This guide will demonstrate three Sova Recon Bolt lineups on Valorant’s newest map, Icebox. Those lineups are focused on playing on the defensive side of the map.

Sova’s Recon Bolt ability can be used in many useful ways, and out of Sova’s kit, has the most potential to impact the game. Well placed Recon Bolts can allow your team to make aggressive plays, as well as having the ability to gain valuable information to assist with rotates. It is also a very useful tool for retaking bombsites.

The first lineup will demonstrate how to place a Recon Bolt around the A-belt area, gaining early information towards the A-site. The second Recon Bolt lineup will reveal enemy players at the back of Middle. The third Recon Bolt demonstrates how you can use this ability to effectively retake the B-site, after the opponents have planted the spike.

Sova’s Recon Bolt Ability:

• Description: “Equip a bow with recon bolt. Fire to send the bolt forward activating upon collision and revealing the location of nearby enemies caught in the line of sight of the bolt. Enemies can destroy this bolt. Hold Fire to extend the range of the projectile. Alternate Fire to add up to two bounces to this arrow.”
• Type: Signature
• Cost: Free

Recon Bolt Lineups for Icebox: Defense

A-belt

In order to perform this lineup, you will need to position yourself up on the Rafters, in the back corner of the A-site. From there you will need to position your crosshair as shown below. You will then need to fully charge the shot, with bounces set to one.

This Recon Bolt will provide early information about any enemy players outside the A-site, coming from the Belt area. Due to the landing position, it can be difficult for enemy players to destroy the bolt, and will usually get one or two scans off. This can also be used very effectively in the mid-round, gaining your team valuable information.

Middle

This lineup will require you to line yourself up directly against the corner of the yellow box on the B-site. From there you will need to place your crosshair in-between where the dark and light parts of the building meet, just below the raised part. You can also use the charge bar to line this up, placing the right side of the bar jut below the yellow and black hazard marking.

This Recon Bolt should reveal all enemy players at the back of Middle, providing your team with valuable information. You could use this at the start of the round to see which site the enemy players are favoring, or after they have taken map control, to try and determine where they are potentially headed.

B-retake

From the crate above the site, you will need to line the entrance of the crate with the boxes on site below you. Once you can no longer see the boxes on site, that’s the correct lineup. You then place your crosshair as shown below and fully charge the shot, with bounces set to two.

This Recon Bolt will assist your team in retaking the B-site, as it will reveal information on some key post-plant positions.

For anyone playing Sova as one of their main agents, it’s always good to know as many Recon Bolt lineups as possible, both for attack and defense. Before you utilize those in a ranked game, it’s definitely worth practicing them once or twice in a custom match. This will also help you to remember them when diving into a rated matchup.

Be sure to check out our other Sova Recon Bolt defensive guides for the maps Bind, Ascent, Haven, and Split.

For the latest news, guides, and interviews in the world of Valorant, remember to follow us at Run It Back.