Valorant Clove Guide — The Controller-Duelist Hybrid

Ability Breakdown

Clove is unique because they function as both a controller and a duelist. Unlike other controllers who play passively behind the team, Clove is designed to take fights and stay aggressive. Their kit rewards getting kills while still providing the smoke utility your team needs.

Meddle (Decay)

Clove throws a projectile that decays enemies, temporarily reducing their health. Use this before peeking to guarantee you win the duel — a decayed enemy at 100 HP effectively has ~60 HP. Throw it at common pre-aim spots right before your team pushes a site.

Ruse (Smokes)

Clove can deploy smokes even after dying. This is the single most broken mechanic in their kit — your team never loses smoke utility even if Clove is the first pick. Place smokes to block common angles during executes, and if you die, keep smoking for your teammates from the death screen.

Pick-Me-Up (Passive)

After getting a kill or assist, Clove gains temporary bonus health. This incentivizes aggressive play — after your first kill, you have a health buffer to take the next fight. Chain kills together during site executes to maintain the health boost.

Not Dead Yet (Ultimate)

Clove can self-revive after dying, but must get a kill or damaging assist within a short window to stay alive permanently. Use this when you die in a position where enemies must push through — revive, catch them off-guard, and secure the kill. Do not use it when enemies can simply wait out the timer from a safe distance.

Best Maps & Positioning

Clove excels on maps where aggressive controller play is rewarded and where post-death smokes create maximum value.

• •Bind — Clove shines here because of tight choke points where Meddle decay catches multiple enemies. Post-death smokes are critical for retakes through Hookah and Short.
• •Split — The verticality and close-range duels suit Clove's hybrid playstyle. Smoke mid, take aggressive fights on A Ramps or B Main.
• •Ascent — Open sightlines let you decay enemies from range before your team enters. Mid control with Clove smokes is extremely powerful.
• •Lotus — Three-site maps favor Clove because you can die on one site and still smoke for teammates rotating to another.

Positioning Rule

Play as the second or third person into a site, not first. Throw your decay, let the duelist entry, then follow up. If the duelist dies, you take over the fragging role with your Pick-Me-Up health boost. If you die, you still smoke for the rest of the team.

Team Coordination & Combos

Clove pairs exceptionally well with agents who can capitalize on decayed enemies or cover for Clove's aggression.

Best Agent Pairings

• •Neon (54.4% WR) — Neon slides in after Clove decays the angle. Two aggressive agents with sustain mechanics create unstoppable site takes.
• •Vyse (56.4% WR) — Vyse's wall and stun combined with Clove smokes creates layered site control that enemies cannot push through.
• •Chamber — Chamber holds the flank while Clove plays aggressively. If Clove dies, Chamber cleans up with the Operator.
• •Skye — Skye flashes for Clove's aggression and provides healing to sustain through multiple fights.

Execute Combo Example

1. 1.Clove throws Meddle onto the site to decay defenders
2. 2.Skye flashes the entry point
3. 3.Neon slides in to take the first fight against decayed enemies
4. 4.Clove follows as second in, smokes off the crossfire angle, and fights with Pick-Me-Up if Neon gets a kill
5. 5.If Clove dies, they continue smoking from death screen while the team plants

Patch 12.03 Meta Context

Following the Patch 11.8 ability cooldown overhaul, agents with strong passive mechanics gained significant value. Clove's Pick-Me-Up passive and post-death smokes are unaffected by cooldown changes, making Clove the most consistent controller in the game.

Comfort Over Tier

The current Valorant meta heavily favors comfort picks. A well-played B-tier agent will outperform a poorly-played S-tier agent every time. If you are new to Clove, spend 10-15 games learning their smoke lineups and decay timings before playing ranked. A Clove who does not smoke for the team is worse than an Omen who does.

• •S-Tier: Clove, Vyse, Neon — agents with the highest impact and win rates
• •Strong picks: Chamber, Sage, Skye — benefit from the ability cooldown overhaul
• •Clove is the only controller in S-tier, meaning if you learn Clove, you will always have a valuable pick