Valorant is a strategic shooter, which is a difficult genre of game to make maps for. Most shooters will have dozens of maps, but in Valorant, each angle is carefully considered, and some maps are even revisited to make them more suited for competitive play.
However, ranking the relatively small number of maps released up to this point is difficult. Every player has their own preferences, but it often depends on which maps are best for their favorite characters or which maps they know the best line-ups for. It can be difficult to rank maps in an unbiased manner for such a strategically focused game.
9 Split
Split is a map that Riot Games could never quite get right, to the extent that after trying to rework it several times, they just took it out of rotation as a map for most game modes in 2022. Despite being a favorite of some players, the map was uneven, and nothing Riot could do in patches was really going to change that.
Split was distinctive for the ropes and the middle of the map, which led directly from one site’s heaven to the other. This was controversial, and the long, winding routes to go around the other way meant that much action took place in mid. Overall, there wasn’t enough strategic balance, and the map was scrapped, probably for the best.
8 Fracture
This is a map that will always be controversial with Valorant fans and players. A shift when it was released to the normal style of map, Fracture starts the defending team in the middle of the map and has an H design which makes for particularly bizarre navigation during the round.
Surprisingly, the map balances out more than one would expect with the difficulties involved in defending, mostly because of the quick rotation the defending team is able to use through mid. However, the ropes going down the middle of the map still make for an attacking advantage that can be hard to overcome.
7 Ascent
A map that is fairly balanced but gives a frustrating advantage to snipers that often leaves mid impassable, Ascent was released upon the official version of Valorant in June 2020. Besides mid, the two actual sites are pretty even, and there are great strategies to work with and unique doors that can be closed to help defend a site.
This makes Ascent a fun and accessible map that works well and feels balanced, thus ticking the boxes for everything the game creators want their maps to be. The mid-area does end up much more like a death trap than it does on any other map, but that is the price of the long straights on such a map.
6 Pearl
One of the more recently introduced maps, Pearl is a difficult map to get to grips with due to the free-for-all in mid, which can be hard to navigate for a while. Once players have learned their way around, they will be forced to struggle with the long time it takes to rotate between the two sites.
Beyond this, Pearl seems to be reasonably well-balanced, it was not as controversial upon release as other recently introduced maps, and the long straight leading to B makes for an interesting defense. It is another location that gives a lot of advantage to snipers, though.
5 Breeze
Another map that was released after the initial game, Breeze is a controversial map that seems to be loved or hated among the fan base. While the open mid-area can be difficult to traverse, and each site is difficult in its own way to get onto, it is a balanced map that makes for some interesting changes in gameplay.
The various tunnels that can be used to circumvent the normal path onto each site make for interesting strategies, and mid is another area where snipers have an advantage, but the gameplay feels more balanced in this mid-area than it does on Ascent.
4 Lotus
The newest Valorant map was released in January 2023, and while it is new and will likely have changes before it is considered completely finished, Lotus is a beautifully designed map that brings back the 3-site idea that was until now unique to Haven.
Lotus is inspired by Indian and South Asian architectures, and it again brings some interesting changes to gameplay which have injected pace as a necessary component to team strategies each round. Being slow off the mark is likely to punish a team on this one.
3 Icebox
Icebox is a long-running map that has had a fair share of problems and was even massively changed on one side in 2022. However, Riot has persevered in trying to make Icebox balanced, and it is a necessary map as it is one of the few ones where shotguns and close-quarters combat often comes up in the game.
Icebox is notable for the large indoor area around one site, which is a fan-favorite zone. The other side, since being reworked, is much more balanced and able to be played. Characters who can get up high love using the shipping containers across the map and other high spots to get an advantage.
2 Haven
The original 3-site map, Haven was a controversial idea that has become one of the most beloved maps by the Valorant community. Not only does the 3-site style change the game completely, but the long straight-on C compared to the two-fold entrances on A and the mid-control option of B provides many options for attackers.
Despite all this, Haven is a readily defendable map, and though teams have to keep on their toes to defend well, they can easily get early picks due to a variety of defendable spots in each area. Using utility properly as a defender will be necessary here.
1 Bind
Possibly the most balanced map in the game, Bind is a great map that epitomizes the strategic corners and fast-paced style that is iconic with Valorant as a game. The sandy map has two intriguing, wildly different sites, and the teleports that provide quick rotation add a level of intrigue to the map.
For the full Valorant experience, Bind is the best option as a map. With the various defensive options, long straights and tight corners, tunnels, and sneaky spots, Bind has the full range of what other maps try to put together in the game.
Valorant is available now on PC