In Valorant, a “one-way smoke” is a clever smoke placement that gives the player who set it up a clear view of enemies—usually their feet or heads—while completely blocking the opponents’ line of sight in return. It’s a powerful tactic that can catch enemies off guard and give you an easy advantage, sometimes even lining up free kills.

How Do You Set Up a One-Way Smoke?

Pulling off a one-way smoke takes some precise placement. The idea is to throw the smoke on a raised surface—like a box, ledge, or ramp—so that there’s a gap either above or below the smoke cloud. This lets you peek through the gap while enemies on the other side see nothing but smoke.

Here’s how some agents can set up one-way smokes:

• Omen: His Dark Cover is perfect for this. You can place it on boxes or ledges so there’s a small gap underneath that only you can see through.
• Viper: With Poison Cloud, Viper can throw her smoke on top of crates or high spots to create one-ways that are especially tricky to deal with.
• Brimstone: While his Sky Smokes aren’t quite as flexible, there are still a few key map spots where one-way setups work well.
• Astra: She can place her stars on walls or ledges and trigger Nebula to block vision in creative ways, often setting up strong one-way angles.

Why Use One-Way Smokes?

One-way smokes are all about gaining control and staying one step ahead. Here’s what makes them so effective:

• Zone Control: They let defenders hold angles without exposing themselves, especially in tight chokepoints.
• Free Info: You can spot enemy movement without being seen, helping your team react faster.
• Delays and Pressure: They slow down enemy pushes and force attackers to burn utility or take a different route altogether.

Where Do One-Ways Work Best?

Some classic one-way smoke spots include:

• Bind (A Site): Omen can place a smoke on top of the A Short box to see enemy legs as they push through, all while staying completely hidden.
• Split (B Site): Viper can use the ledge near B Heaven to set up a one-way that blocks enemy vision but keeps yours clear.
• Haven (C Long): On the boxes near C Long, Omen can create a smoke that lets him see attackers’ feet before they even know he’s there.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to use one-way smokes can seriously improve your game in Valorant. They’re not just about fancy tricks—they give you better map control, extra info, and safer fights. If you take the time to practice placements and learn when to use them, one-ways can become a game-changing part of your strategy.

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