Mastering Lotus with Clove: A Pro's Guide to Site Control in 2025

Hey there, fellow duelists and sentinels! Ever loaded into a Lotus match and felt that instant headache coming on? You're not alone. As a seasoned player grinding ranked in 2025, I still remember how intimidating this three-site map felt when it first dropped. Instead of the usual two points to worry about, Riot decided to give us an extra helping of chaos, making default defenses feel paper-thin. But here's the secret I've learned: mastering Lotus isn't about having perfect aim on every duel; it's about controlling space and dictating the terms of engagement. And honestly, what agent embodies that control philosophy better in the current meta than Clove? Their dynamic smokes don't just block vision; they sculpt the battlefield. So, let's break down how we can use Clove's kit to turn Lotus from a nightmare into our playground.

1. Shutting Down the A-Site Stampede (Defense)

Let's start with the most common pain point: A Site. We've all been there, right? You're holding B or C, and within seconds you hear "A MAIN, A MAIN, THEY'RE ALL A!" It feels like attackers have a personal vendetta against that site. Why? Because it offers them multiple entry points and fewer scary angles to clear initially. My go-to move to stop this early rush dead in its tracks is a quick two-smoke combo in the middle of A Main as soon as we get sound cues.

• Smoke Placement: One for the left-side entry near Tree, and one cutting off the right-side path.

• The Play: This doesn't just block vision; it creates hesitation. That moment of confusion is your team's golden ticket. It lets a teammate safely position near the right-side box for a nasty crossfire, or allows a rotator to get into position without being picked off. Think of it as putting up a 'Closed for Business' sign right in their faces.

2. The Aggressive A-Site Takeover (Defense)

But what if they don't hit A first? Sitting around waiting is boring! If the enemy team shows presence on B or C early, that's our signal to get aggressive on A. This is where we flip the script. Instead of preventing their push, we prevent their rotation back. The key is to smoke off A Lobby (that long hallway attackers use) and quickly move up with a teammate into the Rubble area.

This creates immense pressure. Now, if they want to retake A, they have to deal with an agent lurking deep in their territory. It's a high-risk, high-reward play that can completely dismantle an attacker's strategy.

3. Executing onto A Site (Attack)

Okay, now let's swap sides. As attackers, A Site might seem inviting, but trying to plant with peeks coming from A Stairs, Tree, and A Top simultaneously is a recipe for a swift trip back to the lobby. Our job is to simplify that chaos. The standard execute involves smoking off two critical spots:

1. A Stairs

2. Tree

With those sightlines blocked, our duelist can safely enter the site proper. Our team can then use flashes and recon to clear the close corners and A Top. The real decision comes after the plant. Do we play on-site for a close-range brawl, or do we fall back to A Main and hold long angles? 🤔 That choice dictates the best spike plant location. For an on-site hold, plant default. For a long-range hold, plant somewhere with cover from A Main.

4. Fortifying the B-Site Chokepoint (Defense)

Ah, B Site. The quieter sibling. Defending here is usually more about patience, thanks to the tight chokepoint at B Main. But we can make it a fortress. If we're unsure where the enemy is, a conservative smoke on B Main forces them to either wait or blindly commit. But my favorite trick is the aggressive setup.

• Passive: Smoke B Main (and maybe A Link if we're getting no info).

• Aggressive: Smoke the B Pillars on the attacker's side of the chokepoint. This allows a teammate to sneak into B Main and camp behind that box, creating a devastating crossfire with me holding from site. It's an almost guaranteed pick if they try to push.

5. Breaking into B Site (Attack)

So you want to attack B? I respect the bravery. The key is information and cutting off rotations. We often hear if someone breaks the destructible door near A Link, telling us if that cross-angle is clear. Our smoke plan is then straightforward:

1. B Upper (to block the defender's main peek from site).

2. C Link (to stop anyone rotating from C or A Link from interfering).

With those down, a well-timed flash can help our entry clear the close angles around the pillar. Once the spike is down, the post-plant is crucial. Holding from B Main and C Link is ideal, creating multiple, unpredictable angles for the retaking defenders. Save your utility! The retake on B can come from so many directions.

6. The C-Site Smoke Marathon (Defense)

C Site is interesting. It doesn't have a hard chokepoint like B, but it's still very defensible with Clove. The simplest and most effective strategy is the smoke marathon on C Main. By placing one smoke, letting it decay, and immediately throwing another, we can block that entrance for what feels like an eternity (up to 42 seconds if we use both charges!). This forces attackers to either wait us out—wasting precious time—or dry peek into a site where we hold all the angles.

Feeling spicy? We can smoke C Lobby instead and push up with a teammate to grab the orb and establish early control, catching rotators off guard.

7. The C-Site Attack & Plant

Finally, attacking C. It's a tough nut to crack. The smokes shown in the guide are the bread and butter: one deep in C Main and one on the right-side close angle. This creates a safe corridor onto the site. But the plant spot changes everything.

• For a default plant: The standard smokes work perfectly.

• For a post-plant hold from C Main: Plant in the back corner, but smoke off C Link instead of the close right angle. Yes, it means clearing more angles initially, but defending the spike from the safety of C Main becomes significantly easier.

Wrapping It Up: The Clove Mindset on Lotus

So, what's the big takeaway after all this? Playing Clove on Lotus in 2025 is about being the strategic brain of your team. It's not just throwing smokes on cooldown. It's about asking:

• Are they rushing? Let's delay them.

• Are they slow? Let's take their space.

• Where will they rotate from? Let's cut it off.

Every smoke should have a purpose, either to enable your team or disable the enemy's plan. With three sites to manage, your ability to control sightlines and tempo is more valuable than ever. Now, get out there, queue up, and use those smokes to paint your masterpiece on Lotus. See you on the leaderboards! 🎮