Everything We Know About Clove: New Valorant Agent

The veil of mystery surrounding VALORANT’s next agent, codenamed “Smonk” and known as Clove, is finally lifting as new leaks and official teasers unveil major details about the Scottish Controller. With VCT Masters Madrid coming to a dramatic conclusion on Sunday, March 24th, 2024, players are eagerly anticipating Clove’s full reveal during the Champions Finals.

Clove has been shrouded in smoke and speculation for months, with early codename leaks like “Smokedancer” hinting at their Controller toolkit. Recent teasers and Easter eggs have given VALORANT fans tantalizing glimpses into Clove’s vibrant design and potentially game-changing abilities. Let’s break down everything we know so far about Agent 25.

Clove’s Backstory and Design

According to leaks, Clove hails from Scotland and has a distinctly colorful aesthetic compared to VALORANT’s darker agents. Descriptions point to Clove rocking a pink jacket and sporting a “playful smile.” Their in-game model appears to have a non-binary identity, a first for a playable VALORANT character.

Butterflies seem to be a major motif, showing up on player cards, concept art, and potentially tied to Clove’s abilities. An image from the Madge single “2 Worlds” gives our first full look at the stylized agent model. Splashy environments like a redesigned Breeze surf shop with butterfly posters and new music tracks further signal Clove’s impending arrival.

Clove’s Abilities Uncovered

While Clove’s ultimate ability remains a mystery, recent datamines have revealed the names and potential effects of their full kit:

• (C) Pick Me Up – Speculated to be a self-revive or recovery ability
• (Q) Meddle – Unknown, possibly a disruptive skill shot
• (E) Ruse – Likely a smoke or decoy deployment ability  

An officially released teaser video on March 24th showed Clove’s abilities in action:

• Smoke Clouds – Clove can deploy pink smoke clouds for vision-blocking
• After Death Smoke – Even after being killed, Clove can produce additional smoke cover
• Pushing Orb – An energy orb that appears to concuss and displace enemies
• Self-Revive – Clove’s likely ultimate allowing them to resurrect after being killed

With the ability to get back into the fight after dying and unique smokes, Clove is shaping up to be a highly disruptive and resilient Controller pick.

Release Date and Reveal

Players won’t have to wait much longer for Clove’s full abilities and gameplay to be revealed. Riot has confirmed the new agent will make their debut during the VCT Masters Madrid Finals on Sunday, March 24th, capping off the latest stage of the professional VALORANT competition. 

As for Clove’s official release, leakers expect the agent to join the roster shortly after Madrid with Episode 8 Act 2’s patch, likely dropping on Tuesday, March 26th, or Wednesday, March 27th. Controller mains should start preparing those smoker starts, because a fearless, purple-haired butterfly master is joining the fray very soon.

Shaking Up the Meta

From vibrant visuals to an ultimate self-revive, Clove is brimming with potential to shake up VALORANT’s established meta. While we don’t know their full capabilities yet, the combination of smoke rezips and combat rezips could enable aggressive Controller plays and punishing flanks.

Omen mains used to having the monopoly on redeployment mind games will have to contend with a new trickster. Coupled with the promised Agent 26 Catalyst released later in 2024, Riot appears set on evolving the Controller class with strong utility-based agents.

Regardless of how impactful Clove ends up being, their splashy arrival will surely stir things up. The VALORANT devs have delivered a string of hugely popular agents in recent Episodes, and all signs point to Clove continuing that trend as a game-changer made to counter stale metas and shake up stagnant ranked comps.

With colorful new maps like Meridian on the horizon and impactful Agents joining the fray, 2024 is shaping up to be an insanely exciting year for VALORANT’s evolving world of tactical shooter gameplay. Make sure to tune in to the Madrid Finals to experience Clove’s high-flying debut and start practicing those smoke lineups afterward! The butterfly effect is coming to the Agents of VALORANT.