Huge bug lets players throw utility through walls on Haven

TL;DR

  • Haven’s A-short wall allows utility to pass through solid surfaces via specific lineups
  • The exploit disproportionately benefits defenders with early round information gathering
  • Higher ranked matches face greater risk due to coordinated team strategies
  • Counterplay requires audio cues recognition and alternative positioning
  • Riot Games expected to deploy hotfix addressing the unintended mechanic

Valorant’s environmental mechanics have always featured deliberate wall penetration points, but recent discoveries reveal unintended vulnerabilities that challenge map integrity. The community’s longstanding joke about “paper walls” now carries serious competitive implications as players uncover methods to bypass intended gameplay boundaries.

Wallbang mechanics represent carefully designed features within Valorant’s map architecture, allowing skilled players to shoot through specific thin surfaces. However, the current exploit on Haven transcends these intentional design elements, enabling abilities to phase through solid structures that should provide complete protection. This distinction between deliberate mechanics and unintended bugs separates strategic depth from game-breaking advantages.

The evolution of wall penetration issues demonstrates an escalating pattern of map vulnerability discovery. While players historically adapted to legitimate wallbang spots, the frequency and severity of new exploits suggest underlying engine limitations. Haven, as Valorant’s largest map, presents particularly concerning implications given its complex geometry and multiple engagement lanes where such exploits could determine round outcomes.


The newly identified exploit enables players to manipulate projectile physics at Haven’s A-short corridor, creating situations where utility appears from impossible angles. Player Ehto’s documentation showcases Raze’s satchel dealing damage through solid walls, followed by comprehensive demonstrations of replication methods across multiple agent kits.

Execution demands agent-specific lineups with steep learning curves that reward dedicated practice. The technical complexity varies significantly between abilities, with some requiring pixel-perfect positioning while others offer more forgiving parameters. This variance creates a tiered accessibility system where certain agents provide greater exploit potential than others.

Strategic value assessment reveals dramatic differences in utility effectiveness when employing this bug. Reconnaissance abilities like Sova’s Recon Dart gain disproportionate power when deployed through walls during pistol rounds or eco situations. The early information advantage can completely shift site execution dynamics, particularly when combined with flash coordination for aggressive defensive plays.

Defensive setups leveraging this exploit can gather critical attacker movement intelligence within the first 10 seconds of each round. This premature information disclosure fundamentally alters Haven’s balance, particularly at A site where attackers traditionally benefit from multiple approach options and early map control opportunities.

Higher competitive tiers face amplified risks as coordinated teams develop systematic strategies around the bug. The effort-to-reward ratio justifies extensive practice at ranks where marginal advantages determine match outcomes. Teams must now account for impossible utility placements when planning their executes, adding psychological warfare elements to technical gameplay.

The exploit’s meta impact extends beyond immediate round advantages to broader strategic adaptations. Defenders may over-rely on bug-dependent setups, creating exploitable patterns for opponents who recognize the dependency. This creates a secondary layer of counterplay involving prediction of exploit usage timing and positioning.

Vigilant players can identify exploit usage through specific audio cues and visual anomalies. Unusual ability sound origins or projectiles appearing from solid surfaces serve as primary detection indicators. Developing this recognition skill becomes crucial for competitive integrity until developer intervention resolves the underlying issue.

Effective countermeasures include adjusted positioning to minimize exposure to common exploit angles and utility pre-placed to disrupt coordinated bug-dependent strategies. Communication protocols should include immediate reporting of suspicious utility behavior to teammates for coordinated adaptation.

Advanced counterplay involves baiting exploit usage to waste opponent resources and reveal their positions. Teams should designate specific players to monitor and call out potential exploit attempts, creating systematic response patterns that neutralize the unintended advantage.

The clearly unintended nature of this mechanic positions it high on Riot Games’ priority list for hotfix deployment. Historical precedent suggests rapid response to game-breaking bugs, particularly those affecting competitive map balance and tournament integrity.

Community reporting through official channels accelerates resolution timelines. Players encountering the exploit should document occurrences with video evidence and detailed descriptions of circumstances to support developer replication and fixing.

Long-term concerns involve underlying engine integrity and potential similar vulnerabilities across other maps. The discovery process highlights the importance of continuous map auditing and community-developer collaboration in maintaining competitive integrity.

Action Checklist

  • Learn to recognize audio cues of utility passing through walls
  • Adjust A-short positioning to minimize exposure to common exploit angles
  • Establish team communication protocols for immediate exploit reporting
  • Document and report exploit encounters with video evidence
  • Develop bait strategies to waste opponents’ exploit-dependent utility

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