VALORANT's new map Abyss is finally here, and it is like nothing players have seen before. Riot Games capped off VCT 2024: Masters Shanghai's conclusion with Abyss' reveal and an exhilarating video trailer so the VALORANT community can get familiar with the map pool's latest addition. Abyss will have agents defying death, navigating precarious platforms and constantly checking corners — let's explore everything that makes the map special, how it will affect VALORANT gameplay and what agents will play it best.
Abyss is set in a remote area near Iceland. It features blocky brown architecture with plentiful greenery. The map provides ample long-range angles and has two sites connected by two narrow mid-map corridors. Most importantly, Abyss is the first VALORANT map with no boundaries. Players can (and probably will) fall off the map at a moment's notice — so don't be surprised if you end up having flashbacks to Counter-Strike's infamous Vertigo or similarly tricky Overwatch maps like Ilios and Oasis.
A particularly terrifying area requires players to jump across a chasm and grab a rope to cross to the other side. Another platform on A-site forces players to carefully strafe on a narrow bridge with fear of falling into the death trap below. A-site also features a Heaven area, while B-Site has an elevated catwalk.
If the enemy team has agents with movement potential or even players with basic parkour skills, you can expect Abyss to become flank central. Its long-range angles and elevated platforms will serve sniper users well — Operators, Outlaws and Marshals will be powerful. The vandal will probably be Abyss' gun of choice instead of the Phantom. In addition, lurks will be crucial to reclear and preserve space constantly. On a more lighthearted note, you should also be prepared for your lower-elo teammates to comically miss their rope jumps and fall to their deaths — keep that clipping software ready!
