Valorant: The Best Clove Smoke Spots On Lotus Map

Valorant’s Lotus map presents a unique challenge with its three sites, demanding versatile defending strategies, especially when playing as a Controller like Clove. The map’s design encourages long-range engagements, which might not suit every player’s style. However, with strategic placement of Clove’s smokes, you can effectively manipulate the battleground to your advantage, controlling engagement distances and obstructing enemy lines of sight.

In this guide, we’ll explore the optimal smoke spots for Clove on the Lotus map, ensuring you can defend effectively against spikes and maintain control over the expanded play area. By mastering these smoke placements, you can enhance your team’s defensive setup and counteract the map’s inherent challenges.

#7: Preventing Invasion Into A Site

Side: Defenders
Primary Objective: Thwart aggressive entry attempts at A Site

On the Lotus map, A Site often becomes a hotbed for attacks due to its accessibility and the limited angles attackers need to clear. This makes it a critical area to defend vigorously.

To proactively counter an assault on A Site, deploying two strategic smokes can be pivotal as soon as you detect enemy movement. Positioning these smokes in the central passageway can deter attackers by obscuring their path and forcing them to hesitate. Simultaneously, this setup allows your team to strategically position an agent near the right-side box, ready to engage or retreat based on the situation. This tactic not only slows down the enemy advance but also provides your team with the upper hand in controlling the engagement.

#6: Planting On A Site

Side: Attackers
Objective: Secure entry to A Site and plant the spike

Gaining access to A Site on the Lotus map might seem straightforward for attackers, but securing a successful plant is challenging due to exposure from multiple angles. To mitigate this risk, deploy smokes at A Stairs and Tree as you make your entry. This strategy allows your team to utilize their utilities to sweep A Top and clear the site effectively.

Once the spike is planted, you have a couple of tactical options. You can aggressively clear Tree to maintain control and defend the spike from the site itself, or you can retreat and engage the enemy from a distance, depending on your team’s setup and remaining utilities. The choice of spike placement should align with your chosen post-plant strategy, optimizing your defensive positioning.

#5: Taking Control Of A Site

Side: Defenders
Objective: Discourage attackers from rotating back to A Site

If attackers initially target other sites, adopt a proactive defense strategy for A Site by positioning your agents more aggressively towards the attacker spawn. This tactic prevents rotations and maintains pressure on the attacking team.

To execute this, deploy smokes at A Lobby and advance towards the Rubble area. This strategic placement disrupts the attackers’ movement and splits their focus. Once your teammate is securely positioned near Rubble, you can rotate to support other sites, confident that A Site is under control and the enemy’s options are limited.

#4: Planting On B Site

Side Used: Attackers
Primary Objective: Successfully plant the spike on B Site

For those brave enough to challenge the tight choke points leading to B Site, the strategic use of smokes can greatly facilitate entry. Key smoke placements include B Upper and C Link. Monitoring sound cues from A Link, like the sound of the destructible wall, can help determine if an enemy is nearby without needing visual confirmation.

After deploying smokes, utilize flashbangs to clear close angles, allowing for a smoother and safer spike planting. Post-plant positioning should ideally be in B Main and C Link, offering multiple angles to engage incoming defenders. It’s crucial to conserve some utility for the post-plant phase, as defenders have several routes to attempt a retake on B Site.

#3: Preventing Invasion Into B Site

Side Used: Defenders
Primary Objective: Block enemy access to B Site

Defending B Site on Lotus offers a tactical advantage due to the narrow choke points that attackers must navigate, often deterring aggressive plays. To further dissuade enemy advances, strategically place smokes at B Main and A Link. This not only obscures their path but also adds an element of uncertainty regarding their position on A.

If the initial moments of the round are quiet at B, consider adopting a more proactive defense by deploying smoke at B Pillars. This allows a defender to position behind the box on Main, setting up a crossfire that can effectively neutralize attackers attempting to push through the smokes.

#2: Preventing Invasion Into C Site

Side Used: Defenders
Primary Objective: Block enemy access to C Site

C Site on the Lotus map offers a unique challenge compared to B site, as it doesn’t necessarily funnel attackers through tight choke points. To effectively hold C Site, consistently deploying smokes at C Main can stymie an enemy advance, potentially accumulating up to 42 seconds of obscured vision if not required elsewhere.

This tactic generally compels attackers to pause and reconsider their approach, as pushing through would require them to quickly assess multiple angles. For a more assertive defensive stance, deploying smoke at C Lobby not only secures control over the nearby orb but also positions your team advantageously in less predictable locations to ambush the opposition.

#1: Planting On C Site

Side Used: Attackers
Primary Objective: Secure and plant the spike at C Site

Accessing C Site as an attacker can be challenging, but effective smoke deployment can significantly ease this task. By placing smokes that block off common defender peeking angles, attackers can safely navigate the site and prepare for planting the spike.

To optimize post-plant defense, particularly if opting to plant in the site’s corner, it’s advisable to smoke off C Link rather than closer angles. This strategy does expose your team to more angles during the initial site takeover; however, it simplifies holding the site post-plant, allowing for a more defensible position from C Main. This approach ensures broader control, making it harder for defenders to retake the site without being detected.

Conclusion

mastering the placement of smokes as Clove on the Lotus map in Valorant is crucial for controlling site engagements and rotations effectively. Whether defending or attacking, understanding the strategic use of smoke can significantly obstruct the enemy’s vision, create safe passages, and secure sites. By utilizing the smoke spots discussed for each site—A, B, and C—you can enhance your team’s tactical advantage, making it challenging for opponents to predict and counter your moves. As always, practice these techniques to refine your timing and placement, ensuring that each smoke maximizes its potential to sway the round in your favor.