The new Duelist, Iso, who was introduced into the Valorant Protocol in Episode 7 Act 3 brings us fresh lore insights. Below, you'll find all the details and theories we currently know about Iso.
With the release of Iso, the lore of Valorant has once again been expanded. With each new agent release, we often learn more about the existing agents, not to mention the numerous lore theories circulating.
It's possible that a puzzle that has been lingering for over two years, revolving around Omen, could be solved soon, as we have received some new clues. Unfortunately, these are still quite vague.
Iso's Lore And Theories
Fact sheet:
| Name: Li Zhao Yu |
| Origin: China |
| Class: Radiant |
| Agent number: 24 |
| Key role in the lore: A former feared hitman. Much about him remains unknown to the other agents. However, Iso's personality comes across as straightforward and cheerful. He's always seen with his headphones, using them to listen to music even during battles. |
What Is Known About Iso
Iso was a feared assassin and hitman who can take down multiple opponents single-handedly. He was called various aliases such as Bulletproof Wizard or Dead Lilac.
He has many voice lines related to his music and playlist. Also, his grandmother holds a special place in his heart:
奶奶, I did this to make you proud.
奶奶 (Nǎinai) means grandma, on the paternal side.
Furthermore, Iso gets along well with Deadlock, probably because Deadlock was the newest member in the VP (Valorant Protocol) before him:
Deadlock, remind me later to return the book I borrowed, it's terrifying.
He also has a good relationship with Sage, considering both of them come from China. Occasionally, Iso speaks Chinese with her:
逼不得已
This phrase is translated as I had no choice. Iso says it when he kills the enemy Sage.
Hey, Sage. 火锅 After this. Right? I'll buy.
火锅 means hotpot.
Besides that, it is clear that he accepts her authority within the team:
Lead the way, Sage.
Links To Omen
As seen in Iso's release trailer, he worked as a hitman for an employer identified by an hourglass symbol. No further details about the employer are disclosed and Iso claims he was never informed of the name. The orders seemed to target those opposing the Kingdom Corporation.
Iso was later tasked with killing Omen, the exact reason remains undisclosed. However, the Valorant Protocol had already become aware of his skills, leading to his recruitment. In return, Iso requested protection from his former employer.
Voice lines suggest that Omen may have also worked for this employer at some point:
Omen, they say that once you took a contract, their death was inescapable. Anyway, I'm glad we're friends.
Omen, everything they said about you is true!
Omen. This new recruit... there's something you should know. - Cypher pic.twitter.com/6uUd4ILzZi
— VALORANT (@VALORANT) October 18, 2023
This means Iso had already heard a lot about Omen, but does the story possibly go beyond mere hearsay? Ever since the Iso teaser, where Cypher tells Omen that they need to talk, many in the community speculated that Iso might even be Omen himself. Ultimately, it is known that not only Viper but also Cypher knows about Omen's past.
Nevertheless, there are more clues in favor of this idea. Whether Riot is trying to mislead us or there's something to it, you can decide after reading them.
Theory: Are Omen And Iso The Same Person?
Let's first talk about the similarities in abilities. Apart from the effects, Iso's 'Undercut' has a very similar visual appearance to Omen's 'Paranoia.' Both involve a forward levitation and catch enemies through walls.
Furthermore, both can enter a different dimension. Iso uses his 'Kill Contract' to take enemies into a self-created arena from another dimension. In Omen's case, his Ultimate ability 'From the Shadows,' seems like teleportation, as if he's moving to another dimension and choosing where to reappear.
- If you want to find out more about Omen's lore, check out this article: Lore Insights: The Dark Mystery Surrounding Viper, Sage And Omen
This could also apply to his teleport with 'Shrouded Step' (ability C). Skye's voice line adds an interesting perspective, as her abilities are tied to the life force of organisms in this world. She mentions:
Omen, when you teleport, I don't know. Sometimes, I lose you. Does that make sense?
This could mean that Omen actually regularly disappears into another dimension.
A voice line of Iso also reveals that he is well aware of Omen's power:
I know what that Omen is capable of, and it's not pretty.
Next up, fans spotted a similarity to Omen in a scene from the trailer when Iso was executing his contract killings against those involved in Project Landfall. Also, both wear purple colored clothes.
In another scene, it shows the contract killing related to Omen and then Iso's reflection appears on his phone screen right after.
We know that Riot often incorporates other dimensions into the Valorant lore. For example, Kayo also comes from a parallel world. Some suspect that Iso is a successful outcome of past experiments on Omen, with Omen being considered the failed version. However, maybe Iso could help Omen regain some of his memories soon.
We have to consider, though, that Omen has an American accent and joined the VP right after Brimstone and Viper, who are from America too. Since Iso is from China, it is not very likely that they are the same person.
That's all we know about Iso for now. We hope for more clues and details soon!