Valorant Split: callouts, map & tactics

How to use the interactive Split map

Above you see the official Split minimap from the Valorant API with all 24 callouts exactly where the game itself places them. Tap a dot or a name in the list: the map highlights the callout and shows you its area and neighboring callouts. Use the filters to show only A, B, mid or the spawns. Because Split is so vertical, “All names” is especially helpful – you instantly see how close Rafters, Tower and Ramps are to each other at A.

The callout quiz tests you on ten random callouts. On Split that’s particularly worth it, because many names exist at both A and B – Lobby, Rafters, Tower, Back, Site. Call “Tower” without A or B and you may send your team to the wrong side. For all 13 maps, check out the full callout trainer.

Split at a glance

Split is one of the original maps: it was already playable in the 2020 closed beta, under the internal codename “Bonsai”. The setting is Shinjuku in Tokyo, where, according to Valorant’s lore, the Kingdom Corporation is expanding aggressively – against the resistance of residents who don’t want to give up their homes and cultural heritage. Riot’s official description sums it up: if you want to go far, you have to go up. Two sites split by an elevated center, and at each site a looming tower that is vital for control.

Split’s mechanics: ropes, towers and height

According to the Valorant Wiki, Split was the first map with ascenders – the ropes you glide up and down on. They make it more vertical than any other map in the pool.

The ropes (ascenders)

You’ll find ropes in three places: between A Sewer and A Lobby on the attacker side of A, from B Hell (the area below the tower) up to B Tower, and in mid inside the Vents. On a rope you move fast but predictably. Important: if you get hit on a rope, you are slowed by the hit just like on the ground (tagging, since patch 1.09). A contested rope is therefore a trap – use it when the path is safe, not in the middle of a firefight.

The towers at A and B

Each site has an elevated tower – A Tower and B Tower – with the Rafters right next to it, which many players call “Heaven”. From up there you control large parts of the site. For attackers, that means a site take on Split is hard to win without a smoke or flash on Tower and Rafters. For defenders, the opposite applies: whoever plays up top should reposition after the first kill, because every attacker knows where to look.

Tight chokes instead of open space

Unlike Ascent, Split has no wide, open mid. The paths are narrow, twisty and spread across several levels. That favors utility and close-range fights over long aim duels. Viper walls and Omen smokes cut off the narrow passages perfectly – one reason pro teams almost always run two controllers on Split.

Split rule of thumb: whoever has the height has the site. Whoever has mid has the rotation. Only use ropes when nobody is aiming at you.

All 24 Split callouts explained

The table shows every callout on the official map with its area and the three spatially closest callouts. Note that many names exist at both A and B – always include the side.

A side: Lobby, Main, Ramps and the tower

Attackers start their A push from A Lobby; right below it is A Sewer, which is connected to Lobby by rope. A Main leads onto A Site. From mid you reach A via A Ramps, which border Mid Vent directly. On site, A Rafters and A Tower dominate and sit close together. At the back of the site are A Back and – toward defender spawn – A Screens.

Mid: Top, Bottom, Mail and Vent

Split’s mid is small but decisive. From the attacker side you move through Mid Bottom up to Mid Top. Right next to it is Mid Mail, which borders B Tower, and Mid Vent leads toward A Ramps. Whoever holds mid can attack or defend both A (via Vent and Ramps) and B (via Mail and Tower) from the flank.

B side: Lobby, Garage and Tower

On the attacker side are B Lobby and B Link, which leads to mid. B Garage sits between B Lobby and B Site. Above the site are B Rafters and B Tower. On the defender side you’ll find B Stairs (toward defender spawn), B Alley to the left of the site and B Back at the bottom edge of the map.

Is Split in the map pool? Rotation history

Yes. Split has been in rotation since patch 11.08 (October 14, 2025) and is also part of the pool used for Competitive since patch 13.04 (August 18, 2026): Ascent, Abyss, Haven, Lotus, Split, Summit and Sunset. That means Split hasn’t missed an act change since October 2025.

Split’s history is eventful: with patch 5.0 in June 2022 the map was rotated out for the first time. With patch 6.0 in January 2023 it returned with a bigger rework – A Main was widened, A Tower restructured and B Tower simplified. Even after that, Split was out of the pool at times. You can see all current maps on our Valorant maps & map pool overview.

Earlier patches shaped Split too: patch 2.01 widened the B Main doorway and expanded the plant zone, and patch 1.0 restructured the mid chokepoint. Newer patches such as 13.00 and 13.01 mostly brought bug fixes, for example around the wooden covers and in B Garage.

Split pro meta: who gets picked

Split is a true controller map. The presence values show in what percentage of maps an agent was picked by at least one team – the source is our pick rate overview (vlr.gg, VCT 2026 Americas Stage 2, 150 maps played).

ViperController

100 %

OmenController

94 %

NeonDuelist

75 %

FadeInitiator

59 %

PhoenixDuelist

50 %

SkyeInitiator

41 %

RazeDuelist

25 %

CypherSentinel

16 %

JettDuelist

16 %

Presence = share of pro maps played on Split in which at least one team picked the agent · data: vlr.gg, VCT 2026 Americas Stage 2 (150 maps in total)

Viper sits at 100%, Omen at 94%. Double controller is the standard on Split: Viper’s Toxic Screen cuts an entire site in half, while Omen’s Dark Cover shuts the narrow passages. Behind them come Neon (75%) as a fast entry, Fade (59%) for information and Phoenix (50%). Notably, classic sentinels are rare – Cypher is at just 16%, Chamber at 9%. Many pro teams prefer more attacking utility on Split instead.

NeonDuelistPhoenixDuelistFadeInitiatorOmenControllerViperController

Split: Most-played pro comp (7 of 29) · source: vlr.gg, VCT 2026 Stage 2 (4 regions) + Champions 2026

The most-played pro comp on Split is Neon, Phoenix, Fade, Omen, Viper – it appeared in 7 of 29 recorded comps (source: vlr.gg, VCT 2026 Stage 2 across four regions plus Champions 2026). Double smoke cuts the tight chokes, while Fade and Phoenix set up Neon’s fast entry with information and flashes. Try your own variations in the team comp builder.

Attacking on Split: tips for the attacker side

On Split, attacks are set up in mid. Control Mid Top and Mail and you can hit both sites from two directions.

1. Mid first: take Mid Bottom and Mid Top together. With Mail behind the B defenders and Vent toward A Ramps, you gain two extra attack routes.
2. Neutralize the height: before every site take, put a smoke or flash on Tower and Rafters. On A that means A Rafters and A Tower; on B, B Tower and B Rafters.
3. Viper wall as your backbone: a Toxic Screen across the site separates the defenders. You fight them one at a time instead of in a crossfire.
4. Hit A through Main and Ramps: an A hit with pressure from A Main and simultaneously up the Ramps from mid is one of the strongest attacks on Split.
5. Post-plant from high ground: after the plant, Tower and Rafters are strong positions for you too. Whoever is up top sees retakes coming early.

Often underrated in ranked: patience in mid. Many teams run straight through A Main or B Garage and straight into the defenders’ prepared utility. Take mid first and you force the defense to rotate – then you find the open site. Plan these executes beforehand on the strategy board.

Remember the ropes, too: a quick switch via A Sewer to A Lobby can turn a fake on B into a real A attack. But getting hit on a rope slows you down, so check first whether the exit at the top is clear.

Defending on Split: tips for the defender side

As a defender on Split you have a natural advantage: height. The trick is not to use it too predictably.

1. Control Mail and Vent: mid is the key to your rotations. One player with info utility near Mail or Vent sees attacks before they reach a site.
2. Swap towers, don’t camp: A Tower and B Tower are strong but well known. Take a kill from up top, then move to another spot – such as A Screens or B Alley.
3. Hold tight chokes with utility: mollies, Snake Bites and slows are twice as effective in narrow corridors like A Main or B Garage. Delay instead of taking the duel right away.
4. Retake through mid: if a site falls, come through Mail (for B) or through Vent and Ramps (for A) into the attackers’ backs.
5. Keep your ears on the ropes: every attacker coming down or up a rope is a slow, moving target for a moment. That’s exactly the moment you punish.

Watch the duplicate callouts: Split has Lobby, Rafters, Tower, Back and Site at both A and B. Always say the side – “B Tower”, not just “Tower”. A wrong callout sends your rotation the wrong way.

Split setups: Viper walls, Omen smokes & Cypher

Here are the key Split setups to copy – no video needed: every position is marked on the official minimap, numbered and explained step by step. The agents are the ones actually played on Split in VCT 2026: Viper (100% presence) and Omen (94%) as the double controller for A and B, plus Cypher (16%) as the sentinel option.

Every Split setup on this page is backed by at least two matching sources. Pick a setup on the map – it zooms straight to the right spot. Important: the markers show the area, not the exact pixel. Try each setup once in a custom game before you use it in ranked.

Cypher A setup: trip & camera at the A Main entrance

DefenseSite ACypher

1. 1Trip: Stretch the wire across the narrow entrance where A Main leads onto the site. Anchor one end on the corner with the flower pot so it doesn't stand out right away.
2. 2Camera: Put the Spycam high on the wall right above the A Main entrance and face it toward A Main. You see how many attackers are coming before they reach the site.
3. +Tip: Use Cyber Cage in reaction to the trip – a teammate has to hold A Ramps and A Rafters (Heaven).

Covers: The attackers' main entrance onto A (A Main) – info before they step onto the site.

Weak spot: A push through A Ramps or Mid Vent bypasses this setup. Cypher is rare on Split (16% presence) – often a controller anchors A instead.

Sources: TheGlobalGaming – Best Cypher setups Split · Boosting Ground – Cypher guide (setups per map) · Dignitas – Cypher setup guide Split

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Cypher B setup: trips B Main & Mail, one-way in B Main

DefenseSite BCypher

1. 1Trip 1: Stretch the wire across the exit where B Main (Garage) leads onto the site – anchor it at the trash can, with the end just past the doorway.
2. 2Trip 2: Place the second wire on the passage from Mid Mail into B Heaven (B Tower/Rafters). It reports every push from mid onto the high ground.
3. 3Camera: Stand on the crate under B Rafters, jump and put the Spycam high on the wall. It sees the B Main exit and the Heaven area.
4. 4Cage: Drop the Cyber Cage in the B Main exit and pop it when the trip fires – as a one-way you see the attackers' legs.

Covers: Both attack routes onto B: B Main (Garage) and the route from Mid Mail into Heaven.

Weak spot: The trash-can trip in B Main is well known and often shot out. The one-way only works at the exact height – test it in a custom game.

Sources: Dignitas – Cypher setup guide Split · TheGlobalGaming – Best Cypher setups Split · esportsdriven – Cypher cage lineups Split · Boosting Ground – Cypher guide (setups per map) · Switchblade Gaming – Cypher guide 2026

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Viper A execute: wall vs Heaven & Ramps, cloud on Screens

AttackSite AViper

1. 1Wall: Viper stands where A Lobby meets A Main and throws the Toxic Screen to the left toward the site. The wall runs along A Main across the site to Screens and blocks the view from A Ramps and A Rafters (Heaven).
2. 2Cloud: Put the Poison Cloud on the A Screens exit. Defenders coming from spawn can no longer see the plant.
3. +Tip: Only raise the wall when the team pushes through A Main – otherwise the defense has too much time to adjust.

Covers: The defenders' three vision points on A: Heaven (A Rafters), A Ramps and A Screens.

Weak spot: The wall drops after a while – then Heaven is open again. You still have to clear A Back and the crates on site yourself.

Sources: Attack of the Fanboy – Viper Split setups · Dot Esports – Viper lineups Split · Sportskeeda – Best Viper walls Split · TheGlobalGaming – Best Viper lineups Split

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Viper B execute: wall in front of B Heaven (Rafters)

AttackSite BViper

1. 1Wall: Viper stands in B Link and throws the Toxic Screen west across the site. The wall runs right in front of B Rafters and B Tower (Heaven), so nobody up there can see the plant.
2. +Tip: Stay close to the wall as you push in – otherwise a defender in Heaven can see your head above it.

Covers: The strongest defender angle on B: B Heaven (Rafters and Tower).

Weak spot: B Alley and B Back stay open – that needs a second controller (Omen) or a flash.

Sources: Attack of the Fanboy – Viper Split setups · Dot Esports – Viper lineups Split · Sportskeeda – Best Viper walls Split

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Omen A execute: smokes on Heaven & Screens

AttackSite AOmen

1. 1Smoke 1: Put Dark Cover on A Rafters (Heaven) – from there defenders see the whole site up into A Main.
2. 2Smoke 2: Place the second smoke on the A Screens exit. It stops rotations from Defender Spawn.
3. +Tip: Go in through A Main together, clear A Back and the corners behind the crates, and plant.

Covers: The high angle (Heaven) and the defenders' rotation route through Screens.

Weak spot: A Ramps and A Tower stay open – cover them with pressure from Mid Vent or a Viper wall.

Sources: Turbosmurfs – Valorant smokes guide 2026 · Sportskeeda – Best smokes Split · Dignitas – How to attack and defend on Split · esportsdriven – Omen smokes Split

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Omen B execute: smokes on B Heaven & B Alley

AttackSite BOmen

1. 1Smoke 1: Put Dark Cover on B Heaven where B Rafters and B Tower meet – otherwise that spot sees B Main and the plant.
2. 2Smoke 2: Place the second smoke on the B Alley exit. That is the rotation route from Defender Spawn (CT).
3. +Tip: Then go in through B Main (Garage), clear B Back and the pillar, and plant.

Covers: The defenders' two routes onto B: the high ground (Heaven) and the rotation through B Alley.

Weak spot: B Back and the corners around the pillar stay open – you have to clear those angles yourself.

Sources: esportsdriven – Omen smokes Split · Dot Esports – Best smoke spots for every map · Turbosmurfs – Valorant smokes guide 2026 · Dignitas – How to attack and defend on Split

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The best agents for Split in ranked

Utility and smokes pay off especially well on Split. This selection is based on the pro meta and the map’s layout:

The agent test shows you which agent fits your style. You’ll find every agent compared in the agent tier list.

The 5 most common mistakes on Split

Split punishes certain mistakes harder than any other map. You’ll see these five in ranked all the time:

• Mid without a plan: walking into Mid Top alone is dangerous. Take mid in pairs or with utility, or you’ll lose a player early.
• Forgetting Tower and Rafters: walk onto a site without looking up and you’ll very often die from above on Split.
• Ropes in a fight: on a rope you’re slow and predictable – and a hit slows you down even more.
• Only one controller: with just one smoke agent the tight chokes are hard to split. If possible, run Viper plus a second controller.
• Callouts without a side: “one Tower” is ambiguous on Split. Always put “A” or “B” in front.

Callout cheat sheet: what good calls sound like on Split

On Split, precise callouts matter even more than on other maps, because many names exist at both A and B and enemies can stand on several levels. A good callout names the number, side, spot and height. These examples use only names from the official map:

• “One A Rafters, high” – an enemy is on the elevated spot on A site.
• “Two Mid Top, one going Mail” – mid is held, one is rotating toward B Tower.
• “Rope A Sewer” – someone is using the rope between Sewer and A Lobby right now.
• “B Tower empty, Garage three” – the tower is clear, three attackers are coming through B Garage.
• “Vent checked, clear” – nobody is in Mid Vent, A Ramps is safe.
• “Spike A Site, behind the box” – exact spike position for the retake.

The most important rule on Split: always call the side. “Tower” alone can mean A Tower or B Tower – and in the worst case it sends three players the wrong way. Height is just as helpful: “high” or “low” tells your team instantly where to aim.

Split compared to every Valorant map

Split is one of the most vertical maps in the game. While Ascent, for example, works through an open mid and doors and Lotus through three sites and rotating doors, Split is decided above all by control of height and tight passages. The table shows all 13 Valorant maps and their key differences:

Learn Split in 15 minutes: your plan

Here’s how to get comfortable on Split fast – using the tools on Valorant-Spind:

1. 5 minutes of map study: turn on “All names” above and memorize the duplicate names at A and B in particular.
2. 3 minutes of quiz: play the Split callout quiz until you hit at least 8 out of 10.
3. 5 minutes in a custom game: ride every rope once – A Sewer, B Tower, Vents – and check the sightlines from A Tower and B Tower.
4. 2 minutes of tactics: for Split, draw an A hit through Main and Ramps on the strategy board.

Next up are the other maps in this cluster: Ascent with its doors and open mid, and Lotus with three sites and rotating doors. For the basics, we recommend the beginner guide.

Split FAQ