Over the course of the last 17 months, Valorant players have seen seven different maps introduced and evolved over time.
One of the hottest competitive shooters to date, Valorant's maps continue to be a never-ending canvases for players to figure out how they want to play the game, with endless utility lineups, team comps and more to be tested and perfected each day.
Of course, with there existing no public map selection feature, at least not yet anyway, each and every player must become students of each of the game's backdrops whether they like it or not.
DBLTAP spoke with several of the game's best players from Team Liquid, The Guard and OpTic Gaming during Valorant Champions Tour Stage 1: Masters ReykjavÃk to get their thoughts on a common question â What is the best map in Valorant? Here's what we found.
Ultimately, the consensus from the four players we interviewed appears to be simple. The best map in the games is the one that started it all â the three-laned, defending-side friendly floating island Ascent.
For Liquid Travis "L1NK" Mendoza, it's got to be Ascent thanks to its perhaps being the truest test of skill.
âIâd honestly say Ascent," L1NK told DBLTAP. "It seems like the most balanced. It seems like the most fair map."
Funnily enough, L1NK's teammate, Liquid Adil "ScreaM" Benrlitom, was a bit indifferent on the topic. While he's been on record to have advocated for Haven and Split in 2020, as well as Ascent in 2021, it seems ScreaM is content with just about all of the Valorant maps at this point in time.
"In ranked," ScreaM said, "I think every map is cool, you know? Itâs very different."
Speaking of ranked, Guard Michael "neT" Bernet had a stark contrast in his outlook of the maps, mentioning that the best ones are those that are easier to play for most players.
"The most fun maps to play in ranked are probably like Ascent and Haven honestly," neT said. "For Ascent and Haven, theyâre kind of maps everyone knows and like, [they] have been out for long enough to where people know the fundamentals and at least have a general understanding of how to play."
Lastly, OpTic Pujan "FNS" Mehta was right in line with his fellow North American representative in Iceland, highlighting Ascent and Haven as his picks.
"As far as the best," FNS said, "Iâve always been a fan of Ascent. I also like Haven a lot even though it has three bomb sites. A little unorthodox, but I still like Haven. Those are the two best maps for sure, Haven and Ascent."
