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Entry Frag Part Three goes over some basics about the VALORANT maps, along with a few important tidbits that you need to know.
Entry Frag is back with part three. This time, we’re moving things to the battleground. You’ll get an overview of the VALORANT maps and what to expect from them. Each one is as unique as it is similar to the others. From three sites to teleporters, there are plenty of gimmicks you need to be aware of.
Entry Frag Part One: The importance of communication in VALORANT
Communication is an important part of online gaming and in this first part of Entry Frag, you’ll learn just how vital it is in VALORANT.
Brandon Moore
A briefing of the VALORANT maps
More and more maps will make their way into VALORANT. You may never be fully prepared for what they game throws at you, but learning the maps is a good way to circumvent most surprises. Is your team not holding up well and victory seems unlikely? Knowing the maps and playing your part might be all you can do.
Let Esports.gg walk you through the basics and get you prepared to push the sites, flank the enemy team, and hold angles. Just know, however, that not all maps exist in the matchmaking queues at all times. They interchange and being ready for one’s return is never a bad decision.
Ascent
Ascent is a very popular VALORANT map among pro teams and it is very unlikely that Riot Games ever removes it from matchmaking. Its known for its paper thin walls that make Odin wallbangs far too common and its less than complex design allows for quick rotations.
Fast executes work wonders if you can trade kills with the opposition. Push into a site with force early on and you’ll have control while the other team is forced to retake. Hit one of the switches to close the door and make it even harder for them to fight back.
Bind
Bind is a compact VALORANT map that can benefit both the attacking and defending teams. It all depends on who utilizes advantageous positioning and the gimmicks found here. With two sites, attackers can easily rotate from one to another through teleporters.
Defenders can prevent quick hits with a variety of corners to sit in. If a team is playing for the retake, there’s many locations for safe utility usage. A Tower is typically uncontested and B Elbow has a small window that abilities can be thrown onto site through.
Breeze
Even with just two sites, Breeze is massive VALORANT map. Andthe map design team overhauled it withits reintroduction into the map pool. A lot of the openness from before now acts as singular pathways that encourage fights on both sides.
The location names on the map are mostly the same from its original version. It’s how those locations look that are vastly different. There’s no A Hall to move through or a second side of Mid Pillar to flank around. Breeze is very much a battle of who can hit their shots and which team makes the lucky read of where their opponents start the round.
Fracture
Fracture is perhaps the strangest of all VALORANT maps. It throws away the traditional layout and provides something unlike any of the other maps in the game. Instead of there being defenders on one side and attackers on the other, the defenders start in the middle and the attackers can split up.
The sites are small, but fairly open. The paths to get to them are very narrow, however. If you are patient enough, you’ll catch the opposing team in a small corridor. They’ll be easy pickings there. And on the contrary, your team may get cutoff with little chance of executing a retake.
Haven
Haven is one of the original VALORANT maps. It introduced the three-site concept to the first-person shooter and is one of the slower paced areas in the game. Don’t overestimate its size. There is a direct route from each site to the other on defense, so attackers can have trouble if they aren’t efficient.
You’ll want to employ a variety of strategies on Haven. Don’t repeat the same plays over and over or the other side will catch on. Instead, whether as the attacking or defending team, switch things up and keep it fresh. The amount of space is too good to pass up.
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Icebox
The VALORANT community has a love/hate relationship with Icebox. You’ll find that everyone hates playing it, but everyone loves watching it in the VCT. If you queue up and get this frozen tundra in your match, know that information and stalling abilities are your best bet.
A Sage wall, smokes, mollies to cut off chokepoints, and intel util from Initiators will get the job done. Just be mindful of the verticality. There are plenty of high ground spots for Agents to reach and hold sites from. Icebox is full of surprises and you should almost always stick with your team here.
Lotus
Lotusarrived with Episode 6of VALORANT. It is the second three-site map in the FPS and that makes it feel gigantic. When you’re in the middle of the map, it can be rather easy to rotate to other sites, but you’ll feel like you’re running a marathon moving from one end to another.
This VALORANT map has a ton of cover. There’s a mound of sand, breakable walls, rotating doors you can open, platforms to climb, and so much more. It definitely benefits the attacking team as the defenders have to spread themselves a bit thin to ensure all sites are accounted for.
Pearl
Pearl is an underwater city that showcases art and variety. You’ll find beautiful statues and paintings as you make your way through the location. Each area of this VALORANT map comes with a different layout. This can make for some unexpected encounters.
A Site has small and tight corridors leading to it. B Site’s pathways are long and mostly open. Then, there is the middle. It is split apart from the upper and bottom side of the map with options to rotate anywhere you need to go. You’ll need to be quick with your aim because opponents will just be materializing out of the walls in the maze that is Pearl.
Split
Split contains perhaps the most close-quarters combat out of all VALORANT maps. The only length you’ll find is from A Main to A Site and the walkway in front of the attacking spawn. Otherwise, accurate aim or shotguns in a corner are the top methods to win your face-to-face fights.
Both sites are as easy to hold as they are to take. If you have abilities that block off lines of sight or can damage players backed into a corner, you’ll succeed. Lineups for post-plant and structures to sit behind are plentiful here.
Sunset
Sunsetarrived in VALORANT with Episode 7 Act 2. The developers heavily stated their desire to make a mid-centric map. As you’re able to see, moving from barrier to a site takes little time at all. The middle of Sunset is where you’ll find diversity and are able to strategize how to take control.
Rounds go by quick here. That makes Agents with flashes or damaging utility essential. you’re able to move enemies out of position or blind them to make a fast push around a corner. Just ensure the middle of Sunset is yours or you’ll have trouble defending from the flank.
When does the next VALORANT map release?
Riot Games released the most recent VALORANT map after Champions 2023. They release maps on a pretty consistent schedule, though they are spread rather far apart from each other. We’ll update you here if any leaks or rumors point towards the next map addition to the game.
Stay tuned for moreesports newsandVALORANTcoverage, including updates on the next map in the FPS.
Entry Frag Part Two: Understanding the weapons and economy of VALORANT
Learn all about the various weapons and how the economy of VALORANT works in the second part of the Entry Frag series.
