressure from the back. Timed properly flanking valued called services on ice by utilizing his crowd control power of Paranoia can be very effective and will certainly catch enemies in close quarters off guard. Planning to return to the original location prior to teleportation as constant monitoring is not possible and plans change frequently, as a fail-safe. This skill is easy to learn and demonstrate, but a player’s mastered use of Omen rests largely on the accuracy of this ability.

What Are Omen’s Strengths and Weaknesses?

Strengths: Omen has a wide-ranging, versatile set of skills that decide which areas to conceal from the enemy. Omen player power increases directly with map knowledge.

Weaknesses: Omen’s flash does not have a loud sound cue to warn his team and can accidentally blind them. Omen lacks an extremely high-impact and useful alt in a game where alts are key. Omen can be difficult to play for teammates who need a dedicated smokes player. Omen’s paranoia target generator skill stops too easily on collision with map elements and unrelated enemy agent abilities, although this bug may be fixed in the future. His ultimate can only be cancelled in the second of activation, leading to some ‘abuse’ plays while remaining very difficult to balance perfectly.

Strengths

Omen’s strengths include the range of options and versatility he brings as an agent in Valorant, not committing to one role. While primarily used as an initiator, he has potential as a controller. His paranoia and smoke screens can open up the map, pressure the enemy, or set up his team. The abilities he brings to the team are most effective from medium to long range.

Weaknesses

Omen’s main weaknesses are his low pick and win rate among all characters, the fact that his Aftershock and Paranoia abilities can be seen by the opponent in the minimap, and the inability to place his Dark Cover smoke as quickly and accurately as other agents’ smokes.

Crossairs.xyz, a Valorant coaching website, rates Omen’s pick rate as a general agent at 0.5% and his win rate at 0.5% making him the least popular and least successful character according to their data from 2021.

According to CPGaming, an Esports news portal, the Dutch team Monkey Business captained by Ph0enix and Mauisnake won the biggest international Omen tournament to date, the Valorant Champions Tour Masters 3 in Berlin against teams such as 100 Thieves and Sentinels.

How to Play Omen in Different Maps?

You play Omen in different maps by playing his utility skill as suited (primarily as support for his team) for the goals of the map. Bind (Egypt) has three orbs. The two teleporting orbs can be used by Omen to shift from one part of the map to the rest of the map. The more he uses the orbs for this same purpose over and over again in a few rounds, the more proficient Omen will become at the map. The smoke orb can be used to block the vision of the enemy, primarily in the Garage area.

Haven (Morocco) is known for having three sites (A, B, C). Omen’s teleport is not much used in this map due to the three sites on the map, which is suitable for other agents such as Sova or Reyna.

The Icebox (Antarctica) map has two sites, A and B. Omen’s teleport can be used at both sites as they are relatively close to each other via the middle lane for fast rotation. The clear site division of Split (Budapest) is suitable for Omen, who can easily arrive at B site from mid and teleport straight between the two sites A and B. The Icebox and Split don’t get banned as much as Bind and Haven so they are good alternatives for Omen.

Bind

A tight map, ideal to play Omen in Valorant. It is characterized by narrow corridors and easy-to-defend choke points. The backbone of holding a site as Omen is the idea of constricting the enemy’s movements and funnelling them into a single corridor for easy team-wide frags. Without it they tend to scatter around and become harder to kill. His smokes make him adept at entering sites but his blind is best used at holding a post-plant position or lurking in smokes for an easy kill.

Ascent

In the Northern European continent, Denmark is known for its harbors, bicycle paths, Bronze Age burial mounds, and low crime rates and accusations at stations. This is the second episode in Act four of The Omar Pascha sidebar. Omen excels on this map in post-plant situations due to the heavy centralized spike sites open from multiple angles to peek and defend or attack from to clutch rounds.

Defenders: Start at spot A-Main on the pistol round and buy armor, 3 near A, and 2 take B. Deploy a Paranoia through the A short alley to A site at about the time you would expect the first engagement. Rotate to the near double stack on the A site to continue to peeks over the top of the wall on A site and site entrances.

Attackers: Start at B-Main and have your agent deploy an Obelisk on the B site barriers from B-Main. Split your team 3 on A and 2 on B to watch for defender rotations and potential picks. As soon as the Obelisk reveals the B site is clear you may plant and use the Obelisk activated Demonic Embrace once or twice as the defenders rotate in to clear the site and take out the first defender while activating your targeting information.

Omen’s smokey essence and Demonic Shrouds are valuable tools for mid and late rounds on this map as the central position of the two sites allows offensive and defensive play around them. Epicenter between Mid and both sites at the beginning of the 9th round and ascending and descending on either site is crucial for maintaining intel for the attackers. This can keep the defenders guessing as to whether they need to rotate or where they need to rotate to, providing openings for attackers to exploit on both sites. Smoke chokepoints around your location and move around the map quite frequently to maintain intel for your team.

Haven

On this three-lane map, Omen’s ability to fear enemies is key to ensuring their presence is minimal in each area. From the start of the round, Omen should place a shadows ability in city center. While standing in the A Sewers, Omen can place a Paranoia ability into garage. Moving to defender spawn, Omen can place a Paranoia ability into the grass area.

Omen should spend opera ability time peaking A lanes. These two locations are the creative locations where the sova arrow will have the least chance of hitting.

At the start of the round, omen can make the shadow in city center stand still in the long window and phase as the shadow touches the ground. This shows no trajectory and will not alert the enemy with the sound of the shadow teleportation. Another is at the B garage door where he can bounce his ghost off the store’s window which will likely hit anyone who is running back to the window. The A sewers and B garage door are also key alt locations yet one risk is if phoenix puts his wall in front of A sewers, ruining omen’s plans.

Split

Split is another map where Omen can employ some of his best abilities. He can block off the windows in the center from both Defender and Attacker sides. He can use his TP to push from one of two sites to the other within seconds. His Paranoia ability is excellent for holding the A site, which he can then back up with observer action and inform his teammates of approaching enemies from the fog.

Even though split is not an obvious map that has been tailored specifically for Omen with the opportunities that Bind and Haven have, he is still effective. Omen can move easily between the A and B sites on Split using his paranormal ability. He can also use his smokes in the mid to cut the opponents’ options with mid control, because of the multi-level scene in mid that can make it a real menace.

Tips and Tricks for Playing Omen Successfully

Here are two general tips when playing Omen in general and two more specific suggestions that work with Omen’s Shrouded Step and Paranoia abilities.

1. Practice covering your teammates when repositioning.
2. Practice anchoring sites while using Omen’s abilities to scout larger areas efficiently. Begin pushing lanes with Omen’s blind ability for the team despite early danger.

When using the Omen Shrouded Step ability, follow these tips:

• Use the Shrouded Step ability to tower opponents.
• Use the Shrouaded Step ability to move outside of the scope of an opening line of sight while using Omen’s ultimate.

When using the Omen Paranoia ability, do the following:

• Use Paranoia in smokes.
• Be the last to push the side when using Omen’s Paranoia ability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Play Omen in Valorant?

Valorant is a popular multiplayer game that requires players to choose from a variety of agents with unique abilities. One of these agents is Omen, a mysterious and elusive character with powerful skills. If you’re interested in learning how to play Omen in Valorant, check out these frequently asked questions:

What is Omen’s role in Valorant?

Omen is a controller agent, which means he is best suited for controlling the battlefield and providing support for his team. With his abilities, Omen can block enemy vision, teleport across the map, and create distractions to confuse the enemy team.

What are Omen’s abilities?

Omen has four unique abilities: Paranoia, Shrouded Step, Dark Cover, and From the Shadows. Paranoia is a blind that can be thrown through walls, Shrouded Step allows Omen to teleport a short distance, Dark Cover creates a smoke screen, and From the Shadows lets Omen teleport across the map.

How should I use Omen’s Paranoia ability?

Paranoia is a powerful blind that can be used to disorient and confuse enemies. It is best used when pushing into a site or when defending against a rush. Make sure to aim for the ground instead of throwing it directly at the enemy to increase its range and effectiveness.

What is the best way to use Omen’s teleportation abilities?

Omen’s Shrouded Step and From the Shadows abilities can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes. They are best used to flank enemies, reposition yourself quickly, or escape from dangerous situations. However, make sure to use them strategically as they have a slight delay before activation.

How can I effectively use Omen’s ult, From the Shadows?

From the Shadows is a powerful ultimate ability that can be used to teleport across the map and gain valuable information on enemy locations. It’s best used when your team needs to rotate quickly or when retaking a site. However, be cautious as the teleportation takes a few seconds and you will be vulnerable during that time.

Are there any tips for playing Omen effectively in Valorant?

To become a skilled Omen player, practice using his abilities and finding creative ways to use them in different situations. Communicate with your team to coordinate attacks and make the most out of Omen’s abilities. Also, make sure to use Omen’s ultimate ability sparingly and strategically to maximize its impact in the game.