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VALORANT Patch 10.04 to remove Abyss and Bind, Icebox and Ascent return

VALORANT Patch 10.04 to remove Abyss and Bind, Icebox and Ascent return

Andre Guaraldo

Andre Guaraldo

14 Dec, 2024, 18:23

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Last updated: 10 May, 2026, 13:25

Valorant's Patch 10.04 will bring another update to the competitive map rotation, with Abyss and Bind being removed from the rotation and Icebox and Ascent making their return. The shift in Map Pool is in line with Riot's recent announcement on pool rotations occuring at the start of every new act.

VALORANT Map Pool Rotation 2025

Riot Games New Map Pool Rotation System for VALORANT. Credit: Strafe Esports // Screenshot

Hence, this change will take place in just under 2 months time, when we move into V25, Act 2.

The updated competitive map pool after Patch 10.04 will consist of:

Icebox
Ascent
Fracture
Lotus
Split
Haven
Pearl

The removal of Abyss is particularly interesting as it had been part of the competitive pool for a short time. The return of Icebox was long expected, despite not seeing any changes to the map layout from its latest appearance. Ascent return, however, looks way too fast considering it left not too long ago.

Community Reaction

The Valorant community has shown mixed reactions to this rotation. Former professional player TenZ expressed excitement about Abyss leaving the rotation.

Valorant's Map Rotation Strategy

Valorant's Map Rotation Strategy has both advantages and drawbacks, particularly for the professional competitive scene:

Pros:

Keeps the game fresh and dynamic
Forces teams to adapt quickly, showcasing versatility
Prevents stagnation in strategies and meta

Cons:

Disrupts team preparation and long-term strategy development
May lead to inconsistent performance across tournaments
Potentially lowers the overall quality of play due to limited practice time on each map

The frequent rotations, occurring every Act, can be particularly challenging for pro teams. This approach contrasts sharply with other esports titles that maintain a more stable map pool, allowing for deeper tactical evolution over time.

Check out Strafe Esports for all the latest VALORANT news and also our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

For more VALORANT rostermania news, check out our VCT EMEA and VCT Americas rostermania for all the latest shuffles.

Feature image credits: Riot Games

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