Riot Games Reveals VALORANT System Requirements on Unreal Engine 5
2025-07-15 15:50 (UTC)
Time: 2025-07-13 17:11 (UTC)
Map Pool Overview
Defenders: 46%
Attackers: 54%
Icebox — 12 matches
Defenders: 49%
Attackers: 51%
Icebox remains nearly balanced, with a slight advantage for the attack. Its vertical structure and tight angles allow for flexible defense as well as swift pushes, as demonstrated by the tournament's top teams.
Lotus — 9 matches
Defenders: 47%
Attackers: 53%
Lotus continues to favor attackers, especially during the playoff stage. Its complex topology and three plant sites encourage creative strategies with a strong focus on rotations and fake plays.
Ascent — 9 matches
Defenders: 51%
Attackers: 49%
Ascent maintains its reputation as the most balanced map. Teams used it as a stable choice in decisive series. The gameplay here boiled down to reading the opponent's tempo and controlling the middle.
Haven — 8 matches
Defenders: 54%
Attackers: 46%
Haven is the only map with a noticeable defensive advantage. The three-site structure typically demands quick and precise actions from the attack. Meanwhile, teams on defense showed a high level of coordination and readiness for rapid rotations, predicting opponent actions and successful retake situations.
Pearl — 2 matches
Defenders: 53%
Attackers: 47%
Pearl was played only twice — the map is no longer part of the active pool but remained available in this tournament. In both instances, the defense appeared slightly stronger, though the map choice was more of a surprise element.
Split — 2 matches
Defenders: 39%
Attackers: 61%
The least popular map, but with the most significant tilt towards the attack. Historically a defense-oriented map, Split currently shows the opposite — teams that chose it executed aggressive strategies.
In summary, the VALORANT Esports World Cup 2025 showcased a clear strategic shift towards attackers — most maps favored the T side, except for Haven and Ascent. The tournament took place from July 8 to 13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where 16 of the world's best teams competed for a prize pool of $1,250,000.
2025-07-15 15:50 (UTC)
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