The attacking team must plant the Spike in VALORANT. Attackers carry the device during the round and can activate it at a designated site after reaching the required plant area.
Planting the Spike gives the attackers a second win condition. They can eliminate the defending team, or they can protect the activated Spike until it detonates. Defenders instead try to stop the plant, eliminate the attackers, or defuse the Spike after it has been activated.
“Bomb” is a common informal description because the objective resembles bomb-planting mechanics in other tactical shooters, but Spike is the game’s canonical name. “Charge” and “Explosive” are generic terms, not the official objective name. Once planted, the Spike creates a time-pressure situation: attackers must defend the site while defenders coordinate a retake and attempt the 7-second defuse.