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Riot Games Unveils Newest VALORANT Competitive Map Corrode
Corrode is VALORANT’s newest competitive map, set to launch on the 25th of June 2025 with Season 1 Act 4’s arrival. Inspired by medieval French architecture and landscapes, Corrode is the first VALORANT map to environmentally reflect the drastic changes to the landscape brought on by the arrival of Radianite.
Assault the Castle: Corrode Map Key Features
Attacking players will find themselves challenged in their efforts to breach the gates by the high walls and many corridors of the map. For Defenders, Corrode offers a multitude of fallback positions and a layered defense design. It is a map which greatly rewards aggressive map control – but remember to check your corners!
With 2 Spike sites, Corrode features the traditional 3-lane layout with a lean towards defense. Ability aggression was a strong consideration for the map during its design and is visible in its architecture which dissuades from overwhelming ability aggression.
“The foundation of Corrode is a core three lane tactical FPS map with a particular focus on layered defenses. This focus gives Defenders more opportunities to play on-site and weather the barrage of utility attackers throw their way while also limiting post-plant play from off-site.” – Joey Simas, Lead Map Designer (VALORANT)
The Design of Corrode
“Corrode is the third map set on Omega Earth, and we wanted to showcase how First Light dramatically altered the planet’s climate. Following First Light, the waters surrounding Corrode evaporated, exposing vast salt flats and creating conditions for Radianite supercell storms. The whipping winds from these storms drive salt crystallization across the map's architecture, creating a unique visual identity.
We drew inspiration from French castle architecture for one side of the map and traditional village structures for the other, creating a striking contrast between the two areas. Corrode also features one of our most ambitious vistas to date—players will spot moving trucks, trains, an ATLAS carrier in the distance, and an active supercell storm on the horizon.” – Daniel McGowan, Senior Manager for Art Direction (VALORANT)
Corrode draws inspiration from medieval architecture, specifically French architecture. The map is set in a French castle town, with one portion of the map reflecting the castle, and the other a medieval town, much like Split (which also reflects contrasting backgrounds). The map has been transformed into a Radianite salt mining facility, adding extra contrast between the stones of the past and the machinery of industry.
Initial Thoughts
A particularly notable feature of this newest map is how defender-centric it is. The map’s architecture will allow aggressive Defenders to post on earlier angles with plenty of opportunity to fall back on to sites after a pick. For Attackers, mid control will be incredibly important to focus around with split assaults on either bomb sites a high necessity in order to dig out any Defenders.
What to Expect When Corrode Goes Live?
Corrode will be available from the 25th of June in competitive pool. As promised in the earlier announcement, players will lose 50% less RR for losses but still gain 100% RR for all wins to better encourage players to get into and practice the match in a competitive setting with reduced fear of deranking.
New Bundle Phaseguard
The Phaseguard bundle collection will also arrive with the new act. Designed to embody cutting-edge technology and tactical precision, the bundle will include the following weapons:
- Vandal
- Outlaw
- Ghost
- Bulldog
- Melee (Splitter)
Check out Strafe Esports for all the latest VALORANT news and our X account for the latest content and coverages. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
Featured Image Credit: Riot Games
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