Sunset Map in VALORANT Could Bring Phoenix Back to the Competitive Scene
In high-level VALORANT tournaments, only a few duelist agents like Jett and Raze usually see consistent playtime. However, the introduction of the new Sunset map might pave the way for the return of one of the game’s iconic duelists.
The VCT 2024 season is still a few months away, and it will feature the inaugural season of the official VCT China league. In the lead-up to this league, rising teams from the region are participating in the Evolution Series, where Sunset is one of the maps in the pool.
Phoenix’s Viability on the Sunset Map
While the sample size is small, teams like Bilibili Gaming and FunPlus Phoenix have already picked Phoenix when competing against each other on Sunset in a recent match at Champions 2023 [Watch clip here]. Despite FunPlus Phoenix ultimately winning the match, both teams demonstrated the potential effectiveness of Phoenix on this new map.
Sunset’s relatively narrow chokepoints make Phoenix’s abilities, such as Blaze Wall and Hot Hands Molotov, invaluable for delaying pushes and retakes. These abilities force opponents to either push blindly or take damage, allowing the rest of the team to rotate and provide support.
Furthermore, Sunset has numerous corners and hidden spots, which gives Phoenix an advantage. His Curveball flash can reveal and clear these spots, while his Run It Back ultimate minimizes the risk of pushing a site without thoroughly checking each corner. Additionally, the team with an active Phoenix ultimate has a better chance of trading kills with Phoenix leading the charge as his clone.
Strategic Combos with Phoenix on Sunset
Bilibili even experimented with Viper/Phoenix Molotov combos on Sunset. When executed correctly, these combos can be deadly and catch enemies off guard. Even if the combo doesn’t find any enemies, it allows the team to gain ground and control.
As more VCT teams start experimenting on Sunset, Phoenix may become a staple pick for the newest map by the time the 2024 season kicks off.
keywords: VALORANT, esports, competitive gaming, Sunset map, Phoenix agent, VCT 2024, duelist agents, VALORANT meta, Evolution Series, Champions 2023, Phoenix abilities