In the ever-evolving tactical landscape of Valorant, one constant remains—the sheer, unadulterated power of Brimstone. This gray-haired commander, with his arsenal of orbital strikes and billowing smokes, isn't just a controller; he's the architect of victory, the maestro of map control. As we look at the state of the game in 2026, has any agent truly mastered the art of reshaping the battlefield with such raw, strategic authority? The answer is a resounding no! This guide will unlock the secrets to becoming an unstoppable force on the iconic map, Ascent.

8. Executing a Flawless B-Site Takeover

Attacking B Site on Ascent can feel like walking into a labyrinth of death if you're unprepared. But why leave your fate to chance? A true Brimstone main knows that the pre-fight setup is everything. The moment your team approaches B Main, your fingers should be itching to unleash two critical smokes:

1. Market Window: Cutting off the most common defender peek.

2. Defender Spawn/Market Entrance: Isolating the site from rotations.

This one-two punch of smoke coverage narrows the defender's sightlines to a manageable few. Suddenly, those terrifying long angles vanish, and your duelists can feast on clearing close corners. But wait, is dropping the smokes enough? Absolutely not! Follow up immediately with your incendiary Molotov on the smoked-off areas. This denies any defender the audacity to push through your cloud cover and forces them to cede precious ground. It's not just about taking space; it's about taking it and holding it with fire.

7. Seizing Mid Control: The Key to Victory

What is the single most important area on Ascent? Without a doubt, it's Mid. Controlling Mid isn't a strategy; it's a necessity. The A and B main chokepoints are so narrow that a single Sage or Killjoy can halt an entire team's advance. Surrendering Mid is like handing the defenders a roadmap to your defeat—they can freely rotate and pinch you from multiple sides. So, how does Brimstone claim this vital territory?

Your smoke deployment is flexible and terrifying:

• Option A (Full Seizure): Smoke both Bottom Mid and Catwalk. This creates a massive wall of obscurity, making your team's intentions completely unpredictable.

• Option B (Focused Push): Smoke only one location (e.g., Cat) to facilitate a swift, decisive push from that angle.

By dominating Mid, you gift your team the ultimate luxury: options. Rotations become safe, split pushes become devastating, and the defenders are left guessing until it's far too late.

6. The Unpredictable Market Flank

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Predictability is the enemy of any attacker. Running the same B Main push every round is a recipe for disaster. So, why not blow the defenders' minds with a lightning-fast strike through Market? This tactic becomes a nightmare for them when combined with a simultaneous push from B Main, splitting their defense in two.

Your role is to enable this chaos. At the round's start, deploy your strategic smokes:

• One on Catwalk to cut off Mid support.

• One near the Defender Spawn entrance to Market to isolate the area.

This box of smoke creates a safe corridor for your team to flood through. Now, for the pièce de résistance: SLAM DOWN YOUR STIM BEACON. Watch in sheer delight as your teammates transform into supersoldiers, rushing through Mid and Market at breakneck speed while the defenders fumble to realign. It's controlled, hyper-aggressive pandemonium.

5. Systematically Disassembling A Site

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A Site is a deceptively open space. The key to conquering it is not to enter the room, but to redefine the room itself. Your smokes are the paintbrushes, and the site is your canvas. Execute the perfect isolation play:

• Smoke #1: Deep in Tree/Door. Not at the edge, but deep inside to prevent sneaky close-range plays.

• Smoke #2: Deep in Heaven. Elevate your thinking and place it far back to block the entire elevated platform.

These two clouds effectively sever A Site from the rest of the map, turning it into a disconnected box. But your work isn't done! As your team enters, launch your Molotov to the far side of the Door smoke. This incinerates any hope a defender has of hiding there. And remember, defenders love to break the Door on retakes. Always keep your third smoke in reserve to plug that hole again, forcing them to walk through a wall of fire and bullets.

4. The Catwalk Split Push on A

Is the A Main choke point feeling more clogged than a 2026 data-stream? When defenders bunker down with walls, mollies, and sheer stubbornness, it's time to change the axis of attack. The Catwalk split push exists for this exact moment.

As your team ascends Cat, your smokes provide the essential cover:

• Lower Mid Smoke: Protects the flank from anyone playing Mid.

• Tree Room Entrance Smoke: Allows safe access from Cat into the heart of the site.

With these in place, your team can surgically cut into A Site through the Door. Don't forget to use your final smoke to block Heaven, supporting any teammates who are still applying pressure through Main. This coordinated pincer movement will make the defender's stronghold crumble in seconds.

3. The Impenetrable Mid Defense

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Why should attackers have all the fun? Mid-control is equally critical on defense. By contesting Mid, you dictate the pace of the entire round and strip the enemy of their rotational options. For total lockdown, unleash a smoke on Tiles and another at the top of Mid (near the entrance to Market/B Main). This creates a daunting wall of gray that attackers must blindly navigate.

But here's a pro-tip for 2026: communicate! If a teammate wants to hold an angle from one of those spots, save that smoke. Your utility is flexible. Furthermore, with a coordinated duo, you can use these smokes aggressively. Push up with a teammate, use the smoke for cover, and launch a devastating early flank that catches the attackers completely off-guard. It's about turning your defensive tools into weapons of surprise aggression.

2. Turning B Site into a Death Trap

Defending B Site with Brimstone isn't about holding ground; it's about creating a zone of absolute denial. Your combination of abilities is downright cruel. Place a smoke deep into B Main—not at the entrance, but deep inside to maximize its obscuring power. Then, layer your Molotov directly in the path of anyone foolish enough to push through. This is a guaranteed recipe for crispy opponents.

The genius, however, lies in the deception. That deep smoke is the perfect hiding spot for a flash-based teammate like Phoenix or Kay/o. The attackers see a defensive smoke and think, "Safe approach." As they cautiously advance, your hidden ally steps out, unleashes a blinding flash, and your team collects free kills. It's a simple bait that wins rounds through psychological warfare.

1. The A Site Chokepoint Fortress

The A Main archway is a gift to defensive Brimstones. It's a perfect, narrow funnel where your utility shines brightest. The formula is beautifully simple yet brutally effective:

1. Step 1: Drop a thick smoke directly into the archway, filling the entire entrance.

2. Step 2: Immediately launch your Molotov into the same area.

Any attacker pushing through this combo is volunteering for a respawn screen. This powerful stall tactic buys invaluable seconds—sometimes over half a round!—for your teammates to rotate from the other site. And the best part? You have three smokes, each lasting nearly 20 seconds. If the enemy persists, you can layer smoke after smoke, creating up to a full minute of continuous, impassable coverage. Can you imagine the frustration on the other side? It's glorious. 🚀☁️🔥

Master these tactics, and you won't just be playing Brimstone; you'll be conducting a symphony of controlled chaos on Ascent, leaving your enemies bewildered and defeated. The battlefield is yours to command.