VALORANT Lotus Changes in Episode 8: What is different?

VALORANT Episode 8 is just a few days away, and Riot Games has slowly started to reveal everything that players can expect from it. This includes a new map rotation, a sniper, and more. One of the biggest changes, though, in VALORANT Episode 8 comes to the Lotus map. The map is getting a major revamp and here are all the changes to it.

Is Lotus Now A More Defender-Oriented Map In VALORANT?

Back in September 2023, there was a video that surfaced on X and Reddit. This video consisted of the potential changes to the map of Lotus in VALORANT. During the first few days since its release, many cited it to be fake. This was due to the map being launched just a few weeks prior.

Fast forward to January 2024 and it does feel like many of those changes are true. Lotus is the second map in VALORANT with 3 plant sites. Looking at the structure of the map, many hoped that the C Site of the map would be reworked. This is because it had a vast planting zone that covered the majority of the site. Let us take a look at the changes at each plant site on Lotus in VALORANT.

Lotus A Site Changes In VALORANT

The first major change on A Site is at A Hut. Previously, it was just a tunnel structure that players could walk through and plant as well. Now, that tunnel is shut. Instead, there is a small pocket on the back side now that players can camp in. Attackers can also plant the spike within this pocket of space.

The next change is present between A link and A main. This is the part of the map that consists of the breakable door to enter the B site. Now, near that door, there are boxes present along the wall. Instead of the wall being diagonal, it’s straight, providing more space. Ideally, a hidden spot to place the teleport of Chamber.

B Site Changes

It has been quite a common fact that the B site of Lotus is quite clustered in VALORANT. Thus, the first major change is that the path length of A Link has increased. This is mainly to make sure that neither a Killjoy Swarm Grenade nor Viper Mollie has a very high impact.

The second change that has been made is to the B site as well as the spike planting zone. It has been now made a bit smaller and parallel to the boxes. The path of B main has been increased and B Site has been enlarged.

Lotus C Site Changes

It must be stated that C Site does have quite a lot of impactful changes in Episode 8 Act 1. The first major change is the length of the plant site which has been reduced after the pillar and shifted closer to C Bend. Additionally, there is a texture change in C Bend as well and the boxes previously present on the plant site are not stacked. There are now 2 sets of stairs at C Bend.

The second change is present between C Bend and C Main. The entry path into the C site has been increased. Another change is that the site has been enlarged as well on the left-hand side of C Main. Previously, there was one box present before C Bend but now there are 4 Boxes that are present. This can be used as an elevated spot to catch the attackers from an off-angle.

If we take a look at the meta on this map, we are bound to see an increase in dual initiator setup. Other than that, agents like Breach, Chamber, and Viper can see an increase in play. One hot take we can provide is that there is a higher chance of seeing Sova being used in ranked play.