All Valorant Maps in 2025: A Complete Timeline from Beta to Now

Turbosmurfs

Administrator

22 Nov 2025

VALORANT has quite the collection of maps these days. There are between 12 and 18 playable maps depending on how you count them, and honestly, tracking all VALORANT maps can get overwhelming pretty fast. New locations keep getting added while others rotate out of competitive play, so even dedicated players find themselves scrambling to stay current.

The standard gameplay collection includes 11-12 maps, while Team Deathmatch adds another 5 dedicated arenas, plus a single training ground for practice sessions. But here's the thing - you won't run into all these maps in ranked play. The competitive map pool stays limited to just 7 or 8 maps at any given time, rotating with each new Act. This rotation system started back in Episode 5 with Pearl's arrival, and it's designed to keep things fresh without forcing players to master an impossible number of maps at once.

Maybe you've found yourself confused about which maps are currently in rotation, or you're curious about how VALORANT's battlegrounds have evolved over time. From the original beta trio to the newest additions like Abyss – that floating platform with no boundaries where one wrong step means instant death – we'll walk through everything you need to know about VALORANT's ever-expanding world.

All VALORANT Maps by Release Dates

The story of VALORANT maps starts back in April 2020 during the closed beta, with three initial battlegrounds. Since then, Riot Games has kept up a fairly steady pace of releasing about one new map per year. Currently, VALORANT features a total of 12 standard maps, not counting Team Deathmatch-specific arenas or training grounds.

Beta Release - April 7, 2020

Bind launched as one of the original trio on April 7, 2020, during VALORANT's closed beta. Set in Rabat, Morocco, this desert map stands out for its unique teleporters—something you won't find on any other map in the game. These one-way teleporters make for some fast-paced rotations from one end of the map to the other, creating interesting tactical situations. Bind has no middle section, which forces players to commit to either the left or right pathways. The map rewards smart teleporter usage and features tight chokepoints that can give attackers a real headache.

Haven also debuted on April 7, 2020, during the beta phase. Located in Thimphu, Bhutan, Haven broke the mold by introducing three bombsites instead of the standard two found in most tactical shooters. This three-site design creates extra complexity, especially for defenders who have to spread their resources thin. The map features a large middle area that gives attackers multiple paths to approach each site. The expansive layout provides defenders with opportunities for aggressive pushes, making Haven a distinctive tactical challenge that rewards coordination and map control.

Split completed the original beta trio, also releasing on April 7, 2020. Set in Tokyo, Japan, Split is all about vertical design, with towering heights overlooking both bombsites. The two sites are divided by a narrow central alley, and controlling this area often determines who wins the round. Split became notorious for favoring defenders, with multiple angles to check and difficult entry points for attackers. The map features rope ascenders that allow for rapid vertical movement between levels. Split was temporarily removed from the rotation in June 2022 before returning after significant adjustments.

Full Release - June 2, 2020

Ascent marked VALORANT's official release on June 2, 2020, with Patch 1.0. Inspired by Italian architecture and set in Venice, Ascent quickly became a fan favorite among the VALORANT community. The map features a large central courtyard that divides the two bombsites, creating a natural focal point for fights. One of Ascent's distinctive elements is its mechanical bomb doors, which can be closed permanently to fortify sites, forcing attackers to either destroy them or find alternative entry points. Many players consider Ascent the quintessential VALORANT map due to its balanced layout and clear design that offers multiple strategic approaches without overwhelming complexity.

Post-Launch Additions - 2020-2021

Icebox entered the scene on October 13, 2020, with Patch 1.10. Set in a frigid Kingdom excavation site on Bennett Island, Russia, this arctic-themed map initially received mixed reactions from players. Icebox introduced horizontal ziplines, specifically on the A site—the first map to include this mobility feature. The map's complex layout features numerous hiding spots, vertical positions, and long sightlines that favor sniper rifles. Both bombsites are significantly separated, creating challenging rotation scenarios for defenders and attackers alike. Icebox has undergone several reworks since its release to address player concerns about its complexity.

Breeze arrived on April 27, 2021, with Patch 2.08. Located in the Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic Ocean, this tropical paradise brought a significant shift in map design philosophy. Breeze features notably wider open spaces and longer sightlines compared to previous maps, deliberately testing players' aim mechanics rather than just tactical positioning. The map's massive scale benefits both precision riflers and operators, with expansive bombsites that are challenging to defend. Breeze received layout adjustments in 2024 to reduce some of the wider angles, though it remains one of the most aim-intensive maps in the rotation.

Fracture was introduced on September 8, 2021, with Patch 3.05. Based in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, Fracture presents one of VALORANT's most unconventional layouts. The map is literally split in half by a central ravine, with a zipline allowing quick traversal between sides. Its unique H-shaped design enables attackers to pressure defenders from multiple directions simultaneously, with each site vulnerable to attacks from two separate areas. This unorthodox approach created significant controversy upon release, as it challenged traditional tactical shooter conventions and required teams to develop entirely new strategies for defense.

2022-2023 Expansions

Pearl surfaced on June 22, 2022, with Patch 5.0. Set in an underwater city in Lisbon, Portugal, Pearl represents the first map set in Omega Earth—an alternate timeline version of our world. Unlike most VALORANT maps, Pearl contains no special mechanical features or gimmicks, focusing instead on pure tactical gameplay with a traditional layout. The map's underwater aesthetic creates a visually distinctive environment, while its compact middle section and longer range wings offer varied engagement opportunities. Pearl was initially met with mixed reception but has undergone several adjustments to address player feedback.

Lotus bloomed on January 10, 2023, with Patch 6.0. Located in the Western Ghats of India, Lotus became the second three-site map after Haven. The map's ancient temple setting incorporates unique mechanics like rotating doors that unlock alternative paths to bombsites. These architectural features, combined with the challenge of defending three separate sites, create a complex strategic puzzle that rewards creative thinking and adaptability. Lotus requires defenders to make difficult choices about resource allocation, while attackers must accurately predict defensive setups to succeed.

Sunset arrived on August 29, 2023, with Patch 7.4. Based in Los Angeles, California, Sunset presents a neighborhood threatened by a disaster at a local Kingdom facility. The map features tight corridors and numerous mid-range sightlines, creating a balanced experience that many players found refreshing after some of the more experimental designs. Sunset's relatively straightforward three-lane structure with two bombsites draws inspiration from successful elements of both Ascent and Split, making it accessible yet strategically interesting. The map gained quick popularity due to its balanced nature and familiar feel.

2024-2025 Additions

Abyss dropped on June 11, 2024, with Patch 8.11. Set in Sør-Jan, Jan Mayen, Norway, Abyss introduced a radical new concept to VALORANT—a map with no outer boundaries. This clandestine base is situated on a floating platform above an endless chasm, where falling means instant elimination. Abyss is the only map featuring a death drop in its mid-section, creating high-risk, high-reward scenarios for utility plays and positioning. The map's vertical elements and precarious edges force players to be exceptionally mindful of positioning, adding a unique dimension to gameplay.

Corrode debuted most recently on October 22, 2024 (though some sources list it as part of Patch 11.00). Set in Mont-Saint-Michel, France in the Omega Earth timeline, Corrode transforms a medieval castle town into a radianite salt mining facility. The map features two bombsites connected by tight hallways that open into wider areas, creating interesting tactical dynamics. Corrode includes several elevation changes and shallow water paths that punish noisy movements, rewarding stealthy approaches. The map's medieval industrial aesthetic sets it apart visually from other battlegrounds in the rotation.

Map Rotation History

VALORANT's map pool hasn't remained static throughout the game's existence. Riot Games introduced a formal map rotation system in 2022 with the release of Pearl in Episode 5. At that time, the developers announced they would maintain a 7-map competitive pool, rotating maps out periodically to prevent the learning curve from becoming too steep for players.

Split was the first map to be temporarily removed from the rotation in June 2022, though it later returned after adjustments. Other maps have since cycled in and out of the active pool based on player feedback, professional play considerations, and the need to introduce new maps without overwhelming players.

As of November 2024 (Patch 10.0), the active map pool consists of seven maps: Abyss, Bind, Haven, Fracture, Lotus, Pearl, and Split. This careful curation helps maintain strategic variety while allowing players to master a reasonable number of environments.

The evolution of VALORANT maps reflects Riot Games' commitment to providing diverse tactical experiences. From the traditional layouts of maps like Bind and Ascent to the experimental designs of Fracture and Abyss, each battleground demands different skills and approaches. Understanding the unique characteristics and histories of these maps is essential for any player looking to compete at a high level in VALORANT's constantly evolving tactical landscape.

Current VALORANT Competitive Map Pool

As of Patch 11.08 (September 2025), the active VALORANT competitive map pool consists of seven carefully selected battlegrounds:

Abyss - The floating platform with no boundaries
Bind - Featuring unique teleporters for rapid rotations
Corrode - The medieval castle turned mining facility
Haven - The classic three-site map
Pearl - The underwater city from Omega Earth
Split - The vertically-oriented map with rope ascenders
Sunset - The Los Angeles-themed map with traditional design

This current lineup represents a significant shift from the previous rotation. Ascent and Lotus got the boot with Patch 11.08 to make room for Pearl and Split's return. Before that, Abyss made its comeback to the competitive pool in August 2025 with Patch 11.04.

Riot's reasoning behind sticking to exactly seven maps is pretty straightforward. This number offers enough variety to keep gameplay interesting while staying manageable enough that players don't get overwhelmed trying to master too many environments. Plus, seven works perfectly for professional tournaments, allowing teams to ban certain maps without having to replay the same environment multiple times in best-of-five series.

Right now, five maps sit outside the competitive rotation: Icebox, Breeze, Fracture, Ascent, and Lotus. But these maps aren't completely gone—they're still available in other modes like Unrated, Swiftplay, Spike Rush, and Escalation.

How the Map Selection System Works

The map selection process has come a long way since VALORANT's launch. Before March 2022, players would get stuck with the same map repeatedly, which was pretty frustrating. Then with Patch 4.04, Riot introduced a sophisticated "Determining" system that analyzes the recent map history of all ten players in a match.

This smart system looks at which maps each player has recently encountered and uses that data to select the battlefield for the current match. According to Riot's internal data, this approach dramatically reduced how often players experienced the same map in consecutive matches. About 76% of players now get different maps from one match to the next.

For ranked competitive play, the system selects exclusively from the seven maps currently in rotation. In unranked modes, all twelve maps remain in the potential selection pool, giving casual players more variety.

The professional Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) uses a different system altogether. Teams follow a structured pick/ban process in best-of-three matches:

Team 1 bans one map
Team 2 bans one map
Team 2 picks the first map
Team 1 selects their starting side
Team 1 picks the second map
Team 2 selects their starting side
The final map is determined by highest seed preference, with Team 2 choosing their starting side

This methodical approach ensures competitive integrity at the highest levels and allows teams to showcase their strengths on preferred battlegrounds.

Current Map Pool Analysis

Each map in the current competitive rotation brings something unique to ranked play. Here's what makes each one stand out:

Abyss is probably VALORANT's most innovative map design yet. Situated on a gigantic floating platform with no physical boundaries, one wrong step means instant death. The design emphasizes vertical angles and risky positioning, creating high-stakes gameplay unlike anything else. You can use the death drops for clever utility plays or to bait opponents into fatal mistakes. Despite its mechanical uniqueness, Abyss hasn't achieved universal popularity in ranked play, though professional teams have embraced its tactical depth.

Bind remains one of VALORANT's most distinctive environments thanks to its one-way teleporters that enable quick rotations between sites. This desert-themed map features no middle section, forcing players to commit to either left or right pathways. Bind has had quite the roller coaster ride in the rotation—removed with Patch 6.00, returned with major changes in Patch 6.08, removed again with Patch 10.04, only to reappear in the current rotation unchanged.

Corrode, VALORANT's newest battleground (released in Patch 11.00, June 2025), transforms a French castle town into a radianite salt mining facility. Its medieval industrial aesthetic creates a unique visual identity. The map features tight hallways that open into wider angles, plus elevation changes and shallow water paths that punish noisy movements. Since its introduction, Corrode has quickly gained popularity in ranked play due to its balanced design.

Haven stands as the sole original beta map that has remained consistently in the competitive rotation since the map pool system was introduced. Set in Bhutan, Haven distinguishes itself with three bombsites instead of the standard two. This creates unique strategic challenges, particularly for defenders who must spread their resources thin, while simultaneously offering opportunities for aggressive defensive pushes. Despite its complexity, Haven's balanced design has cemented its place as a competitive staple.

Pearl, the underwater city from Omega Earth, returns to the competitive rotation after an extended absence. This visually stunning map features no special mechanical features or gimmicks, focusing purely on tactical gameplay fundamentals. Pearl's compact mid-section contrasts with longer-range wings, offering varied engagement scenarios. Its return represents Riot's commitment to balancing innovative map designs with traditional tactical shooter principles.

Split rejoins the rotation after being the first map ever removed from competitive play back in 2022. Its Tokyo setting features a vertically-oriented design with rope ascenders for rapid movement between levels. Split originally gained notoriety for favoring defenders, but subsequent adjustments have improved its balance. Its return has been welcomed by veteran players who appreciate its straightforward yet challenging layout.

Sunset, the Los Angeles-themed map released in 2023, maintains its place in the competitive rotation. Its traditional three-lane structure with two bombsites draws inspiration from successful elements of both Ascent and Split. Sunset gained quick popularity after release due to its balanced nature and familiar feel that doesn't rely on gimmicks or mechanical quirks.

The Rotation Philosophy

Riot's approach to map rotation serves multiple purposes beyond just keeping the game fresh. The seven-map limit helps new players adjust without facing an overwhelming learning curve. Mastering angles, callouts, and strategies for each environment requires significant time investment.

Maps rotate based on several considerations:

Player feedback and satisfaction metrics
Planned updates and reworks
Need for strategic variance in competitive play
Professional tournament scheduling

The developers typically implement rotation changes with new Acts or significant patches. For instance, the current rotation was established with Patch 11.08 in September 2025. While these changes apply immediately to the general player base, the VALORANT Champions Tour often adopts map pool modifications with a slight delay, typically after major international tournaments to accommodate teams already competing in regional stages.

This thoughtful approach ensures both casual players and professionals can develop mastery without stagnation. Riot maintains engagement while allowing adequate time for players to learn each map's intricacies.

Impact on Gameplay and Strategy

The limited competitive map pool significantly influences how players approach ranked play. With only seven maps in rotation, teams can develop deeper strategic understanding and more refined executes for each environment. This focused approach contrasts with games that feature larger map pools, where broader but shallower knowledge often prevails.

The rotation system also encourages adaptability. As maps cycle in and out, players must adjust their agent selections and strategies accordingly. Controllers like Brimstone excel on smaller maps like Bind, whereas Viper finds tremendous value on larger, more open environments.

The current pool offers remarkable strategic diversity:

Three-site complexity: Haven demands exceptional resource management
Vertical challenges: Split and Abyss test players' awareness of multiple elevations
Mechanical uniqueness: Bind's teleporters and Abyss's death drops create distinctive scenarios
Traditional layouts: Sunset and Pearl offer more conventional tactical experiences
Medieval architecture: Corrode's tight corridors create unique chokepoint dynamics

This carefully balanced variety ensures that players must master different skillsets to succeed across the entire map pool, rewarding versatility and adaptability rather than specialization on a single environment.

For those looking to climb the competitive ladder, understanding each map's nuances becomes essential. The concentrated pool allows players to invest time efficiently, focusing on mastering the current rotation rather than spreading practice thinly across too many environments.

As VALORANT continues to evolve, the competitive map pool will undoubtedly undergo further adjustments. Maps currently out of rotation may return with fresh updates, while others might take temporary leave for refinement. Throughout these changes, Riot's philosophy remains consistent: maintain strategic depth and player engagement through carefully curated environments that test different aspects of tactical shooter expertise.

Best Tips for Mastering VALORANT Maps

Mastering all VALORANT maps takes way more than just memorizing layouts. You need to understand strategic approaches, common angles, and how to communicate effectively with your team. Map knowledge and awareness are absolutely crucial for success in VALORANT, especially when each battleground throws different challenges at you.

Learn the Fundamentals Through Dedicated Exploration

Start by exploring each map in custom games where there's no pressure from actual matches. This lets you get familiar with layouts, callouts, and common positions at your own pace. Walk through each site, identify key angles, and figure out typical rotation times.

For newer maps like Abyss or Corrode, pay extra attention to their unique features - whether that's deadly drop-offs or medieval corridors. Each VALORANT map has distinctive elements that change how you play, from Bind's teleporters to Haven's three-site design.

Building strategic muscle memory is essential. Knowing instinctively where to pre-aim when approaching common holding spots gives you a huge advantage. Understanding bomb plant locations and post-plant positions will also make your tactical decisions much sharper during matches.

Develop Superior Map Awareness

Map awareness is one of the most important skills in VALORANT. Checking your minimap frequently gives you real-time information about enemy positions, teammate locations, and potential threats - making it invaluable for smart decision-making.

Here's how to maximize this advantage:

Glance at your minimap every few seconds to track spotted enemies and teammate positions
Use that information to pre-aim common angles where enemies were last seen
Pay attention to enemy ability usage since it often reveals their location or intentions
Adjust your minimap zoom settings to balance detail with range

Sound awareness plays an equally important role. VALORANT features detailed audio cues that reveal crucial information about enemy positions, ability usage, and rotations. Footsteps, reloads, abilities, and spike interactions all produce distinctive sounds that can give you critical advantages.

To use sound cues effectively:

Invest in quality headphones and optimize your in-game audio settings
Listen carefully for enemy footsteps and ability usage
Coordinate with teammates to avoid making noise when necessary

Master Map-Specific Callouts

Clear communication turns average teams into exceptional ones. Each VALORANT map has specific callouts for locations that let you communicate precisely and efficiently. Learning these terms is essential for relaying information quickly during fast-paced rounds.

You're expected to tell your teammates what you see so everyone can make informed decisions. VALORANT creates situations requiring split-second decisions, making proper callouts vital for success.

Even if you haven't memorized all callouts, several universal terms work across most maps:

A/B/C Site: The primary objective locations
Short/Long: The shorter or longer entrance paths to bombsites
Mid: The central pathway connecting different areas (except on Bind and Fracture)
Heaven: Elevated positions overlooking sites
Hell: Areas directly below Heaven
Defender/Attacker Spawn: Where teams begin each round

When you're not sure about specific callouts, location names often relate to visual elements - if there's a truck on site, "Truck" probably works as an effective callout. VALORANT's ping system also serves as a valuable backup to verbal communication, letting you mark specific locations for teammates to see.

Adapt Strategies to Different Map Types

Each map category requires different approaches for both attackers and defenders. Understanding these fundamental patterns helps you adapt more quickly when playing across the VALORANT map pool.

On maps with strong mid control (like Ascent or Split):

Attackers should secure mid control early to open multiple paths to bombsites
Defenders need to contest mid aggressively with utility and coordinated plays
Consider running a 2-1-2 defender setup with dedicated mid control

For maps with teleporters or unique movement mechanics (Bind, Fracture):

Use these features for unexpected rotations and flanks
Set up trap plays involving teleporters on Bind
Stay aware of potential rapid rotations by opponents

When dealing with three-site maps (Haven, Lotus):

Defenders should establish flexible setups allowing quick rotations
Attackers benefit from spreading out and identifying weakly defended sites
The default defender setup typically involves 2-1-2 positions with one player capable of quick rotation

For maps with vertical elements (Split, Abyss):

Control elevated positions that provide advantageous angles
Use agent abilities that excel in vertical spaces (Jett, Omen, Raze)
Develop strategies that take advantage of height advantages

Select Optimal Agents for Each Map

Agent selection significantly impacts your effectiveness on different maps. Certain agents naturally excel in specific environments due to their ability kits.

On vertically-oriented maps like Abyss:

Chamber thrives with teleport abilities between different elevation levels
Omen can access unexpected high ground positions
Raze's movement abilities allow rapid traversal of vertical spaces

For larger maps with multiple pathways:

Running two controllers becomes increasingly viable for controlling multiple areas
Information-heavy compositions excel on maps with long sightlines like Ascent

On maps with tight chokepoints like Fracture:

Raze's area control abilities prove extremely effective
Breach can disrupt enemies hiding behind cover
Killjoy's setup can effectively lock down crucial areas

For maps requiring strong site control like Icebox:

Viper's control abilities are vital for slowing enemy advances
Jett's mobility helps reach elevated positions quickly
Killjoy secures sites effectively during post-plant situations

Practice With Purpose

Random play rarely leads to significant improvement. Structured practice focusing specifically on map knowledge yields much better results:

Play deathmatch mode to improve reaction times while getting familiar with map layouts under pressure
Create custom games to practice clearing corners and holding angles systematically
Use aim trainers with scenarios that mimic VALORANT's map-specific encounters
Queue with consistent teammates to refine callouts and map-based strategies

Even more importantly, watch professional players to see how they use the minimap, check corners, and communicate with their teams. Reviewing your own gameplay footage can also reveal awareness mistakes like missed enemy rotations or poor positioning decisions.

Develop Map-Based Game Sense

Game sense refers to your intuitive understanding of what's likely happening across the map based on limited information. This skill develops through experience but can be accelerated by:

Actively predicting enemy rotations based on spike location and teammate information
Understanding timing windows for rotations between different map sections
Recognizing patterns in opponent behavior across rounds
Tracking enemy economy to anticipate potential force buys or save rounds

Some maps naturally favor certain sites based on their design - understanding these tendencies lets you anticipate common attacking strategies. On Icebox, attackers almost always attack A site, with maybe one player lurking through mid.

Counter the Map Meta

Each map develops its own "meta" - common strategies and agent compositions that players gravitate toward. Knowing these patterns allows you to counter them effectively.

For example:

If a map favors specific agent selections, consider counterpicks that directly neutralize their strengths
When certain sites are heavily favored by attackers, prepare unusual defensive setups
If a map encourages particular utility usage, develop strategies that bait and punish predictable patterns

Successfully playing against the meta requires understanding not just what works on each map, but specifically what counters the most common approaches. This mindset shift from following established patterns to deliberately subverting them often yields remarkable results.

Use Your Utility Effectively

Scouting with agent abilities represents one of the most powerful ways to improve map awareness. Abilities like Sova's Recon Bolt, Fade's Haunt, and Cypher's Spycam excel at revealing enemy positions without risking direct engagement.

Smart utility usage creates an information advantage, making it safer to execute strategies. Certain abilities can completely transform how maps play - Sage's wall can block crucial sightlines, Viper's toxic screen can divide sites, and Killjoy's setups can lock down entire areas.

For maximum effectiveness, learn map-specific lineups for reconnaissance and damage abilities. These predetermined angles ensure your utility consistently delivers value regardless of the pressure situation.

These strategies across all maps in VALORANT will help you develop the adaptability and depth of knowledge necessary to thrive in any environment. Map mastery isn't about memorization alone - it's about developing an intuitive understanding of spatial relationships, timing windows, and strategic possibilities unique to each battleground.

FAQs

Q1. How many maps are in Valorant? Currently Valorant as 18 playable maps in total across all modes in 2025.

Q2. How many maps are currently in Valorant's competitive rotation? As of 2025, Valorant maintains a competitive map pool of exactly seven maps. This carefully curated selection balances variety with mastery, allowing players to develop expertise without feeling overwhelmed.

Q3. What is the newest map added to Valorant? The most recent addition to Valorant's map roster is Corrode, which debuted in October 2024. Set in Mont-Saint-Michel, France, it features a medieval castle town transformed into a radianite salt mining facility.

Q4. How often does Riot Games rotate maps in and out of the competitive pool? Riot Games typically adjusts the map rotation with each new Act or major patch. This system, introduced in 2022, ensures the gameplay experience remains fresh while maintaining a manageable learning curve for players.

Q5. What unique feature does the map Abyss introduce to Valorant? Abyss, set in Norway, is the only Valorant map with no outer boundaries. It's situated on a floating platform where falling off the edge results in instant elimination, adding a new dimension of risk to gameplay.

Q6. How can players improve their performance across different Valorant maps? To master Valorant maps, players should explore each map in custom games, learn specific callouts, practice with purpose, develop map awareness, and adapt their agent selection and strategies to suit each map's unique layout and features.