New Valorant Map: Sunset’s Bomb Sites, Choke Points, and Strategies

The popular tactical shooter from Riot Games, Valorant, is known to release new maps and agents after regular intervals to change up the meta and make the game feel fresh. Sunset is the latest addition to the map pool in Valorant, promising thrilling battles and strategic encounters for their players to indulge in. In this article, we delve into Sunset and explore its bomb sites, choke points and offer strategic insights to help players conquer this new map in their rank matches.

Also Read: How to Easily Check Your MMR in Valorant?

Sunset Map Layout and Bomb Sites

Sunset’s map layout draws a lot of similarities to maps like Breeze and Split, as they all have two bomb sites, each separated by a middle area. In Sunset, the entry point for each site is pretty narrow, making attackers susceptible to being easily delayed by utilities and sprayed down by bullets. With Sunset being a compact map with many corners to clear, this map is a haven for campers and requires attackers to clear each and every corner if they wish to advance to the bomb site in one piece. 

The A site of Sunset is built around close-quarters combat due to its narrow walkways, choke points and corridors. On the other hand, the B sites take some inspiration from Ascent by having a distinctive door. Once you take the door down, it gives you a clear line of sight from the B site to Mid, opening up a load of strategic possibilities and tactics built around this feature. The map also features interconnected networks of alleyways similar to that of Pearl, likely inspired by the maps in CS:GO in the first place.  

Strategies for Sunset

While the best strategies for Sunset would be on display during Valorant professional matches, we can discuss some common strategies that will work on this map. First of all, as mentioned earlier, the map is designed to feature a lot of close encounters with its narrow entry points and corridors, making it ideal for you to pick up utility-heavy comps. In maps like these, utilities are essential whether you are looking to break into or defend a particular site. 

Moreover, remember to clear every corner, as you’ll never know if an enemy might be hiding in one of them with a Judge or a Bucky. Make sure to clear angles with your crosshair at head level so that you can swiftly pop off your enemy’s head before they can do any damage to you.

Lastly, due to the layout of the map and narrow entry points for sites, it is imperative that you establish Mid control, especially as an attacker, and always launch a split attack if you ever hope to breach a site. It goes without saying that Sunset is somewhat of a defence-sided map (At least from the looks of it), and to be able to excel as an attacker, you need to hit a site from 2 angles. Rushing into one site against a utility-heavy comp will always lead to your doom. Any side that can hold Mid will likely come out on top in most rounds if not all.

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Best Agents for Sunset

As mentioned earlier, any team composition with ample utility will have a favourable advantage in attacking and especially defending. For a duelist, your best bet is to go with Raze, as her utility is designed around clearing corners. Moreover, the map has an ample amount of vertical space, which can be abused by agents like Raze or Jett. Regarding initiators, agents like Sova, Fade, and Skye are preferred mainly due to their ability to clear out corners and scout enemy positions. 

Sentinels like Killjoy, Cypher, Sage and Deadlock thrive in maps with narrow hallways and choke points and are the perfect options to pick up in Sunset. Lastly, when it comes to smokers, you can go with anyone you are comfortable with. Brimstone, Astra and Omen are good choices. On the other hand, Viper and Harbor are viable options on the map if you can build your team comp and tactics around them. 

The meta for Sunset has been revolving around using two smoke agents, similar to that of Bind. That said, for the most efficient team comps and devising strategies for Sunset, you’ll have to wait to see how professional players deal with the new map in tournaments.

Related: All Valorant Agents Ages, Real Names and Countries

Conclusion

In Valorant, every map brings something new to the table, and Sunset is no exception. With the introduction of Sunset, players will likely take some time to familiarise themselves with the map’s layout and how to play on it. As we’ve explored Sunset’s bomb sites, choke points, and strategies, it’s evident that this map favours close encounter brawls and establishing Mid control if you want to win the game. Therefore, your best bet is to pick agents with utility designed to clear corners and allow you to establish control over the middle area or a particular site.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Was Sunset Released in Valorant?

In Valorant, the Sunset map was released on August 29, 2023, with the Episode 7 Act 2 update. With the release of Sunset and the return of Breeze, Fracture and Pearl were removed from the active map pool from the Competitive and Unrated game modes in Valorant to make way for these maps.

In Sunset Defender Sided?

While it is difficult to determine exactly which side the map favours, inspecting it closely shows that Sunset is somewhat defender-sided. With its narrow entry points, corridors, and choke points, a team with ample utility will have an advantage when defending against attackers. That said, attackers can gain the upper hand if they take Mid control early on in the round. 

When Is Sunset Coming to Valorant’s Competitive Mode?

While Sunset was released on August 29, 2023, it was not playable in the Competitive or Unrated modes. When Sunset was released in Valorant, Riots Games introduced a Sunset-only queue for one week so that players could familiarise themselves with the layout. However, the map was released in the Competitive and Unrated modes one week after its initial release on 6 September 2023 in Patch 7.05.