The Return of Split – A Guide to the VALORANT Map
Split is a popular map among the community in the game VALORANT. However, it was the first map to be removed from the active pool. Now, after a long absence, Split has officially returned to the unrated and competitive queues in Episode Six starting from January 10, 2023.
In Split, controlling the mid area is crucial. Attackers can quickly reach the tower overlooking each site after gaining control of mid. However, defenders have an advantage due to the bottleneck entrances to the A and B sites. With Split’s return, Riot has made changes to help attackers by removing some of the more annoying defender angles to clear.
Split Layout and Basic Callouts
Below is the in-game map for Split, with all the basic callouts listed.
Strategies and Tips for Split’s A Site
When entering through A main, attackers have two options: going straight into the site underneath Rafters and Heaven, or taking the Ramps up into Tower. Choosing Tower gives more visibility and control over the A site, but it also leaves attackers vulnerable to lurkers in the back of Tower or quick rotates from Mid/Vents. It’s important for attackers to have a player in Tower and on Ramp during post-plants to catch defenders off-guard during retake attempts.
On the defensive side, use smokes on A main past the attacker spawn to discourage quick pushes and buy time to set up. Holding from Catwalk is ideal for watching A main, assuming there is someone in Tower to watch for attackers coming through Ramp or Vents.
Following the map’s update, the A main entrance has been widened, and attackers now have a small ledge to throw off aggressive defenders. The Rafters balcony has also been reduced to prevent defenders from hiding at different heights in the immediate corner.
Strategies and Tips for Split’s B Site
When attacking B site, it’s important to supplement any attack through B main with pressure from mid to B Tower. Defenders have many corners and angles to hide in on the B site, such as TV, Back, Board, and Default corner. Using Viper or Sage walls, or smokes to cover crosses from B main onto the site, is vital for attackers.
On defense, having an agent like Jett or Omen who can gather information early from B main and escape safely is ideal. Agents that can disrupt pushes or executes before they happen, like KAY/O or Breach, are also great choices.
Following the map’s update, the jump-up spot in B Tower has been removed, and the pocket corner at the bottom of the rope has been smoothed out to make clearing the spot easier.
VALORANT, Split, map, strategies, tips, attack, defense