The role of smokes is often overlooked with its technicalities, timing, and responsibility for the team dynamic. However, when done right, it can turn matches in your favor. This guide will teach you how to use smokes offensively and defensively.
One of the best ways to seize map control in Valorant is a crucial smokes player. Suitable for any team composition, smokes always have a huge presence in the match whether it be on Attack or Defense. The make-or-break potential of smokes can make these utilities a menace to be dealt with when deployed strategically, bending the game to the player’s will. When correctly used and played around, smokes can do many things such as clear a direct route to a site for an easy Spike plant or ward off a push.
This guide will cover the fundamental mechanics of smokes and how to apply them in offensive and defensive situations. With the general knowledge of how to use smokes to your advantage, you will have greater game sense and take space with more confidence. Perhaps you may pick up the Controller role and make the match your own!
Smokes are a vision blocking ability. As a dome, it veils a certain amount of space — usually enough to cover a whole entry — to obscure all party’s vision, even the caster. The Agents that have smokes among their utilities are Brimstone, Omen, Astra, Viper, and Jett.
The time duration and density of smokes vary between these Agents. Brimstone’s smokes are among the longest-lasting smokes with a thick interior. Omen and Astra’s smokes are hollow and last shorter than Brimstone’s. Viper’s smokes are thick and can be toggled on and off depending on her fuel meter. Jett’s smokes are thick but extremely brief.
Although different in mechanics, these smokes have one thing in common: taking space.
The main takeaway about smokes is they are used to take space away from the opponent. Obscuring your opponent’s vision and blocking off the area or entry constricts them as they cannot accurately shoot you nor push the smoke without risking being killed first. Thus, it is important that as you take this space, you do not give your opponent room to lurk.
If the smoke peeks out of the entry, then this gives your opponent more room to move. Even worse, it may give them somewhere to hide and strike on your team who had thought everything was cleared.
Mistakes like these may cost a round during the match. The purpose of positioning these smokes correctly is to give you an advantage in that you see your opponent first before they see you — when they go through the smoke, usually their gun will poke out first, giving you the advantage of shooting them first.
Now with the general knowledge of the main goal of smokes, it is time to apply it to offensive and defensive situations.
On the Attackers side, your goal is to take the site and plant the Spike. With your opponent holding the angles you need to pass by, smokes are a perfect way to obscure their vision and force them to lose the advantage. This is especially important for Operators as they have a huge presence when it comes to holding angles.
Just as mentioned before, your smokes must be deep enough where they block the vision from the entries of the Defender’s side and deny them any room to play in. The site is more or less free for the taking when none of your opponents can defend as they are pushed away by your vision denial.
Beware! Keep in mind that smokes are not solid and bullets can be shot through them. This can either be unfortunate for you if a stray bullet gets a headshot on you, or you can work this to your advantage. To ward off your opponent and any chance they will push the smoke, spray through your smokes as this will threaten killing them. Most likely, they will back off and play retake.
If need be, you may also play around smokes. This may come up in one-versus-one situations where you need to outplay your opponent. Examples of using smokes in duels are weaving in and out of it, hiding behind it, and using it almost like a second structure. This takes practice and experience, but smokes are flexible and can apply to many situations.
Smokes on the offense are crucial and are equally as impactful on the defense.
On the Defenders side, your goal is to ward off your opponents and prevent them from planting the Spike. Because you have the advantage of seeing your opponent first before they can see you, smoking entries will defend the space they want to take. This will make sites harder to take and less vulnerable because your opponent does not know what is on the other side of the smoke — including your positioning — so they are less likely to push it, as pushing risks their death. They would have to take more extreme measures.
A popular way to use smokes defensively is by doing one-ways. One-ways are a strategy where the smoke is placed in a way that lets you see your opponent — usually, their lower half — and your opponent cannot see you as their upper half only sees the smoke. Just like the name implies, you have the one-way to see your opponent.
Omen one-way in Ascent A Lobby
Viper one-way in Bind A Showers
If your team is low on credits, you can also buy a shotgun — either a Judge, Bucky, or Shorty — and hide in the smoke. This may only work once or twice because it is easy for your opponents to pick up on and be wary, but it does the trick to defend and win the point.
However scary and difficult smokes can be, especially in intense games where strategy is significant and the responsibility is large, having and being in control of smokes gives you the advantage of controlling the match to your favor. There are common themes with smokes on both sides of the match: space and an upper hand. With these two key ideas in mind, you can adapt and apply, ultimately improving your game sense as you climb up the ranks!
