Icebox Map

Valorant Icebox Map

Valorant Icebox Map Guide

Icebox is one of the seven maps currently featuring in Valorant and was the 5th map to be released overall. It’s based in the Arctic and is covered in snow, giving it a very different feel from any other map in the game. 

Icebox Map Layout and Callouts

Icebox has a fairly standard layout, with two bomb sites on either side of the map and a middle section. Unusually though, the two sites have both a top and a bottom level where the spike can be planted, which leads to some exciting scenarios in-game.

Let’s talk more about this map structure.

A Site

A Site has a large planting area, and there’s plenty of cover on the ground for both attackers and defenders to take advantage of. There are also a lot of elevated positions that provide good angles, so it’s essential to be aware that enemies won’t always be at ground level.

Also, in terms of getting onto the site, there are two routes from Defender Side Spawn and only one from Attacker Side Spawn. However, the latter is quite an open route, giving attackers a few different ways to approach the site.

B Site

B Site is quite open compared to A Site, with a few long lines of sight extending across the area. B Yellow is the primary source of cover for attackers looking to push onto the site, and defenders will often hold angles from B Snowman as well as B Site (both on the top and bottom levels).

The two main routes are via B Long and B Back to get positioned on the site, but there are also a few routes in from Mid, including one through B Hall.

Mid

In the middle of the map, there’s an outdoor area that connects the two sites and spawn zones, as well as an indoor area (B Tube and B Kitchen) that is often used by attackers attempting to get onto B site.

Icebox Map General Tips

Next up, we’ve got some general tips for playing on Icebox:

  • Take advantage of elevated positions. There are many great elevated spots on this map, so be sure to make the most of them if you want to gain an advantage over your enemies. Just be wary of them doing the same thing. Common hiding spots to check include A Pipes, on top of the containers in B Long, and on top of Tube in Mid.
  • Deny choke points. Icebox has a lot of key choke points, and if you learn how to deny your enemy passage through them, you’ll be able to win a lot of rounds. Take A Main and B Yellow, for example – if you use smokes and other utility in these places effectively, you’ll be able to stop the enemy push and maybe even force them to rotate. B Tube is another good choke point to control, and by walling it off with a Sage, you can even block passage entirely and focus your attention elsewhere.
  • Use an Operator to hold long sightlines. There are plenty of long lines of sight on Icebox, so if you’re confident with an Operator, you can snatch up some easy kills. You’ve got lines through Mid, across B site, and even a good one from A Site to A Belt. On the other hand, if the enemy has an Operator, then make sure to smoke off all those angles and traverse the map with caution.

Now, let’s talk about the best ways to attack and defend the two sites on Icebox.

Attacking A Site

When attacking A Site, make sure to clear close angles and be wary of enemies up in A Rafters. Planting the spike at ground-level just to the right of the main structure on site is typically best, as you get a good line of sight for post-plant from A Belt.

Defending A Site

When defending A Site, be wary of enemies split pushing, with some coming through A Main and some going up through A Belt. Enemies will often come via Pipes and take the rope across to the top of A Site, too, so be wary of this and fall back toward Mid and wait for backup if you need it.

Attacking B Site

There’s almost always someone watching B Long with a sniper or long-range rifle, so flash out and try to push up toward B Yellow as quickly as possible. Then, you can smoke off B Snowman and potentially Mid too, and you want to aim to plant in as safe a position as you can. A Sage wall can help here.

You can then play from the site, from B Yellow, or from B Long for post-plant.

Defending B Site

For B Site, you generally want to hang back and hold angles from B Snowman and from the site. It would help if you also had someone positioned near Mid to watch Tube and make sure no one is pushing up there.

If the enemy team does manage to secure the site and plant, they’ll often play post-plant from B Yellow or B Long, so try to tap the spike to lure them out. Also, if you can, send someone to flank via B Long, as enemies can be easily caught off guard from there.

Map Changes Since Release

To close out our Icebox map guide, let’s talk about some of the changes Riot has introduced to the map over the course of its lifespan.

v1.14 patch

  • The height of A Belt was reduced to be more in line with the rest of the map, and a ramp was added.
  • A see-through gate was added below A Belt, giving defenders a sneaky new angle to watch incoming attackers from.
  • One of the walls on A Site was made sloped to remove a defender hiding spot and make it safer for attackers to push onto site.
  • A stack of boxes on A Site was replaced by a smaller object, taking away some cover.
  • B Yellow’s height was reduced as it was too tall.

Source: VALORANT Patch Notes 1.14 (playvalorant.com)

v3.06 patch

  • A stack of crates on B Site was changed from penetrable to impenetrable, making planting the spike slightly safer for attackers.

Source: VALORANT Patch Notes 3.06 (playvalorant.com)

v4.04 patch

  • B Green was changed to give attackers more options for pushing through the area and to make playing in the space more comfortable.
  • B Yellow was rotated and a stack of crates was added.
  • The lower level of B Site was changed, and the planting area was made bigger.
  • The building in B Back was closed off, allowing attackers to push up to Snowman more safely and hold off incoming defenders.

Source: VALORANT Patch Notes 4.04 (playvalorant.com)