How to Use One-way Smokes in Valorant

Controllers play a crucial role in team compositions as they are in charge of seizing control of a location by blocking vision and smoking off openings and chokepoints. Players have come up with these creative one-way smokes in the quest to find more ways to gain an advantage.

Here’s everything you need to know about one-way smokes and how to win some rounds with them.

What is a One-way Smoke in Valorant?

One-way smokes serve the same objective as regular smokes, which is to cloud vision and leave opponents guessing what's on the other side while allowing you to see anyone who walks through it. It’s basically like you’re watching your enemies through a one-way glass.

These smokes are positioned slightly higher, mostly resting at an elevated position. Its primary use is to partially block a specific area so that they are unable to see from it while still allowing you to see primarily the lower half of their body.  Compared to a regular one though, you are at an advantage only if you're doing it right.

How to actually use One-way smokes in Valorant?

You have a significant edge with one-way smokes as you will be able to see enemies pushing them first before they can even see you. One-way smokes can typically be used by placing them above ledges, entrances, boxes, tiny wall lamps, and other elevated spots.

Although this feature appears to be very simple, there are several considerations to make before implementing it in your games.

When using one-way smokes, correct positioning is essential. As a rule of thumb, a player should maintain a distance from the smoke. Standing right next to your smoke will certainly not give you any information as the smoke will most likely be covering your face. So instead, stand far away from the smoke so you can catch any foes who might dare to lurk there.

Your opponents, on the other hand, should be forced to pass through the smoke, fully obscuring their line of vision. The best places to utilize one-way smokes are in places where enemies can't stand far behind the smoke.

For instance, using Viper, this is a great technique to hold A main via a one-way smoke. This particular one-way smoke gives you more room to play around due the large  distance between you and the smoke, while limiting the space available to your opponents and eventually forcing them to stand behind the orb.

As for the weapon, due to the lack of bullet tracers, Phantom is preferable than Vandal when using one-way smokes. This way, enemies will have a hard time figuring out where you’re shooting from.

Which agents can use one-way smokes?

The ability to produce one-way smokes is almost universal across controller agents, but diverse execution methods exist for each.

Similar techniques are used by agents like Omen, Astra, and Brimstone to send out orb-shaped one-way smokes. Omen can enter a phased world,  Astra has access to her astral form while Brimstone has his tactical map. These three agents are able to place  smokes from anywhere around the map at their whim. As long as you know where to set the smokes, one-way smokes for these agents are rather simple.

Viper, though, goes about it in a different way For Viper specifically, she’ll have to throw Poison Cloud that will basically function as a projectile. Having that said, one will have to learn multiple poison orb lineups to execute one-way smokes.

The newest controller on the list, Harbor, works somewhat similarly to Viper's but less effectively than the other controllers. This is because of the way Harbor's Cove (Q) is designed, initially prohibiting bullets from passing through it until it gets destroyed. However, the opponent's lower body will still be visible, giving you the opportunity to score some hits with a few leg shots.

However, did you know that agents in other jobs can also benefit from one-way smokes for the good of their team in addition to controllers?

These individuals include Cypher and Jett.

As a highly mobile agent, Jett can dart into position and dispatch enemies so swiftly that you won't be able to see her coming. Jett’s set of abilities include a smoke projectile that expands into a spherical cloud meant to block vision. She can instantaneously deploy it in the direction of your crosshair, which practically allows you to suspend Cloudburst in the air to partially block chokepoints and function as a one-way.

Cypher is an additional agent on this list. The Moroccan information broker has access to a network of espionage tools for gathering information about his opponents. He can use Cyber Cage, one of his abilities, whenever and anywhere he pleases. When triggered, it expands into a cylindrical cloud of grayish-white smoke that obscures eyesight and emits noise when opponents pass by it. Players can try to learn one-way lineups to easily eliminate those who dare to stand behind your one-way, in addition to matching it with Cypher's trapwire.

Conclusion

That’s everything you need to know about one-way smokes. This is a useful mechanic that one can master especially for the controller mains out there. It is not as simple as normal smokes, but can surely help you bag some kills and win rounds.

Also, check out Valorant Stats Tracker to monitor your in-game stats and figure out which players are currently dominating the leaderboards.