VALORANT Corrode map: Best agents and tips to win

Riot has added the newest VALORANT map Corrode to ranked mode from day one after the release of Patch 11.00, and figuring out the best strategies right off the bat isn’t easy. 

But don’t worry — Esports Insider has some early tips for all players, along with the best agents to pick for this map. Keep reading to get started.

While there are multiple ways to play a map, here are a few important tips that will help players stay ahead of their opponents on Corrode.

Taking mid control on Corrode is extremely important as it can disrupt whatever setups or executes the opponents are planning. If a team is attacking, controlling mid makes it easier to pivot between sites. 

On defense, it creates multiple opportunities to lurk, apply pressure, or rotate faster across the map without getting caught off guard.

Not picking an Odin on Corrode might just be a team’s biggest mistake. The map has countless wallbangable spots and that’s where this gun becomes ridiculously strong. 

In fact, according to the streamer and former professional coach Connor ‘Sliggy’ Blomfield, Riot might even have to nerf Odin soon. But until that happens, spam it and farm easy kills. 

Like every other map in VALORANT, lineups are key to getting crucial information on Corrode such as Sova’s Recon Bolt, Killjoy’s Nanoswarm, and more. These can help a team fake their gameplan, clear out common utility spots, and secure rounds in post-plant situations. 

Once a team is pushed out of a site, retaking can get tricky on Corrode, and these lineups can prove to be a lifesaver.

Teams have run double Sentinel compositions on maps like Lotus and Split, but Corrode is where these truly shine. Double Sentinels allow a team to hold both open spaces and sites at once, giving it the freedom to stack players elsewhere. 

It also forces opponents to play more cautiously, wasting extra utility to avoid being flanked or caught off guard.

Corrode features plenty of spaces for sneaky plays and if a team dumps all its utility in one spot, it’ll become incredibly difficult to gain map control without taking risky aim duels. 

That’s why it’s important to use agents that compliment each other, while still providing value in both attack and defense.

Esports Insider had early access to Corrode, giving us time to practice various compositions and strategies on the map. Here are our recommended agents for Corrode.

Corrode is a huge map, making both Neon and Yoru excellent picks for quickly rotating between sites and supporting teammates. Additionally, both agents excel at creating pressure with an Operator since they can escape out of tricky situations. 

Neon can also be paired with Breach for taking quick control of a site or mid and to delay the opponent’s execution. While Yoru and Neon are the stronger picks overall, Jett can still be a solid choice, especially if a team is running a composition similar to Ascent with KAY/O in the mix.

The new map is Omen’s playground, thanks to the countless spots for him to teleport and catch enemies by surprise. Whether attacking or defending, Omen is extremely valuable in winning a match. 

Astra, on the other hand, may be favoured by some professional teams as her smokes can be deployed from any range, her Gravity Well is perfect for post-plant situations and her ultimate Cosmic Divide can block multiple angles to help her team take space. 

Lastly, Viper can lock down a site while also denying mid control with the help of Toxic Screen to opponents and her ultimate Viper’s Pit covers a huge portion of a site, making it difficult for enemies to retake.

While the map’s pathing resembles Ascent, Corrode’s layered structure allows defenders to fall back without giving up too much space. That’s where Chamber shines as he can set up his Rendezvous in unexpected spots to secure kills, while also using his trap to hold a site or mid solo. 

Deadlock and Cypher can also take advantage of Trapwire, Spycam and Sonic Sensor on both attack and defense when it comes to securing information or simply denying a push. Lastly, Vyse brings unique value to the team as her flash Arc Rose can be deadly at choke points, and her indestructible wall Shear can control space effectively.

As mentioned earlier, Corrode is full of paper-thin walls, so expect heavy Odin spam. The map also offers multiple holes in the walls for Sova and Fade utility to go through. So, players can reveal enemies and spray them down for easy kills. 

On top of that, it can open possibilities of using utility combos, such as Deadlock’s GravNet paired with Sova’s Recon Dart or Fade’s Haunt and Seize combo. In pro play, Fade is likely to be used more, especially because of her Prowler, but Sova is a more beginner-friendly choice for casual gamers.