Valorant Clove Guide 2026: Abilities, Best Maps & Tips
Clove is the controller who refuses to stop working even after death. Here is the full kit, why Clove is so strong in ranked and how to play the undying controller properly.
Verified sources: current agent statistics and the official Clove kit. Win rates and map strength shift each act.
The short version
Clove is a controller unlike any other smoke agent in the game: they stay useful even after death. Smokes can be thrown from beyond the grave, and with the ultimate Clove can even stand back up.
With around a 53 percent win rate, Clove is one of the strongest controllers in ranked and especially popular in solo queue. To be honest about it: Clove is picked far less in pro VCT play. For your ranked climb, though, this agent is gold.
Aggressive controller, smokes even while dead, self-resurrection, strong on defense and ideal for solo queue.
Clove’s abilities explained
Clove’s kit revolves entirely around the theme of immortality. Here is the overview:
| Ability | Key | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ruse | E (signature) | Smokes placed via map view, works even while dead |
| Meddle | Q | Fragment briefly lowers the max HP of enemies in the area |
| Pick-Me-Up | C | After a kill or assist: haste and health |
| Not Dead Yet | X (ultimate) | Self-resurrect at the death spot, needs a kill or assist in the time window |
Your smokes. The special part: you can throw them even after you have died. So your team is never left without vision control.
Weakens enemies before a push. A hit enemy dies faster afterwards, perfect prep for your team.
Rewards aggression. After a kill or assist you get faster and heal, perfect for chaining fights.
Your ultimate. You stand back up after dying, but you have to get a kill or assist in the window or you die permanently.
Why Clove is so strong in the meta
The biggest advantage is simple: Clove solves the classic “our controller died early, round lost” problem. As long as you are positioned well, your smokes keep running even if you die. Your team never loses vision control just because of one unlucky peek.
On top of that comes the aggressive style. Clove plays closer to the front than a classic smoke agent, can chain fights with Pick-Me-Up and resurrect with the ultimate. That forgives mistakes and fits solo queue perfectly, where you cannot rely on a flawless team.
Clove’s best maps
Right now Clove has the best numbers on these maps:
| Map | Where it stands |
|---|---|
| Sunset | One of Clove’s strongest maps right now |
| Abyss | Top win rate, fits the aggressive style |
| Corrode | Very strong results |
| More | Also good on Breeze, Lotus, Fracture, Pearl, Split and Haven |
The map pool rotates each act. Which maps are in the current ranked rotation changes, but Clove’s kit stays just as strong.
How to play Clove properly
Why Clove fits beginners and solo queue
Clove is one of the most forgiving controllers in the game. If you die too early as a newer player, the round is not automatically lost, because your smokes keep running. Pick-Me-Up heals you after kills, and the ultimate gives you a second chance.
Especially in solo queue, where you cannot rely on coordinated teammates, Clove takes a lot of pressure off you. You carry the smoke responsibility without a single mistake instantly losing the round.
What you need to play Clove seriously
To play Clove you first have to unlock the agent, either with Kingdom Credits or through XP. And you mostly test them seriously in ranked, which in turn needs a certain account level.
If you want to skip the grind of unlocking and the lower levels, a well built account with unlocked agents and a fitting rank is worth a look. Pay attention to region, full access and rank, not just the price.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clove good in 2026?
Yes. With around a 53 percent win rate, Clove is one of the strongest controllers in ranked and especially strong in solo queue. In pro VCT play Clove is picked less often.
Can Clove smoke after dying?
Yes. Clove’s signature Ruse can be activated even while dead, so your team keeps getting smokes even if Clove dies.
What makes Clove unique?
Clove is the only controller who can self-resurrect with the ultimate Not Dead Yet and who can throw smokes even after dying.
What are Clove’s best maps?
Right now Sunset, Abyss and Corrode are among Clove’s strongest maps. The map pool rotates each act.
Is Clove good for beginners?
Yes. Clove is very solo-queue friendly because the smokes keep working after death and the agent can heal and resurrect themselves.
Want to play Clove in ranked?
Skip the grind of unlocking and the lower levels. Compare Valorant accounts by rank, region, access and unlocked agents.