Death isn’t the end—it’s just another opportunity to cause chaos.
Standing atop the fallen bodies of her enemies, Clove smiles as she absorbs their life essence, healing her wounds and accelerating her movements. Even when struck down, she refuses to stay dead, rising from her own corpse to continue the fight while deploying tactical smokes from beyond the grave.
Welcome to the chaotic world of Clove—Valorant’s paradigm-shifting Controller who blurs the line between life and death, fragging and supporting, aggression and tactics.
If you crave a Controller who can lead the charge rather than hide behind it, relish the psychological warfare of resurrection, and want to leave enemies questioning reality even after they’ve “killed” you, Clove will be your perfect agent for sowing glorious mayhem across the battlefield.
Clove’s Abilities
Clove’s kit revolves around aggressive controlling, self-sustaining through combat, and continuing to impact rounds even after death. Each ability challenges traditional Controller conventions, encouraging a more dynamic playstyle.
Meddle (Q)
| Ability | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Meddle | 250 | Throw a fragment that explodes after a short delay, temporarily decaying the life essence of all targets caught inside. |
Meddle creates a decay field that weakens both enemies and allies caught within its radius. This damage-over-time effect makes targets more vulnerable to follow-up attacks and can soften defenders holding tight angles.
Advanced applications:
- Learn lineups to decay common defensive positions
- Use to weaken enemies before engaging in direct combat
- Clear tight corners and cubby positions without directly exposing yourself
- Combine with Duelist pushes to create easy trade opportunities
- Remember decay affects allies too—communicate before deployment
Also Check: Brimstone Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Ruse (E)
| Ability | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ruse | Free | EQUIP to view the battlefield from above. FIRE to set locations where smoke clouds will settle. Can be used after death, with limited range around death position. |
Ruse is Clove’s signature ability, allowing her to deploy controller smokes even after being eliminated. This unique post-mortem utility provides ongoing value regardless of whether she survives engagements.
Strategic deployment:
- Create one-way smokes at key positions (Mid on Split, A Main on Bind)
- Support teammates during site retakes after your death
- Block enemy vision during spike plants or defuses
- Position yourself strategically before dying to maximize post-mortem smoke coverage
- Use overhead view to gather information about enemy positions
Also Check: Phoenix Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Pick-Me-Up (C)
| Ability | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-Me-Up | 200 | Instantly absorb the life force of a fallen enemy that Clove damaged or killed, gaining haste and temporary health. |
Pick-Me-Up transforms Clove from a traditional support Controller into a self-sustaining fragger. By absorbing life force from enemies she’s damaged or eliminated, she gains both a health boost and movement speed increase.
Tactical applications:
- Engage in aggressive duels that other Controllers would avoid
- Chain multiple kills by using the speed boost to reposition quickly
- Create space for your team by pushing forward after securing a kill
- Use the temporary health as a buffer during site executes
- Recover from chip damage without relying on healers
Also Check: Sage Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Not Dead Yet (X)
| Ability | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Not Dead Yet | 7 points | Upon taking fatal damage, activate immortality essence. To stabilize form, get a kill or assist within a set time. |
Clove’s ultimate, Not Dead Yet, allows her to refuse death temporarily. When activated upon taking fatal damage, Clove has a limited time to secure a kill or assist to fully resurrect and continue fighting.
Strategic usage:
- Create psychological pressure by forcing enemies to focus on your resurrected form
- Take high-risk, high-reward engagements when your ultimate is available
- Use as a second life during crucial post-plant situations
- Bait enemy utility and attention during resurrection
- Position near teammates who can help you secure the needed kill/assist
- Communicate clearly with your team about your resurrection status
Also Check: Sova Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Clove’s Synergy
Clove’s aggressive Controller playstyle creates powerful combinations with agents who can capitalize on her decay effects or provide support for her forward positioning.
- Gekko: His Wingman reveals enemies hidden in Clove’s smokes
- Phoenix: His Curveball creates nearly uncounterable pop flashes through Clove’s smoke
- Raze: Her Paint Shells combined with Meddle quickly eliminate opponents
- Sova: His Shock Bolts launched into decay-affected areas deliver lethal combined damage
- Viper: Her Snake Bite paired with Meddle creates deadly zones enemies can’t survive
- Cypher: His Trapwires combined with strategic smokes create devastating ambush setups
Clove thrives in compositions that blend aggressive entry with strong information gathering, allowing her to maximize her fragging potential while still fulfilling controller duties.
Also Check: Neon Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Best and Worst Maps for Clove
Clove’s effectiveness varies across different maps, with her kit excelling in environments that offer opportunities for aggressive Controller play.
Best Maps
- Bind: The tight spaces and limited rotation options make her Meddle and aggressive positioning exceptionally powerful
- Split: Multiple chokepoints maximize her one-way smoke potential and create opportunities for Pick-Me-Up chains
- Haven: The three-site layout allows her post-mortem smokes to significantly impact rotations and retakes
Worst Maps
- Breeze: The open spaces make it harder to effectively use her decay and smoke abilities
- Lotus: The triple-site layout with multiple entrances spreads her utility thin
- Fracture: The numerous flanking routes can make aggressive Controller play more challenging
Also Check: Chamber Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Best and Worst Weapons for Clove
As a Controller who frequently engages in direct combat, Clove’s weapon choices should complement her aggressive yet tactical playstyle.
Best Weapons
- Phantom: The silenced shots and controlled spray pattern work well when playing around your own smokes
- Sheriff: Excellent eco option when combined with Meddle’s decay effect for one-tap potential
- Spectre: Synergizes with her Pick-Me-Up speed boost for quick repositioning and subsequent engagements
Worst Weapons
- Operator: While powerful, it conflicts with Clove’s forward-positioned Controller role
- Odin: The movement penalty conflicts with her need for quick repositioning after securing kills
- Marshal: The sniper playstyle doesn’t align with her close-to-mid range strengths
Also Check: KAY/O Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Tips and Tricks for Playing Clove Effectively
Clove’s unique kit allows for creative strategies that can surprise even experienced players.
- Strategic Death Placement: Position yourself in advantageous locations before dying to maximize post-mortem smoke deployment range
- One-Way Smoke Mastery: Learn key one-way smoke placements on Split Mid and Bind A Main
- Decay-Damage Combos: Coordinate with teammates to follow up on decayed enemies with damage abilities
- Ultimate Economy: When your ultimate is available, take more aggressive duels knowing you have a second chance
- Health Management: Track your health carefully to time Pick-Me-Up usage for maximum value
- Post-Plant Smokes: Use Ruse after death to block enemy vision during defuse attempts
- Mind Games: Create fake pushes with your utility to force rotations and waste enemy resources
Success with Clove comes from balancing her aggressive fragging potential with her controller responsibilities, adapting your playstyle based on team needs.
Also Check: Astra Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Clove in Team Compositions
Clove can fill different roles depending on team composition:
- Aggressive Controller: Lead site entries with duelists, using your decay and self-healing to create space
- Info-Gatherer Hybrid: Pair with Cypher or Sova for exceptional map control and information
- Post-Plant Specialist: Use your resurrection and post-mortem smokes to excel in spike defense situations
- Secondary Entry: Function as a semi-duelist with controller utility, especially effective on attack rounds
Also Check: Yoru Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Clove’s Positioning on the Map
On Attack
Position yourself as the second or third player into site, behind your primary duelist but ahead of your support agents. Use Meddle to weaken defenders holding common angles, then push with your team to secure kills and activate Pick-Me-Up. If you fall, use Ruse to support your teammates from beyond the grave and prepare to use Not Dead Yet at critical moments.
On Defense
Play slightly off-angle positions that allow you to control key chokepoints. Set up one-way smokes to gain advantages in early engagements. If your site is being overrun, consider using your ultimate to take an aggressive duel, knowing you have a second chance if you fail. Your positioning should always account for post-mortem smoke coverage if you’re eliminated.
Also Check: Skye Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Countering Other Agents with Clove
Clove’s kit provides effective counters to several agents:
- Chamber/Jett: Your post-mortem utility continues to impact rounds even if they eliminate you with an Operator
- Viper: Your decay stacks with her toxin, creating deadly combinations for enemies
- Cypher: Your ability to smoke after death counters his information-gathering setups
- Sage: Your resurrection ultimate provides a counter to her wall and slowing utility
- Reyna: Your decay makes it harder for her to secure the full overheal from Devour
Also Check: Raze Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Counters to Clove
Be aware of these agents who can effectively counter Clove’s kit:
- Sova: His recon abilities can track you after resurrection
- Fade: Her Haunt can reveal you even through smokes
- KAY/O: His suppression knife prevents your ability usage, including resurrection
- Killjoy: Her Turret can automatically target you after resurrection
- Skye: Her healing counters your decay effect
Also Check: Jett Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overaggression: Despite her self-healing, Clove is still a Controller first—balance aggression with team utility
- Poor Death Positioning: Dying in disadvantageous positions limits your post-mortem smoke coverage
- Forgetting Allied Decay: Meddle affects teammates too—communicate before deployment
- Ultimate Hesitation: Not using Not Dead Yet quickly enough after taking fatal damage
- Neglecting Controller Duties: Focusing too much on fragging while neglecting smoke coverage
Also Check: Omen Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Clove’s Backstory
Hailing from a war-torn world, Clove brings her unique immortality and tactical prowess to the Valorant Protocol. Her mischievous nature and ability to transcend death make her an unpredictable force on the battlefield. Though her exact origins remain mysterious, her immortal essence allows her to continuously return to the fight, making her a uniquely resilient member of the team.
Her playful yet deadly demeanor masks a determined tactician who approaches each battle with calculated chaos and unwavering resolve.
Also Check: Breach Guide | Abilities, Strategies & Tips | Valorant Agent
Clove Players to Watch
While Clove may be newer to the competitive scene, several players have already begun to master her unique playstyle:
- TenZ – Known for aggressive Controller plays and precise Meddle lineups
- Boaster – Demonstrates exceptional smoke placement and strategic resurrections
- Mindfreak – Masters the balance between fragging and controlling
Studying these players’ VODs can reveal optimal decay lineups, creative smoke placements, and effective resurrection techniques to elevate your own Clove gameplay.
Also Check: All Valorant Agents
Conclusion
Clove redefines the Controller role by blending aggressive fragging potential with strategic utility deployment. Her ability to impact rounds even after death—through post-mortem smokes and possible resurrection—creates unique psychological pressure that few other agents can match.
By mastering her decay lineups, one-way smokes, health management, and resurrection timing, you’ll transform from a traditional backline Controller into a dynamic force that enemies must respect both in life and death.
The battlefield belongs to those who refuse to stay dead—and with Clove, that’s exactly what you’ll do.
