Valorant Episode 8 Act 1 is on the horizon, and leaks hint at potential changes to Lotus, one of the maps joining the upcoming competitive map rotation. While the map has seen some tweaks in the past, leaked information suggests that, alongside Icebox, Lotus is in line for a major overhaul in the first act of Episode 8.
Lotus is an ancient city built by the Astral Guardians in the Western Ghats of Omega Earth’s India, also known as the City of Flowers. It was meant to be a multiverse nexus that connected Alpha Eather with Omega Earth, but a mysterious event rendered opening a portal a potentially catastrophic event. Here are all the leaked changes coming to Lotus!
All leaked Lotus changes coming to Valorant in Episode 8
According to credible Valorant leaker, “ValorLeaks”, Lotus is about to receive some major map changes in Episode 8 Act 1 to all three of its sites. Most notably, several areas have been expanded to provide additional cover for players holding sites, featuring new cubbies for A Main, A Link, and B Site.
These adjustments aim to reduce the attackers-sided nature of Lotus and improve the general gameplay balance.
You can find below a side-by-side comparison of all changes coming to Lotus.
Lotus A site changes
A Hut has undergone a complete rework and is now an enclosed structure with a U-shape cubby towards the back of the site.
Lotus A main and A link changes
Both the exterior and interior of A link will receive major changes. The slanted wall that connects A Link and A Main is being replaced with a deep corner and new boxes positioned at the outer edge for more cover.
The area within A Link is expanded, and the wall next to the destructible door is pushed back to create more space.
Lotus B site changes
The B-site of Lotus will be widened slightly, with the left wall where the boxes rest being pushed back to create more space.
Lotus C site changes
The C site in Lotus will undergo substantial changes. The site’s plant area has been moved slightly, eliminating the corner near the defender spawn and the section near C Hall as valid Spike planting locations.
The spike planting area is also extended towards the stairway, which has been expanded further towards C Bend. On top of that, a tall 2x2 box will be placed just behind the existing box in the water near the back of the site.
These sweeping changes have generally been well-received by the Valorant community, with many expressing relief that Lotus will likely be less attacker-sided than before.
However, some members of the community believe that these changes might not be sufficient to address the frustrations of playing on the defender's side of Lotus. For instance, RealTonyD2 commented under the post, stating, "Doesn't really fix the issues. Just adds more defence hiding spots."
Other players have voiced their disdain for the map, with egnesportsgg implying in a comment that Lotus should be removed from the competitive map pool altogether.
Despite the divided opinions, players are hopeful that the overhaul will breathe new life into Lotus and reshape the strategies and dynamics of gameplay. Stay tuned as we keep an eye out for further updates!
Interested in learning more about Valorant? We've got you covered. Check out our comprehensive Episode 8 Act 1 guide, which includes the release date, battle pass, what to expect and more. On top of that, stay informed about all the latest developments regarding the upcoming Controller agent, Smoke Dancer, and the new weapon, the Outlaw Sniper, here.