Duelist Iso’s arrival in Valorant is part of the game’s push to further diversify its current meta. Iso’s kit is comprised of a moving wall, Vulnerable procs, per-kill shielding, and forced duels in tandem with harsher aggressor punishments from Sentinel Cypher’s utilities. When combined with Sentinel Deadlock’s nigh-impenetrable wall and almost-instant-kill web trap, some teams may need to rethink their overall compositions. Specifically, teams that rely on flying Jetts, sniping Chambers, and smoking Brimstone may need an upgrade.

With the newest Agents in mind, popular Valorant team compositions may need to adjust, especially when it comes to specific maps. While the traditional combo of a detection Initiator, smoking Controller, and forward Duelist usually work, certain Valorant maps require more intentional strategies.

All given win rates and pick rates are from TheSpike.gg, as of November 30, 2023, unless otherwise noted.

10 Ascent: Omen, Sova, Jett, Killjoy, KAY/O

Win Rate: 50.60%

Despite its standard two-Site setup, the floating island of Ascent is notable for features such as alternate Site entrances via mechanical doors. It also has a more active mid-map area, courtesy of defensively-walled B-Side Mid-Link opposite a vertically-advantaged A-Side Catwalk. Hard turns and the abundance of corners make this ideal for skills that detect foes, such as ricocheting Sova recon bolts and coverage-reliant KAY/O knives.

Ascent’s open areas also provide better map control, courtesy of Omen's smokes and teleports for rat-spot defense, or Jett using aerial dashes for the unsuspecting entries and flanks. Ease of rotation between Sites can encourage split-bot setups with Killjoy, allowing her to guard both Sites, or focus on defense with her Lockdown Ultimate whenever necessary.

9 Bind: Brimstone, Raze, Viper, Skye, Chamber

Win Rate: 53.13%

The desert landscape of Bind is made even more memorable with its teleporters. The teleporters are only operable from the inside, which gives Skye surprising utility coverage. Holding A-Cubby allows her scouts to explore A-Link/Lobby and teleport to B-Short/Lobby for early enemy detection. This enables smokes via Brimstone and walls from Viper to better assert control over the compact map.

Likewise, the map’s tighter corners make Raze a nightmare to face. Her aerial maneuverability via Satchels and her grenades can easily score frags on enemies clustered together. Working at a similar capacity is Chamber, whose teleports to tricky locations can facilitate safe hit-and-run strategies on both offense and defense.

8 Breeze: Cypher, Viper, Sova, Jett, KAY/O

Win Rate: 48.92%

The reworked Breeze now features more long-distance sections and critical corners. Thus, it can become a mobile playground for aerial Jett. However, more prominent blockers (Mid-Pillars, A-Pyramids) encourage precise detections from Sova recon bolts, and area-wide KAY/O knives to counter rat spots.

The network of corridors on both Breeze's sides facilitate quick rotations, encouraging more deliberate monitoring with buffed Cypher and his cams and trips. Alternatively, using Viper walls and smokes can seal choke points for map control.

7 Haven: Breach, Omen, Jett, Sova, Killjoy

Win Rate: 50.55%

The three-Site setup of Haven can facilitate traditional close-ranged fights and long-ranged plays. This reduces encounters to tests of a player’s gunplay skill. Such a requirement can be upturned by Omen, who can deny vision in crucial spots, and Jett, whose aggressive smokes can punish early aggressors.

Since most Haven Sites have tight spaces for entry, Breach excels in close plays with his short-ranged flashes and concussions. Should enemies decide to approach from afar, a turret from Killjoy and a well-placed recon bolt from Sova should declare their positions for a swift counter via rotation.

6 Lotus: Raze, Omen, Viper, Killjoy, Skye

Win Rate: 52.85%

Home to an ancient artifact, Lotus is similar to Haven in terms of a tight mid-area (B-Site) connecting Sites that can be accessed via open pathways (A-Site, C-Site). However, Lotus demands more map control courtesy of its revolving doors, emphasis on verticality, and tight spaces. In turn, map control with smokes from Omen and walls from Viper can delay the enemy’s advance and close off advantageous positions.

On a more active note, flash-detects and scouts from Skye, as well as turrets and an alarmbot from Killjoy, remain crucial in spotting enemies. Due to Lotus possessing multiple corners, Raze and her mollies could easily discourage enemy flanks and secure molly frags.

5 Split: Raze, Jett, Viper, Skye, Astra

Win Rate: 47.39%

Verticality is the name of the game for Split, especially when traversing the mid-area can be done underground (A-Sewer) and aboveground (A-Rafters, A-Tower, B-Tower). With a tighter B-Site and a pushed-back A-Site, fast-movers such as dashing Jett and jumping Raze can clear tricky platforms and boxes that others frequently use as rat spots.

Split's more cramped nature can accommodate solo detections from Skye, as failing to detect enemies in one area likely means the opposing team is approaching mid or the other Site. In turn, detections (and the lack thereof) can prompt Viper and Astra to deny crucial points of entry, forcing enemies in inconvenient routes.

4 Sunset: Breach, Omen, Cypher, Raze, Fade

Win Rate: 55.93%

With two Sites and three lanes, Sunset is more akin to a traditional FPS map, with pronounced corners interspersed with pathways. Agents with skills that take full advantage of distance can assert dominance on the map, such as the buffed Cypher with his camera and more punishing trips. Quite the tandem here would be Fade, whose eye can dominate detection from vertical spaces when launched correctly.

Due to the map’s roam-heavy pathways emphasizing Site-and-Mid split pushes, smokes from Omen can force commitments to unsavory locations. Likewise, activity from any of the map’s interconnected corners can prompt tricky flashes and concussions from Breach. Thanks to satchels, Raze can enforce control over tricky corners to score frags before enemies notice her.

3 Fracture: Breach, Brimstone, Raze, Sova, Killjoy

Win Rate: 57.69%

While Fracture is outside the current Valorant map rotation for Unrated/Competitive, the cross-patterned map is known for its mid-area Defender Spawn. Players have quick access to Sites in the east and west, an interchanging zipline that connects a northern area and the southern Attacker Spawn, and three paths for entering each Site. The multiple traversal routes make detection decisions crucial. Recon bolts from Sova and a turret from Killjoy are helpful in establishing where enemies are located.

From here, Brimstone can forcibly take control of the map with his smokes to lure enemies along certain pathways. This way, Breach's close-ranged kit can shine in slowing down enemies, while Raze capitalizes on sharp angles for quick kills and molly frags.

2 Icebox: Viper, Sova, KAY/O, Chamber, Sage

LOUD and Leviatan's VCT 2022 Comp That Took Them To Overtime

Another map outside the current rotation, the arctic setup of Icebox saw one of its most action-packed matches in VCT 2022 - Champions Instanbul, courtesy of the same team setup by contenders LOUD and Leviatan. The verticality opportunities and cover options for each Site encourage deliberate map control.

In this regard, it makes sense to capitalize on area coverage of KAY/O's knives and the corner-ricochets of Sova's recon bolts. Chamber has more combat tools, encouraging precision plays in mid or site defense. Viper impairs enemy needed vision. Lastly, Sage can introduce new vertical angles with her walls, destabilizing enemy movement.

1 Pearl: Phoenix, Jett, Killjoy, Skye, Astra

Win Rate: 57.45%

Despite being away from the current rotation, Pearl was a much-welcome change in Valorant, as a traditional map with no gimmicks. However, the night-themed cityscape does boast a more open mid-area that leads to multiple corners. This provides various rotational options towards distance-leaning B-Site and the close-range-favoring A-Site. Due to this caveat, Killjoy's ability to summon a turret gives her the advantage of holding sites.

Moreover, Skye scouts can traverse pesky corners to get more information at less risk. And despite her perceived complexity, Astra can choose to either release an AOE pull or a smoke, giving her more flexible map control. Lastly, Jett dominates verticality while Phoenix distracts with walls and flashes.