New maps are great, but nothing beats a brand new Agent when it comes to getting Valorant fans excited.

Yoru, Astra, KAY/O, and Chamber were among the new Valorant Agents introduced in 2021. Astra, who is a top selection at the highest levels of the game with her exceptional map control, has undoubtedly made the most impact, while KAY/prominence O's has grown after a poor start. The jury is still out on Chamber, but Yoru's status as the least chosen Agent across all levels is the foundation for the first Agent reshuffle.

We'll be leaving 2021 soon, so all eyes are on next year and the first Agent to be released; it'll be Valorant's 19th Agent (technically the 18th, as Agent 08's existence has never been confirmed), and we're learning more about what the developers have described as a "rival" to the uniquely powerful Jett.

The new agent's codename is now "Sprinter," and it's thought that she'll have movement-based abilities, such as sprinting and sliding, that would allow her to create holes and angles for battles.

Her origins in the Philippines are also extensively documented, with the developers included Tagalog greetings in the most recent "State of the Agents" blog article, which provides additional information about the Agent.

If you're curious about Valorant's Agent 19, you've come to the right spot. Here's all you need to know about him.

When is Sprinter going to be released?
While no official date has been set, Sprtiner is slated to debut with Episode 4 Act 1, which is set to be released on January 12th, 2022.

Sprinter is unlikely to be given to Valorant's Agent 19, as it is merely a name found in the game's files; for example, Chamber was once known as Deadeye, and it is quite probable that this speedster from the Philippines will be given a yet-unknown moniker.

What abilities will Sprinter have?
We now know more than ever about the possible powers she will have thanks to a recent State of the Agents article. Sprinter's capacity to manipulate electricity is undeniable. In an artist's impression, her boots are visible, and the electricity can be seen running from the ball of her foot to the tips of her toes.

The creators also crammed in as many electricity puns as they could, with promises of "renewing energy" and "stunning" opponents in the new year.
Sprinter's ability to "outpace the rest of the squad," "slide" into battles, and "startle the competition" is also mentioned.

Sprinter may have also made an appearance at the recent Valorant Champions event in Berlin, where a female voice can be heard threatening foes with "lightning" and "fire" in a teaser aired on finals day.

Sprinting ability is a given, and a sliding mechanic would be a direct competitor to Jett's unstoppable dash. Shocking the competition suggests a KAY/O-style throwing blade that would delay or blind for a brief period of time rather than nullifying talents.

The backstory of Sprinter
Sprinter's backstory is well-known. She is from Manilla, the Philippines' vast capital.
New Chamber voice lines in the game provided this information. The Agent, according to a voice mail left for Brimstone and located in the training map, is a woman who was previously a member of K/SEC, a division of the Kingdom Corporation, to which Brimstone also belonged to.
Chamber also revealed that he has a rocky history with Sprinter, which made him apprehensive to come to Manilla to onboard the new Agent; he also notes her electrical abilities, informing Killjoy that he "has a solution" to the lack of a power source that stymied Killjoy's latest innovation.

Chamber first wants Reyna to assist in the induction of the Sprinter, but Sage intervenes, claiming that Reyna's views are "too risky for new recruits" and that any induction should be handled by her.

Killjoy's powerless creation has also been speculated to be a link to Earth 2.0. The next map is situated in Lisbon, Portugal, and will take place on Earth 2.0. Sprinter's arrival would supply the necessary fuel for Killjkoy's creation, paving the way for the new map's launch.