Although having decent precision and aiming is a core component of excelling in a tactical FPS like Valorant, players also need to get familiar with other nuances of the game to maximize their potential. One such element is the ability to utilize smokes in the game effectively. Players who have mastered the art of smokes and their shooting skills will always have the upper hand over other players who just rely on their reflexes and pure skill. Hence, it’s vital to understand and learn how to smoke efficiently for the best possible results in Valorant.
If you have played CS:GO before, you know how important it is to get used to different smoking lineups. Using smokes is not just a one-dimensional skill where you toss it just to block the vision. Instead, there are so many various angles that you can utilize to maximize a smoke’s capability. Furthermore, every Agent has a separate smoking pattern, and depending upon the specific map, there are numerous ways you can approach the scenario. It’s recommended to spend time in training mode with the Agent you plan to use and get familiar with the different smoking lineups. To give players an idea, we’ve listed some examples below:
To above smoke placement from Omen at A site of Ascent is a perfect example of how it should be utilised. Instead of completely blocking the choke point, it’s partially placed so that the incoming attacking team has no vision, but your team will have a view of them. Furthermore, your team will always have the first view of any incoming player, no matter what. This gives you a chance to land the first blow and halt the incoming push.
Agents such as Brimstone and Omen can effectively place their smoke anywhere from the map, but someone like Jett has to be in the line of sight of her smoke to place it. However, she has a jump/dash, which others don’t have, so se she can be more creative with her smoke placements. You can throw smoke mid-air which ensures that you do not have to face check while placing it. In the image below, Jett can be seen throwing her smoke from the spawn area to block the vision of any defender peeking from heaven in Split. As mentioned before, it’s best to test out different Agents and their smoking patterns in training mode before using them in a ranked game.
It’s a no-brainer that smokes should be usually placed in choke points so that it stifles the defense/offense. However, make sure you do not block the vision for your own teammates, which is very often the case. Furthermore, do not use every charge of smoke immediately every time. It’s worth saving your smoke for the clutch moments and can make or break the game.
