Summary
Update 8.05 ofValorantsaw the arrival of AgentClove, the acclaimed FPS title’s newest Controller whose power over immortality essence allows them to escape the kiss of death and make a comeback for their team. And even when downed, Clove can assist from beyond the grave, bestowing upon the battlefield disruptive smokes that can help their team score even without their active presence. This unique and rather selfish toolkit has earned Clove the title of being the “Reyna of Controllers,” but the Scottish Agent is more than meets the eye - especially for players who begin to get used to their kit.
ForValorantfans whowant to master this new Controller, they need to utilize certain tips and tricks that separate Clove apart from their more passive companions. Compared to the likes of Brimstone and Omen, Clove’s more aggressive nature requires a different approach to maximize their skillset. However, just how should Clove newcomers use this troublemaker?
Expect A More Frontline Controller
Involves
Identify Clove’s basic premise as a Controller compared to their other counterparts
Effect
Allows players to have a better understanding of their more aggressive kit
Despite possessing capabilities ofsmoking areas like Omen, Clove’s more accessible kit incentivizes a more aggressive approach in combat. Controller savants might take time getting used to being able to deploy smokes in a faster way, as Clove’s extra abilities to take temporary health with haste on Kill or Assist (Pick-Me-Up, Basic 1) and on-kill perma-rezzing (Not Dead Yet, Ultimate) necessitate getting in front of the action first.
Even for Controller users who prefer pre-entry smoking, Clove’s smoke-with-Decay (Meddle, Basic 2) and smoke even upon death (Ruse, Signature) encourage a more direct approach to combat. These abilities can take getting used to for more careful players, while these are spot on for Controller newcomers who want a middle ground between more frontline Initiators and Duelists and the more tactical Controllers and Sentinels.
On-Kill Or On-Assist Haste And Healing Encourage Fragging
Pick-Me-Up, Basic 1 (100 Creds, 1 Use, 5s Use Time, 10s Effect, Speed Boost with 100 HP Overheal)
Clove can gain Temporary Health and Haste from a nearby corpse that they damaged (Assisted) or Killed
Reyna’s on-kill healing Devour allows them to get healing as soon as they kill an opponent, encouraging a more aggressive nature due to its incredible survivability payoff. This easilymakes Devour an overpowered abilityat the hands of the right player, and Clove’sPick-Me-Up (Basic 1)fits the bill by being a similar ability. Compared to the Duelist, Clove’s Basic 1 triggers when they’re near a body she Killed or Assisted, giving them haste and temporary health. This transforms them into a Reyna-lite for Controllers, practically defining their capacity to become another “selfish” self-sustaining Agent.
The Scottish Agent’s Pick-Me-Up becomes exceptionally deadlier when used properly. Its once-per-round use with no line-of-sight requirement makes it a must-trigger whenever possible. Since the health gain here is temporary, Pick-Me-Up’s speed boost is the priority. This ability is best used whenever Clove enters a site or engages an enemy, as winning the duel allows them to retreat further back into base to recover. The Overheal can technically tank damage on their behalf, while the speed boost that taunts opponents should hopefully be enough time for the rest of Clove’s team to come rushing for the assist.
Take Advantage Of The Accessible Tactical Map When Using Ruse
Ruse, Signature (150 Creds, 2 Uses, 30s Cooldown, 15s Use Time, Sphere Smoke)
Ruse takes the form of a sphere, allowing Clove to set up one-way smokes like Omen
As a Controller, Clove’s most importantValorantability is their smoke -Ruse (Signature). Activating this Skillopens a tactical mapsimilar to when Brimstone plans his smokes,where Primary Fire sets the smoke locations while Alt Fire triggers them. Where Clove differs from Brimstone is how their smoke takes the form of spheres, allowing them to create one-ways similar to Omen that can show the feet of unsuspecting enemies inside or around the smoke.
The accessible nature of Clove’s tactical map encourages more aggressive smoking, especially with the 30-second cooldown. The earlier Clove deploys their smoke, the faster each point recharges - something especially useful when they die on the battlefield.
Take Advantage Of Post-Death Smokes To Secure The Site
Ruse, Signature (150 Creds, 2 Uses, 30s Cooldown, Carried over in Death)
Clove’s Ruse cooldown is carried over to their death, although she can only cover areas near their corpse
Clove’s control over immortality essence provides them with a remarkable ability to manipulate the battlefield even in death, something thatRuse (Signature)allows them to do even when they’re out for the rest of the round. Whenever Clove uses Ruse, the ability begins its 30-second cooldown. This is carried over even in death, as the ability still recharges its points until its 2-use maximum reserve is reached. While not something as game-changing asKAY/O’s NULL/Cmd (Ultimate)that can restabilize him on death with an ally’s help, Ruse can secure the win with the right usage.
In turn, Clove can still use their smokes, even after death, until the duration of the round. For as long as there’s a teammate remaining, Clove can smoke in the immediate vicinity of their corpse. In both post-plant and defense, this ensures the site is secure - especially when those left behind can take advantage of their Controller’s smoking prowess.
Expensive Decay Can Also Act Like A Flash
Meddle, Basic 2 (250 Points, 1.2s Detonation Time, 3.25s Use Time, 90 HP Decay)
Burst AOE with Decay allows Clove to become extra aggressive, especially when the Decay triggers only after a flash-like effect
At 250 Credits, Clove’sMeddle (Basic 2)makes it by far the most expensive Decay effect available to Agents inValorant. However, this comes with an extremely useful effect, as enemies caught in Meddle’s blast radius receive up to 90 Health Decay that can make them easy pickings in the right scenarios. Given its potential lethality, Clove can use Meddle in situations where the player’s team have a significant damage or health advantage, such as in Pistol Rounds or Bonus Rounds.
Meddle becomes exceptionally meddlesome when combined with other strategies. As a debuff, Meddle can be thrown in conjunction with a molly to maximize its damage reduction. Being a potential blind, Meddle’s explosive Decay AOE can force enemies out of hiding from traditional hiding locations. Thankfully, using it is similar toFade’s Seize (Basic 2), making its throwing mechanics manageable for newcomers who want to get a grasp on the throwable’s physics.
Get Time For The Team With That Extra Life
Not Dead Yet, Ultimate (7 Ult Points, ~3s Use Timer, 12s Duration, Cancellable w/in 2s)
Clove is encouraged to use their Ultimate when they’re forced in risky situations, especially when they need to Kill or Assist to fully resurrect
Clove’s control over immortality essence allows them to bring themselves back to life, courtesy ofNot Dead Yet (Ultimate). When Clove dies, they’re given a short window to use the Ult and get another 2-second window in a Reyna Dismiss-esque state to reposition, during which they become invincible. UnlikeRun It Back (Ultimate) of Duelist Phoenix, dying in Not Dead Yet adds to Clove’s Deaths stats, and she needs to get a Kill or an Assist within a 12-second window to fully resurrect or else they return to their death state.
Like Phoenix’s Ult, Clove’s Not Dead Yet encourages swift action to re-engage enemies when they least expect it. As Defenders, Clove can deny entry to their site even after enemies defeat them, as this gives them extra room to kill foes. During post-plant, using this Ult can kill time to ensure enemies can’t secure the defusal.
Not Dead Yet, Ultimate (7 Ult Points, 12s Duration)
Hiding before Ult gives Clove’s enemies a lot of time to stay clear of their line of sight, potentially making them waste the Ult
Similar to Neon,whose penchant for speed allows her to reposition quickly, Clove’s Ult giving them a Dismiss with a potential revive gives players wiggle room out of a lethal encounter, with an option to reposition prior to a renewed engagement. When enemies skip out on Clove’s body, players can pop their Ultimate to swoop in for a counter - making this useful in post-duels where Clove will likely be able to kill an opponent they have already damaged.
A deadlier use-case of Not Dead Yet is the realization that enemies will always be on the lookout for Clove triggering the Ult when they kill them. This is another layer of mental gymnastics that players can take advantage of, especially when the cancellable Ult allows Clove to fake a reposition to confuse enemies, only for their real living allies to take the kills on their behalf.
Ruse, Signature (150 Credits, 15s Duration, 30s Cooldown)
The short duration of Ruse coupled with a long Cooldown emphasizes decisive plays
Unlike Controller Harbor,whose kit greatly relies on creating visual cover, Clove’s kit only has two (2) main “smoking” methods: Ruse (Signature) and Meddle (Basic 2). Due to the fast activation times of both abilities, Clove is encouraged to become an entry smoker to secure the team’s entrance to the site much faster. On the attack, this means sealing off choke points (and secondary chokes, for when opponents start adjusting in the next rounds) to give the team enough room to secure the site. A Meddle in regular hiding spots can force enemies to reveal themselves.
This strategy should evolve over time: Clove users must be mindful of where enemies adjust from their smokes, so players can deny their line of sight. Asking teammates where they’re comfortable making an entrance allows Clove to strategically cover angles, giving the team enough wiggle-room to counter-check other positions while the insides of smokes are Meddle’d to flush enemies out.
Guardian (Rifle, 2250 Credits, 36 Rounds/3 Mags, 195/65/49 Damage)
Semi-auto damage can help Clove secure sites make it suitable for one-taps from mid-to-long-range
Compared toother weapons inValorant, the Guardian boasts better penetration and headshot accuracy that make it more capable than the Vandal at pulling off one-taps. This makes the weapon an ideal companion for Clove, especially when they’re tasked to defend or retake site.
With their Ruse (Signature), Clove can secure optimal line of sight with the Guardian while their Decays via Meddle (Basic 2) can snuff enemies out. Meanwhile, they can secure their survival against encounters with Pick-Me-Up (Basic 1), which incentivizes going all-in against enemies, while Not Dead Yet (Ultimate) gives them wiggle room to get reckless while allies swoop in for the rescue.
Outlaw (Sniper Rifle, 2400 Credits, 10 Shots/5 Reserve, 238/140/119 Damage)
Sniping from a map’s Mid allows Clove to capitalize on their Controller kit
Thehotly-leaked Outlaw Sniper Rifleserved as a much-needed mid-point between the headshot-reliant Marshal and the heavy-hitting Operator, with the Outlaw’s two-shot capacity proving more than enough to kill from afar, but carry a lot of risk in terms of slow reload. At the hands of a Controller like Clove, however, Outlaw can help them shine on any map’s Mid. After all, they can easily Ruse (Signature) key areas to snuff enemies out of place, while their Pick-Me-Up (Basic 1) can help them recover from a risky encounter.
Should the team see enemies enter a particular site, Clove can Meddle (Basic 2) for the retake and get more enemies out of protective cover. In emergencies, Outlaw can make a mean Bucky substitute, while scope-flicking could also work. In worst-case scenarios where Clove is shot from Mid, Not Dead Yet (Ultimate) can easily help them score a counter and get back into action.
