VCT 2026 Kickoff map trends: The most picked and banned maps in each region

The 2026 VCT Kickoff tournaments have concluded across all four regions, providing the first comprehensive look at the global map meta for the new season. While certain maps have established themselves as staples of competitive play, significant regional variances have emerged in veto priorities. The following analysis breaks down the map statistics for the Americas, Pacific, China, and EMEA, highlighting the unique strategic preferences that define each region.

Number for the following statistics were mostly taken from our VALORANT map stats page.

VCT Americas

The Americas region has developed a distinct meta centered around Abyss and Split, which emerged as the most contested battlegrounds of the Kickoff event. Both maps saw 13 total picks. Both maps have solidified their place in the rotation with a 16.88% pick rate, often serving as a primary pick for teams confident in their site execution.

Conversely, the ban phase in the Americas revealed a clear aversion to Haven and Breeze. Haven was the most banned map in the region, removed from the pool 21 times, followed closely by Breeze with 20 bans. Given the latest rework on Breeze, it would seem that the Americas are completely avoiding any unnecessary complexity by staying away from an almost new map and from the triple-site chaos on Haven.

Interestingly, Bind and Split played crucial roles as the region's primary decider maps, appearing 5 times each. The maps' balanced layout and familiarity likely make them a comfortable "floater" for teams who prefer to ban their opponents' best maps rather than ban Bind or Split itself.

VCT Pacific

The Pacific region stands as the global outlier regarding map preferences, specifically in its treatment of Abyss. While Abyss flourished in the Americas, it was vehemently rejected in the Pacific, becoming the most banned map with a staggering 22 bans.

In the absence of Abyss, Split emerged as the undisputed king of the Pacific, racking up 17 picks—making it the highest-picked map among all the regions. The region's teams also showed a unique affinity for Haven, picking it 13 times despite it being a top ban in the Americas and EMEA. This continued reliance on Haven indicates that Pacific teams value flexibility and aggressive defensive setups more than their Western counterparts.

The ban meta in Pacific also targeted Pearl and Corrode heavily, with 20 bans each. The high ban rate for Corrode aligns with global trends, but the rejection of Pearl further emphasizes the region's specific taste. Pacific teams appear to be curating a map pool that maximizes their aggressive skirmishing styles while removing maps that require slower, more methodical default protocols.

VCT EMEA

In the EMEA region, Pearl has become the ultimate pariah. The underwater city was banned a massive 23 times, the highest ban count for any single map across all four regions. This rejection ratio suggests that EMEA teams have either failed to find consistent solutions for the meta or simply prefer to channel their preparation time elsewhere.

With Pearl removed, Abyss dominated the pick/ban phase, accumulating 16 plays and a 20.25% pick rate. This aligns EMEA with the Americas and China in the "Pro-Abyss" camp. Split and Bind also saw healthy representation with 13 and 12 plays respectively, maintaining the region's reputation for structured, tactical VALORANT.

A unique feature of the EMEA stats is the prominence of Breeze as a decider map. It was left over as the decider 7 times, significantly more than in other regions. While Americas and China banned Breeze heavily, EMEA teams appear more willing to let it float, perhaps trusting their aim duels on the map's longer sightlines if the series goes the distance.

VCT China

The VCT China Kickoff statistics reveal a highly rigid ban meta, with teams creating an unofficial "tri-ban" strategy. Breeze and Corrode were banned 19 times each, while Pearl saw 18 bans. Thus, creating a very narrow and predictable map pool for most series. This high ban frequency for nearly half the map pool forced teams into repeated confrontations on the remaining open maps, most notably on Abyss.

Mirroring the Americas, China embraced Abyss as its main battleground, with 17 total plays (15 picks + 2 deciders). Split followed closely with 14 plays, reinforcing its status as a global favorite.

However, the most intriguing statistical anomaly in the China region is the role of Corrode. Despite being one of the most banned maps, it appeared as a decider 5 times, a seemingly high number compared to its pick rate. This implies that while teams dislike picking Corrode explicitly, they are often forced to float it through the veto process, leading to high-stakes deciders on a map that neither team seemingly wants to prioritize.

Conclusion:

Comparing the data across all four regions reveals both universal truths and stark tactical divides in the 2026 meta.

The Abyss Divide is the most significant strategic split. While Americas, China, and EMEA have all embraced Abyss as a top-tier map (13, 17, and 16 plays respectively), the Pacific region has almost entirely rejected it (22 bans). This might suggest that Masters Santiago might see a clash of philosophies, where Pacific teams will likely be forced to ban Abyss against teams from other regions, potentially leaving their other weak points exposed.

Split is the great unifier. It ranks in the top two most-played maps for every single region (Americas: 13, Pacific: 17, China: 14, EMEA: 13). Regardless of playstyle, Split's design remains conducive to competitive play.

Corrode struggles for acceptance. It is consistently among the top 3 most banned maps in every region. Its high ban rate globally suggests it is the current "least mastered" map in the pool. That does makes sense, given it’s the newest map in the map pool.

Pearl's fall from grace is also notable, particularly in EMEA (23 bans) and Pacific (20 bans). While it sees some play in the Americas and China, it has clearly lost its place as a staple map globally.

As teams head into VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Masters Santiago 2026, these statistical patterns will dictate the veto strategies. The Pacific's ban on Abyss will be tested, EMEA's refusal to play Pearl will be challenged, and the global reliance on Split could likely lead to it being the decisive battleground for the season's first trophy.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games