With Corrode, Valorant introduces a map that is anything but linear. Its verticality, layered design, and aggressive focus on mid-control make it an actual nightmare for attackers and defenders alike. As an Omen or Astra player, good smoke lineups aren’t just convenient, they’re essential.
This tutorial plans out the best smokes for each side, as well as the reasoning behind each configuration. The objective isn’t so much to memorize setup lines but to figure out how the pace of the map will determine where you’d prefer to send your utility. We’ll use the agent Omen from VALORANT, as the rest of the agents follow the same smoking pattern.
Attack Smokes for Corrode
Mid Control – Your Path to Victory
Mid control is especially important on Corrode. It can easily determine the round. The defenders spawn essentially looking straight at mid, so it is their space unless challenged.
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First, a smoke on Top Mid, across from the defender’s wall, gives left or right splitting of the attackers without being in the open. There is a caveat, however—a defender that pops out early with a knife can slip through the smoke before you are ready. That is why a second smoke, further back towards mid-stairs, can fix this.
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If you’re on Astra, a fake smoke at mid is quite effective. The idea is to get the defenders to push through or circumnavigate the smoke, presenting the attackers with an advantage when the smoke dissipates or when you swing around. It’s more about breaking defender timing than about blocking vision.
A Site Attack – Left Lane Over Elbow
If you attack A, most will go through the Elbow, but that is generally incorrect. The safer and wiser route will generally be the Left Corridor, which comes directly to A‘s Default Plant.
For this push, the two core smokes are:
A Link – removing rotations from mid defenders.
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A (One-Way) on the Default Box, where you can see defender legs as they try to hold site without knowing you are there until then.
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This setup locks down the site entrance quite a lot and aids your post-plant defense. But always watch out—ranked defenders can crouch-boost onto the box, although that would not be legal in pros.
B Site Attack – Overwhelming the Defense
B Site is daunting just because there are simply too many angles to shoot. Your number one priority smokes there are:
B Haven – the initial smoke that must always come down, as it sets the top angle view of B Main.
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B Link – cutting off rotations from mid into B.
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Alternatively, a Main Entrance Pressure Smoke can create huge doubt in defenders’ minds. Place it right at the entrance to the site (not too deep). This smoke pressures Heaven, Cubby, and Link simultaneously. Defenders can’t be sure whether attackers have crossed into sight or are still holding outside.
Defense Smokes for Corrode
B Site Defense – Lockdown Tactics
B is defended by controlling the Main entrance chokepoint. In the absence of attacker flashes, a smoke rolled out flush with the entrance forces them to fight a coin-flip battle—push in blind or back off.
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If you suspect heavies with heavy flash equipment, put the smoke further in Main’s corridor. This causes them to flash before they get out of the tunnel, and you have more time to prefire when they emerge.
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For more dynamic site holds, a smoke in the middle of the B site allows defenders to reposition in the middle of the fight. It’s especially good with Astra or Omen when combined with stuns or mollies.
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A Site Defense – Utility Drain Game
A is a strange spot where battles often take place even before attackers reach the spot. The most critical smoke here is at A Main, near the Orb area. This denies direct visual control and forces attackers to use utilities like drones, flashes, or even a second smoke to advance.
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If they break this initial smoke and advance, they shift with a deeper corridor smoke, restricting how far they can look before being driven into awkward battles.
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In A Link, defense means smoking the Elbow entrance, pushing foes into predictable 50/50 fights when they attempt to cross into view.
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Reminder: A Site has no standard smoke rules like on some other maps. It takes reactive smokes, depending on whether you’re early or prepared to retake.
Mid Defense – Hold or Counter-Smoke
Defenders begin with a huge mid advantage due to their spawn barrier being in the face of attackers. You generally don’t need to smoke mid right away—rather, maintain the angle for an early pick.
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If they try to smoke Top Mid to cut you off, counter-smoke their Bottom Mid so they are forced to push blind or burn extra utility. Don’t try gimmicky one-way smokes here. The attackers are too close to the wall and will just be able to run through or use barrels to take high peeks, making the one-way unnecessary.
Final Thoughts – Adapt, Don’t Memorize
Corrode’s playstyle is satisfying to the player. Just memorizing lineups won’t work if you don’t adjust according to enemy play. Whether you play with Astra’s stars or Omen’s Shrouded Steps, you must have smokes that are reactive and intentional.
On Attack: Focus on mid control and shut down rotations with key link smokes.
On Defense: Focus on slowing the attackers down at the choke points and making them burn utility before they even reach the bomb sites.
Dominating smokes on Corrode won’t only keep you alive; it’ll let you dictate the pace completely.
