VALORANT currently has 11 standard maps, and it can be daunting to learn the ins and outs of each one. Luckily, the map rotation that focuses on just seven maps at a time helps players feel less overwhelmed by not having to know every map at the same time.
The VALORANT map rotations change over time, keeping the game fresh. Here’s the current map pool and rotation for VALORANT, plus an outline of future or upcoming plans for the pool.
What are the current maps in the VALORANT map pool rotation?
Here are the current maps in the VALORANT competitive map pool rotation:
- Bind
- Fracture
- Lotus
- Pearl
- Split
- Haven
- Abyss
With VALORANT’s Patch 10.0, Fracture and Lotus returned to the active competitive map pool, replacing Ascent and Sunset. The returning maps didn’t undergo any changes from their last known state, so most players shouldn’t have a tough time getting used to the shift.
Bind
Bind returned to the map pool during Episode Six. The desert map’s signature element is its two teleporters, allowing for quick rotations around the map. Playing on Bind requires a lot of patience, as even if the entire attacking team is out on A, there’s still a risk of late rotation toward B.
Playing closer angles has always been a viable strategy on Bind, with agents like Raze and even Harbor finding their voices here. You can also hold several longer sightlines with an Operator, like the B Long and A Tower.
Fracture
After a long absence, Fracture is now back in the competitive map rotation with Patch 10.0. While it was never really a fan-favorite, many of us had begun to miss the odd and unpredictable experience it offered.
The map hasn’t undergone any change from its last known state in Patch 7.04. You’ll still be battling your enemies across four neutral zones holding two plant sites, two attacker spawns, and a defender spawn in between. Make sure you’re wary of the flanks.
Lotus
Being the only three-site VALORANT map other than Haven, Lotus offers a ton of strategic possibilities to keep players on their toes. After spending a brief time out of the competitive map rotation, it has been added back to the active pool with Patch 10.0, much to the delight of the fandom.
Besides three intricate plant sites, Lotus also features significant neutral spaces, which promote chaotic yet fun clashes. You also get to take advantage of unique features, including a rope ascender, a silent drop, a breakable door, and two rotating doors, to tackle your enemies.
Pearl
Take a deep breath as Pearl is now back in the competitive map pool after a long absence. This underwater map isn’t everyone’s favorite and has no unique mechanical features, but it offers a variety of plays through Mid control. Mid on Pearl has multiple paths connecting almost every corner of the map, from bomb sites to team spawns.
While you can hit a site directly, you’ll often be stopped by a simple Sage wall or a smoke, where Mid comes into play. You can also take an opportunity to catch an enemy flank or become the flanker yourself through the Mid Connector.
Split
One of the first VALORANT maps, Split, is currently in rotation. Set in Tokyo, Split is a close-quarter map with multiple areas and angles for you to hold. There are barely any long-range sightlines apart from Mid and A Screens, but even those can quickly be covered with smokes to make space for the attacking team.
Split’s quirk is the two ziplines. One connects the B site with B Tower, allowing for a sneaky defense angle. Another is in Mid Vent, connecting Mid and A Ramps. This area often becomes either an ambush from a rotating side or a death pit.
Haven
Haven is VALORANT’s first three-site map and one of the community’s most beloved maps. It’s a large attacker-friendly map where players may find it easier to retake sites instead of holding them down.
With multiple entry points onto sites, including C Garage, Mid, and A Sewer, you have to spread out your teammates and utility to gather information on attackers. Luckily, Haven never received any significant changes, so if you played it before, you’ll feel right back at home.
Abyss
Abyss is the latest addition to VALORANT‘s map pool that went live in Patch 9.0. This is certainly one of the most ambitious and unique map designs that Riot has put forth, as the entire map is littered with pitfalls where you can plunge to your death.
The risk also comes with an opportunity. You can get a headstart on the enemy team using alternative rock paths if you’re confident in your movement and jumping skills. Just don’t look down.
Icebox (out of rotation)
The snowy Icebox map was taken out of the competitive rotation in Episode Nine, Act Three and currently remains excluded.
Icebox’s closely packed and complex design promotes a lot of strategic diversity and sharp gunplay. It’s also one of the only VALORANT map to feature Spike plant spaces at different heights: Both sites have “nests” where you can plant the Spike and defend it from afar. Whether you’re a defender or an attacker, mid control is crucial to secure a round win on this map. The unpredictability may get to you, but it’s also one of the many reasons to love Icebox.
Breeze (out of rotation)
If you love keeping your enemies on their toes, Breeze is likely one of your favorite VALORANT maps. From long halls to wide open spaces, its features are all about unleashing your creative and aggressive potential. At the same time, it’s incredibly sniper-friendly, which can be a turn-off for some players.
While it’s currently out of competitive rotation, Riot should add Breeze back to the pool in a future Act—possibly, with some adjustments.
Ascent (out of rotation)
VALORANT’s Patch 10.0 finally removed Ascent from the competitive map pool for the first time since the game’s launch in 2020. With its meta becoming stale and repetitive over the years, it was high time the devs acted upon the situation. Whether it’ll return with some big changes is something that we have to watch out for in future Acts.
Ascent’s unique feature is the switch-activated doors that lead into each site. One door leads from B Site to Mid Market. Another from A Site to A Tree. Using these doors to stall time and get information about the retake can make or break rounds. At the same time, you can preemptively destroy these doors to deny that information. Mid control is crucial, too, as it allows the attacking team to scale either Mid Catwalk to go A or Mid Market to take over B.
Sunset (out of rotation)
Inspired by sunny Los Angeles, the beautiful Sunset map was introduced during VALORANT Champions 2023 and went live in Episode Seven, Act Two. The map is relatively straightforward with no distinct gimmicks, outside of a single Ascent-like door connecting mid to B that can be opened, closed, or destroyed.
In Patch 9.08, the B site on Sunset received an overhaul. The middle pivot wall in B Main has been replaced with a smaller box next to it and another box right at the corner, similar to the A Cave on Breeze.
The site itself also received major changes. From the attacker’s point of view, the left path to the back side is now narrower, the back side has additional elevation, and the default plant has a cubby that is exposed only to B Market. Despite all the changes, some design issues continued to plague players with a one-sided experience, which is likely why the devs chose to take the map out of the competitive pool temporarily.
Why is there a map rotation in VALORANT?
VALORANT maintains its reputation as a live-service FPS title that gets tons of new content over three years after its initial release. Riot hasn’t slacked off when it comes to releasing new agents, skins, and maps.
Currently, VALORANT sees a new map added to the game about every six months. The map rotation was only introduced in 2022 during the game’s fifth competitive Episode, once there were eight total standard maps. Team Deathmatch maps are not counted towards this total.
VALORANT maps design lead Joe Lansford explained in June 2022 that after working with the esports team, surveying players, and talking with professional organizations, Riot will maintain a strict seven maps in the active pool.
Lansford further explained how learning a new map in a tactical shooter can be a challenging aspect. Mastering a map is even harder, and having a “whole bunch of maps is a steep learning curve.” The team believes “seven is a nice sweet spot that offers both variety and mastery.” New players will have less to learn while diving into VALORANT, and existing players don’t need to learn a new map.
Crucially, the map rotation concept only applies to the Competitive mode. Unrated, Spike Rush, and other alternate modes continue to include all 11 maps, while the Team Deathmatch mode has a separate pool altogether.
Starting with the 2025 season, VALORANT’s competitive map pool will see changes every Act, with Riot cycling existing ones in and out while adding new ones once in a while.
Published: Jan 8, 2025 08:50 am