How to Valorant: Breaking down the tech of the controller Brimstone
Chances are, Brimstone is the first one or one of the first agents you pick up when starting Valorant. In terms of simplicity, there are few that match his low skill barrier of entry. That is not to say he is one-dimensional or weak by any means. In fact, in keeping with hero shooters, it is often the simplest characters with the most straightforward kits, which allow for the greatest skill expression.
Abilities Breakdown
Brimstone is one of the five currently available controller in Riot’s tactical FPS title. He is also the first one available to play when starting out, with the rest unlockable. Brimstone has no passive, however much like the other agents, he has four abilities: 2 purchasable, a signature ability (replenishes every round), and an ultimate ability (earned through ult charges).
His first ability is Stim Beacon, where he instantly tosses a stim beacon at a target location close by. Doing so emits a field that grants Rapidfire (increased fire rate, equip speed, reload speed, recovery speed, and movement speed). His second ability is Incendiary. Brimstone equips a launcher and fires a Molotov projectile. It can bounce up to once before creating a lingering fire field.
Sky Smoke is his signature ability, where Brimstone equips a tactical map. Selecting an area and confirming launches a smoke there. He has up to three charges and is provided with at least one charge if he uses all smokes in the previous round. Orbital Strike is Brimstone’s ultimate. Using a tactical map, he fires a lingering laser on a selected location, dealing high Damage-over-Time.
Playstyle
Brimstone greatest asset is his speed and utility power. His kit is designed for powerful breaching, with near instant cast smokes, buffing teammates with the Stim Beacon and cutting off chokepoints with his Incendiary and Orbital Strike. A strong expression of skill for Brimstone players, is in decisiveness. Making quick decisions and plays allow players to pilot him as the steady backbone of any team comp.
Reliability is the word I would use for Brimstone players, providing an iron wall on defense and powerhouse entries on attack.
Team Comps
Brimstone’s largest weakness that limits his playstyle, is the size of his smoke tactical map. The limiting factor ensures he will never have global presence as a controller. However, he shines on smaller maps with tight chokepoints. Ideally, he is played as primary controller, though at times, he can be supplemented with a secondary smoker such as Viper or Harbor. Maps such as Bind, and Fracture are his strongest maps and see the most play for him.
Tips to Level up your Brimstone game
An underutilised part of Brimstone’s kit comes in the form of his stim beacon. While the Rapidfire buff is indeed a powerful self-power-up, it is also the only utility current in the game that offers positive buffs to allies. On a push, tossing a quick Stim Beacon makes a push from challenging into a potential steamroll.
Another part of Brimstone’s kit that is underutilised are his smokes. Like other controllers covered in this series, playing around smokes, and developing a game sense for navigating is integral for levelling up your controller game. However, one crucial part of Brimstone’s kit that is similar to Viper, is that his smokes are not hollow. Hollow smokes like Astra, Omen, and Harbor offer a different benefit, however, full smokes such as Brimstone, allows for stronger lurks.
One of the more popular methods of piloting Brimstone lies in the underutilised shotguns. The Shorty, Judge, and Bucky are all powerful weapons with sight greatly eliminated.
Image credit: Fan Art (source unknown)