In Valorant, entering a site with well-placed smokes is the difference between planting the spike and getting blasted by a trigger-happy Chamber. When you play a Controller, it is essential that you learn how to smoke effectively. A carelessly placed smoke can actually harm your team more than help them, giving the enemy team more opportunities to counterattack.
RELATED: Valorant: Best Killjoy Setups For A Site Pearl
As the name suggests, your role as a Controller is to seize control over the map, using your utility to block off sight lines and force enemies into unfavorable positions. Omen is one of the five Controllers in Valorant. He is an ominous wraith that's characterized by his rechargeable smokes, teleporting shenanigans and edgy appeal. Unlike the other Controller agents, Omen is able to place his smokes with a larger degree of precision thanks to his unique first-person smoke interface.
10 B Main Defense One-Way
A “one-way” smoke is a type of smoke placement that denies enemy vision while still keeping your own. This means that you’ll be able to see the enemy Brimstone’s boots stomping around and all he will see is a smoke in his face. Thanks to Omen’s flexible smoke placement, he can easily create a one-way smoke in a variety of locations.
This smoke is a great way to hold the B Main entrance when the spawn wall drops. Its height reveals everything from the waist down, and allows you to take free shots at anybody who carelessly decides to push through. To create this one-way, aim your crosshair at the corner of the B Main angle, and fire the smoke when you see the arrow resting in the middle of the wall’s edge.
9 Attacking B Site
Denying the defender's vision of your team when executing onto a site is essential when attacking. On B site, it’s common for defenders to hold locations in Market and Defender Spawn since they’re easier to rotate to and disengage from. These smokes effectively block both sight lines, and create space for the Initiators and Duelists to work their magic.
RELATED: Valorant: All Classes Explained
Remember to place your smokes deep enough to avoid any pockets forming on your side of the smoke. If your smokes are too shallow, the enemy will be able to use the cover of your smoke to clear side angles safely. This also gives them more opportunities to hide in your smoke, and use utility to end your dreams of winning the round. An ideal smoke will leave defenders completely out in the open if they decide to push out.
8 Defending Middle
On Ascent, having control over the middle section of the map is incredibly important for either creating or denying an attacker's opportunities for rotations. Tiles and the top of Middle are common angles that attackers can poke their heads out. These smokes will cut off any visual information they can gain while allowing your team to take control of an essential part of the map.
Depending on enemy movements, and where your team is holding, you may decide to use only one of these smokes. For example, if you know your teammate wants to take a duel on Middle from Catwalk, you can smoke off Tiles, so they won’t be exposed from two angles.
7 Attacking Middle
When you’re on attack, the same smokes for defense are essentially inverted. Since you still want to get control of Middle as an attacker, your smokes will now deny the defender's vision from the common defender angles of Catwalk and Market. Control over the middle section of the map will open up opportunities for map rotations, and will leave defenders guessing as to where you will attack.
As before, you may decide to only use one smoke instead of two to give your team opportunities for getting an initial kill.
6 A Main Defense One-Way
Similar to the smoke on B Main, you can also place a one-way smoke from A. Enemies who try to challenge your angle will instantly regret it, as you will be able to see their legs while they see a purple blob. This one-way also has the added bonus of blocking off the upper wall angle that cheeky attackers can reach by jumping up nearby crates.
RELATED: Valorant: Viper Lineups For Pearl
This smoke gives you a variety of options, and you can use it to either play aggressively with your flash or defensively by holding your angle advantage. To place this one-way, aim your crosshair at the top of the left wall, and fire the smoke when you see the arrow indicator hovering above the wall's very edge.
5 Attacking A Site
Like the bombsite on B, the A site has two locations where defenders can rotate through to cut off your attack. Door, and the upper part of the site, Heaven, are the most important places for you to deny defender vision. It is especially important for you to place your smoke deep in Heaven. Shallow smokes allow enemies to keep control of this crucial part of the site, and will give them opportunities to smite you from above with a counter flash.
Being conscious of how deep your smokes are will go a long way towards creating grateful teammates and frustrated enemies.
4 Defending A Site
The two critical locations for defending A are Catwalk and A Main. This A Main smoke gives you control over both Wine and A site. Since it is so far into A Main, the enemies will need to spend time and agent utility to ensure Wine is clear before they can focus on the site. This allows your team to use their defensive utility more aggressively, such as Killjoy swarm grenades, since the enemy team will be funneled into the A Main archway when entering the site.
The Catwalk smoke follows the same principle as A Main. Enemies who push through Catwalk will need to fully clear the corners before they can push.
3 Attacking B Site With A Mid Split
If your team decides to attack B Site through both Mid and B Main, these smokes will have their back. Since your team is working for control of Market, you will no longer need to smoke there. Instead, send one of your smokes to the upper section of defender side Mid. This Mid smoke will cut off the angle from defender Spawn, which is a common location for defenders to rotate through.
Your other smoke will be sent to block off the other rotation entrance from defender Spawn, the same smoke that is used when attacking B from B Main.
2 Attacking A Site With A Mid Split
Attacking A site through both Middle and A Main will also require a different approach. Since your team will be working through Catwalk, they will need smoke to cover Tree Room. Blocking off this angle will make it much easier for your team to take control of the door, and will leave you free to use your other smoke for Heaven.
When doing a split attack through Middle, it may be beneficial to use one of your smokes early to block off a section of Middle from the defenders. This will allow the portion of your team that's pushing through Middle to take space without worrying about getting shot from multiple angles. If you decide to do this, you will need to communicate with your team that you will only have one smoke available for the bombsite until it recharges again.
1 B Site Stairs One-Way
This attacking smoke is more situational than the others, but can surprise the defenders when used well. Instead of smoking off spawn, you can choose to use a one-way on the stairway angle. This will allow you to take safe shots at anybody who peeks, and allows your team to play more reactively.
If you notice that an enemy has a habit of peeking out from Stairs, this one-way smoke will shut them down. It is especially effective if your team has another Controller Agent who can cover the defender Spawn angle. To place this one-way, aim your crosshair at the right roof corner of Boathouse above Stairs. Then fire your smoke when the indicator arrow is resting above the corner of the roof.
NEXT: Valorant: Best Character Designs
