Sentinels announce their new 2026 VALORANT roster

Just hours after announcing the departure of one of their stars, Zachary "zekken" Patrone, Sentinels unveiled their brand-new 2026 roster on X. The announcement came through a clever reveal video featuring Amine "Johnqt" Ouarid – beginning with the infamous “chair” bit, before transforming into the team’s official lineup announcement.

The New Sentinels Roster for 2026

The North American organization confirmed that its roster for the 2026 VALORANT season will consist of:

• Amine "Johnqt" Ouarid
• Marshall "N4RRATE" Massey
• Mirel "Kyu" Braco Hrustemovic
• Gabriel "cortezia" Cortez
• Yassine "Reduxx" Aboulalazm

With this lineup, johnqt now stands as the sole remaining member of the iconic VCT 2024 - Masters Madrid winning roster – a stark symbol of change for one of North America’s most beloved teams.

JohnQT Remains the Backbone

Amine "Johnqt" Ouarid continues as Sentinels’ in-game leader, entering what will be his third season with the organization. Since joining at the end of 2023, johnqt has cemented himself as one of the best IGLs in the game, leading the team to their second Masters trophy in 2024.

However, Sentinels’ results since then have wavered, with their best performance in 2025 being a 5th–6th place finish at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Toronto 2025. Heading into 2026, much of the team's stability and leadership still revolves around him.

Retaining N4RRATE for Another Season

Marshall "N4RRATE" Massey also retains his slot on the roster. Known for his solid Initiator play, his performances throughout 2025 showed enough promise for Sentinels to continue building around his potential. It’s clear the team sees value in his utility-driven style and adaptability heading into the next year.

Cortezia Joins After a Stellar Year with MIBR

The South American sensation Gabriel "cortezia" Cortez makes his move from MIBR after a breakout run at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions. Alongside Erick "aspas" Santos, cortezia helped push MIBR much further than anyone anticipated, earning him international attention.

Predominantly a Sentinel player, his meticulous site-hold capabilities will add some defensive fortitude to the roster. His arrival could also free up johnqt to experiment with more flexible roles, and maybe even step away from playing a Sentinel altogether.

Academy Talents: Kyu and Reduxx

Mirel "Kyu" Braco Hrustemovic and Yassine "Reduxx" Aboulalazm complete the new lineup, both being promoted from Sentinels’ academy team, Cubert Academy. Despite Cubert finishing 4th at VCL 2025 - North America: Stage 3 – just short of Ascension qualification – both rookies impressed enough to earn a call-up.

Kyu, primarily an Initiator, may work alongside N4RRATE in a potential double-Initiator setup, though this remains speculation. Reduxx, meanwhile, fills Zekken’s shoes as the team’s primary duelist. Known for his standout performances on Neon and Omen, reduxx brings rare flexibility and raw aim power to the lineup.

This is not the first time reduxx will don the Sentinels jersey, as he had previously appeared for Sentinels as a substitute during the Red Bull Home Ground #5: North America Play-In, hinting at the organization's long-term interest in his development.

Looking Ahead to 2026

With head coach Adam "kaplan" Kaplan remaining in charge, Sentinels now face a challenging rebuilding year. Though on paper the new roster may not appear as dominant as previous iterations, the mix of experience, talent, and homegrown potential could mark the beginning of a new era. For the fans, the 2026 season represents both a reset and a glimmer of hope for the two-time Masters-winning organization.

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Featured Image Source: Sentinels