Bind is set for a Valorant return in next patch. The map has been thoroughly reviewed and re-balanced.

At the start of 2023, Breeze and Bind were removed from the competitive queue in favor of the newly launched Lotus, and the reintroduction of Split. The removal of Bind caused a fair outcry amongst the community, having long since been one of the widely loved original Valorant maps. It’s teleporters allowed players to create strategies involving interesting, fast paced and dynamic plays, a feature completely exclusive to Bind.

Here’s all the changes to the map and how they will impact the map meta.

Valorant Bind changes and how they impact the match flow

There have been a few confirmed changes to Bind posted through the official Valorant Twitter account.

Teleporter Changes

The location of the teleporter on shower side has changed. While the distance between the original and new location isn’t very far, the impact is quite significant. The new location will allow attackers to more easily push out of the teleport doors without being in the wide open area, taking cover by being able to hug the wall close to showers.

This also impacts the rotation time from B Long to a potential A plant by several seconds.

Showers Changes

The entrance and exit door to showers have been enlarged. The larger door towards attackers side will favor the attackers, making it easier for them to clear the two close corners in situations where a defender may sneak up. Towards A site, the larger door will similarly allow attackers to more easily clear close corners. However on the down side, with the door expanded towards the right side, one corner is no longer viable in a post plant situation, making it more difficult to hold a showers side bomb plant.

We cannot quite judge if the little ledge that worked as a placement spot for a Viper orb has been removed.

Bind A Site Changes

The A cubby has a small barrel added, allowing defenders to get a better line of sight over trucks in a bit of an off angle. The angled space towards A back site to defender’s spawn has also been reduced. This will lower the need for defenders to fully clear the area when attempting to retake the site from a defended spawn rotation, removing one of the more frustrating ways to die.

Formerly regarded as triple with the three double stacked boxes, an additional connecting box towards shower side has been added. This is a highly significant change that will change the dynamic of both sides, placing greater importance on shower control. The additional box provides a good amount of cover, allowing defenders to more easily play between them to isolate fights. Attackers can also use them in their favor by gaining shower control, the additional box allowing for an easy push with the combination of a Sage wall.

There is extra padding added to the box near the plant-corner facing showers, making wall-banging thorough the box from lamps more difficult.

Bind B Site Changes

The larger door between B site and defenders side allows defenders to more easily spray smoke campers that would otherwise hide in that corner. A bigger door also allows attackers to more easily push through simultaneously without running into and blocking each other.

The use of the imposter vent in B side has yes to be discovered, however, comments have speculated many possible interactions with agent utility, ranging anywhere from flashes, nades, Viper’s ultimate or a cheeky Cypher camera.

Which map will Bind replace?

Currently, Riot have only announced the reintroduction of Bind, with no current signs that a map will be removed. This may simply mean we will get an additional map added in the competitive queue. However, following the announcement Bind would return, the community has rallied to demand for Riot a map in return, namely either Icebox or Fracture.

When will Bind return?

Bind is set to return to the competitive Valorant queue in Act lll, the date for patch 6.08 is currently locked in for the 25^th of April.

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