How to Valorant: Breaking down the how-to and tech of the initiator Sova
You can run, but you can’t hide…
Potentially one of the deadliest yet most difficult to master, Sova is an agent that rewards the tactical and brilliant. Promoting a methodical, measured playstyle, in the right hands, he is potentially the most devastating to play against. This is Sova, the Winter Hunter.
Abilities Breakdown
Like the other Valorant agents, Sova has four abilities available to him: two purchasable ones, one signature ability (replenishes every round), and an ultimate ability (earned through ult charges). Sova has no passive ability. Both his second and third ability share a commonality. Players can select between a single and double bounce to the arrow, and determine based on a bar, the strength of release on the arrow.
His first ability is Owl Drone, where after equipping a drone, he can pilot it into areas. The drone can shoot a tracking dart on targets, highlighting them through walls. Anything the drone sees grants vision to other teammates as well, making it a powerful scouting tool. Sova’s second ability is Shock Bolt. After equipping an arrow, he can release a bolt that detonates in an area, dealing damage to players and utility. He has two charges.
The third ability is also his most flexible, the infamous Recon Bolt. After equipping an arrow, Sova can release it. Upon landing, the arrow emits a sonar-like pulse three times, pinging any unobstructed enemy within the line of sight of the arrow. His ultimate is Hunter’s Fury. By charging up the bow, Sova can unleash up to three wall-piercing energy blasts. Any enemies struck with it will be revealed briefly. The ultimate can be re-used as long as ability timer is still active.
Playstyle
Sova is typically a long-ranged engager. He can enable his team and set them up for success with pre-determined Recon Dart lineups that can clear the area. A proficient Sova can often times elevate a team composition from decent to strong through the powerful clearing abilities the agent offers. Sova takes times to set up plays however, due to the difficulty and high skill floor is enabling meaningful information. Therefore, slower team compositions can favor Sova more at times.
Team Comps
Sova makes use of large open swaths that offer less hideable terrain from his utility. Hence, maps such as Fracture, Breeze, and Ascent, are staples of his, whereas maps such as Split can provide challenger for his kit due to the sheer volume of tight corners to check. In that sense, he is both the duality and the opposite of his counterpart Fade. Sova can be made to work on virtually any team composition and is immensely flexible.
Tips to Level up your Sova game
Both the Recon Bolt and Owl Drone are destructible yet offer immense value in any engagement. Knowing when and where to use these tools can turn the tides of a round. Much like Viper, learning lineups can elevate your gameplay to a wholly different level. Strong opening reveals can reveal crucial information such as enemy setups. However, flexibility is the best toolkit for any Sova. The best reveals are the unexpected ones and relying solely on lineups can be a detriment to that. Instead, to level up your gameplay, watching high level Sova plays can increase the range of imagination you will have with Sova’s toolkit.
Image credit: WIW FERRERA