TL;DR
- Data miners discovered Ascent’s Italian Venice theme through extracted textures and backend code analysis
- Reyna’s gameplay trailer revealed key map layout details including B site positioning and courtyard control points
- The map connects to training area elements and features multiple strategic choke points for tactical gameplay
- Understanding spawn areas and site transitions provides significant competitive advantages
- Proper map knowledge reduces common positioning errors and improves team coordination

When Riot Games introduced Valorant’s eleventh agent, Reyna showcased her vampiric duelist abilities while navigating an unfamiliar battleground. The new combat environment immediately caught the attention of observant players seeking to understand the game’s expanding arena selection.
While Reyna’s flashy combat mechanics dominated community discussions initially, the underlying map details presented significant strategic implications that experienced competitors quickly recognized as game-changing intelligence.
REYNA /// Mexico
“What hope do these criaturas have?”#VALORANT pic.twitter.com/inO8bR5cto— VALORANT (@PlayVALORANT) May 30, 2020
Data Mining Revelations: Ascent’s Hidden Details
Riot’s announcement regarding a fourth competitive arena arriving with Valorant’s official June release generated substantial excitement among the closed beta community. Players had grown increasingly familiar with the initial three maps’ layouts and sought fresh tactical challenges to maintain engagement and competitive diversity.
As mentioned today in my convo with @PlayVALORANT devs, the official launch of the game this summer will have 4 maps and 12 agents
So expect two more agents and one more map to come your way the next few months ????
— The Esports Writer (@FionnOnFire) April 8, 2020
In late April, investigative data miners successfully identified evidence of a fourth combat environment within Valorant’s core game architecture. The prominent researcher UlfricTheThird documented discovering specific code segments in the game’s foundational files that explicitly referenced the new arena’s designation: Ascent.
The investigation progressed significantly when the data miner successfully extracted numerous environmental textures revealing distinctive Venetian elements. These included traditional gondola watercraft, authentic Italian pizza packaging, classic European street lighting, and specialized fishing supply establishments. The accumulated evidence strongly indicated an Italian setting, with Venice emerging as the most probable location based on architectural and cultural markers.

Trailer Examination: Ascent’s Strategic Layout Revealed
While Reyna’s distinctive ability animations captured immediate attention, strategic analysts identified crucial environmental details within the brief promotional footage. The combat arena featured in the teaser, subsequently identified as Ascent, demonstrated striking similarities to the training environment’s architecture, suggesting this represented the region previously hinted at through the practice area’s celestial rift phenomenon.
The comprehensive overview of the trailer’s depicted battleground eventually surfaced through community channels, displaying near-identical characteristics to the files originally uncovered by data mining operations. This confirmation established beyond reasonable doubt that the arena featured in Reyna’s introduction was indeed the forthcoming Ascent map. Below appears the leaked tactical overview:

Throughout the gameplay demonstration, Reyna initiates combat positioned near the B objective site, targeting opponents advancing through B main access route. She strategically retreats to defensive switch positions after eliminating Cypher, subsequently engaging two additional adversaries within an expansive courtyard area.
Subsequently, Reyna appears establishing defensive anchor positions, neutralizing two opposing operatives just beyond the courtyard perimeter. This tactical sequence successfully secures complete team elimination against the enemy squad.

Riot previously hinted at the new combat environment through official developer communications. Examination of update screenshots suggests the development team occupied defender spawn locations during their preview presentation.
Current evidence strongly indicates Ascent will become available in Valorant upon the game’s official release. However, strategic deception remains possible as Riot might intentionally mislead the community to preserve surprise elements for their fourth competitive arena.
Advanced Tactical Applications
Understanding Ascent’s Venetian-inspired layout provides immediate competitive benefits. The map’s distinctive canal systems and narrow passageways create natural choke points that favor tactical positioning over raw mechanical skill. Teams that master the courtyard control dynamics typically dominate matches through superior map awareness and strategic rotations.
Common positioning errors include overextending through mid without proper smoke coverage and failing to control the elevated positions overlooking both bomb sites. These mistakes often lead to easily preventable round losses that could be avoided through proper map study and coordinated team movements.
For optimization, advanced players should focus on learning precise grenade trajectories for both sites and understanding the timing differences between various rotation paths. The defender’s spawn area offers multiple engagement options, but requires careful coordination to prevent being overwhelmed by organized attacks.
Mastering Ascent’s unique verticality and sightlines typically requires 10-15 hours of dedicated practice. This investment pays substantial dividends through improved win rates and more consistent team performance across competitive matches.
Action Checklist
- Study the leaked map overview to understand key choke points and rotation timing
- Practice B site defense positions and understand courtyard control mechanics
- Master grenade lineups for both bomb sites to gain tactical advantages
- Coordinate team strategies for mid control and spawn positioning
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Overview of new Valorant map Ascent leaked ahead of its release Uncovering Valorant's Ascent map through data mining and trailer analysis for competitive advantage
