Valorant map pool rotation - all competitive maps in Episode 9 Act 1 (2024)

All competitive maps in Episode 9 Act 1

Here are the seven maps that are currently available in the competitive modes of Episode 9 Act 1:

• Abyss
• Ascent
• Bind
• Haven
• Icebox
• Lotus
• Sunset

Abyss

The 11th map in the game, Abyss does away with outer boundaries, meaning that you can drop to your death even before an opponent finds you. This means you’ll have to be extra careful with your positioning. And some narrow ledges can only be reached by jumping past these chasms. So get to hopping past dizzying heights to gain an advantage against your opponents.

Ascent

Ascent’s Italian-inspired design paired with sightlines enables both long-range shootouts and close-quarters combat. This has made it a favourite among fans after it arrived in June 2020 with patch 1.0. Despite being over four years old, it’s still a great map that supports tense firefights as well as sniper duels.

Bind

Bind’s teleporters drastically alter its playing field. None of the other maps feature the ability to move to different portions of the map quickly. This keeps players on edge but rewards veterans who know where to look. Bind arrived during the Closed Beta, making it one of the oldest maps in the game. While it was taken down for balance changes, it’s a great competitive map now.

Sunset

Sunset’s two plant sites and three lanes might sound ordinary but its Ascent-like mechanical doors spice things up. It arrived with Episode 7 Act 2 back in August 2023. The tenth map in the game’s map pool is themed around the city of Los Angeles.

Haven

Haven’s Thimphu temple finally makes its way back to the competitive rotation in Episode 9 Act 1. With a unique tri-site layout and an emphasis on verticality, it’s one of the best maps in the game thanks to its unconventional approach. This design allows for well-placed smokes and ambushes to halt enemy offensives and the ability to surprise foes from the rooftops. It’s got its share of sightlines for snipers to peek into sites too.

Icebox

The icy map is set in a cold arctic landscape surrounding a research station. With distinct A-site, B-site and Mid sections, Icebox is a great map to learn the basics of navigating map architecture. Both sites have their pros and cons for both teams, and good teams will devise preset strategies around each point. Relatively small compared to others, it favours quick rotations and fast executions.

Lotus

The serene and picturesque map is set in India and is one of the two three-site maps in the game. It’s easy to learn but hard to master, with winding passages through a temple complex, with interactive revolving doors and many avenues of ingress. It will put the defending team to the test, stretching their capabilities – especially against single-minded aggressive attackers.

When is the next competitive map rotation

The current map rotation’s latest shake-up was in July 2024. Peal and Split are back in, while Icebox and Lotus have been rotated out. Based on how the previous Episodes changed the rotation, expect Episode 10 to bring the next competitive rotation towards the end of the year. New Agents might also be released for the tactical shooter to coincide with the map rotation update. But at the moment, Riot Games has not confirmed when the current Valorant map rotation will be phased out.

Why does the map rotation only have a few maps

In a map update in June 2022, lead map designer Joe Lansford explained that “the team thinks seven is a nice sweet spot that offers both variety and mastery.” He also noted “You don’t have to spend all your time learning new angles, lineups, and strategies. New players will have an easier onboarding experience.” Expect the 5v5 arena shooter to stick to this seven-map pool for the upcoming season too. While only five maps are currently available, expect the list to be expanded soon.

Which maps are not a part of the competitive rotation

Players will have to wait for a while if they want to experience Split, Icebox, Fracture, Breeze, Lotus, and Pearl in its competitive modes. But their spike sites are still available to contest in casual modes like Unrated, Swift Play, Spike Rush, and Escalation. We’ll keep you updated if and when these maps return to the competitive pool.

Valorant

• Platform(s):PC
• Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Strategy