A practical strat book for Inferno, Nuke and Anubis — what actually works at your level, not pro theory you can't run. Pick a map, pick your difficulty by Elo, and get T-side, CT-side, eco and clutch plans with smokes and callouts in their real in-game names. Want more frames first? CS2 Optimizer. Copy a pro setup? CS2 Pro Configs.
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
Focus on fundamentals, not fancy strats. Buy armor and at least one smoke every buy round. Keep your crosshair at head level and pre-aim angles. Don't push solo — play off teammates and trades. Learn 2–3 core smokes per map, not 30. Keep economy simple: lost the round, save; won pistol, press. Sound wins rounds: walk on shift, listen for steps. At this level discipline beats aim.
Don't rush B early — CTs molly+HE Banana and you bleed HP with no contact. Default: 2 on Banana throw utility (deep smoke, molly on Car), 1 holds Mid, 2 go Second Mid into Apps. Take Banana and Apps control, then pick the site. Easiest strong hit — A-split via Apps + Short. On pistol, group up and rush one spot (Apps or B) with flashes.
Smokessmoke on CT/Coffins and Short when hitting A; deep Banana smoke + molly on Car when taking B; smoke on Library for the A-split.
Never give Banana for free — even on an A setup the opening molly+smoke on barrels is mandatory every round. Default 2A / 1Mid-Arch / 2B. On Banana, 2 players throw incendiary and fall back to site, no hero aim-duels. The goal is delay and damage, not frags. Always buy AWP: it holds Mid and Long. Don't over-push as a group.
Smokesmolly on Car/Top Banana every round; smoke on Banana when falling back; HE-stack onto the Banana smoke.
Eco — stack and rush one spot (B rush via Banana or 5 Apps) with cheap pistols (P250/Tec-9/Five-SeveN). Force after a lost pistol — MAC-10 ($1050)/MP9 ($1250) B rush, movement wins. Don't spread an eco — take close fights.
1vX as CT — play sound and clock, don't expose to multiple angles. If bomb's on A — use the closed Graveyard: fewer corners to clear on retake. 1vX as T — split enemies with smoke, take them one by one; don't run into the open.
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
This is where teamplay begins. Understand defaults and hit the site together, not scattered. Map control = information: take mid/banana/outside first. Throw utility in stacks — flash for the entryfragger, smoke+molly combined. Read the enemy economy and punish forces with HE+molotovs. Learn varied timings (fast/default/late) and fakes. In MR12 every round is heavy: don't waste a buy on dumb peeks. Know post-plant positions and crossfires.
Flexible default: 2 Banana, 1 AWP Mid, 2 Apps; after Top Banana control one stays, rest rotate. Top hits: A-wrap (3 Long, 1 Short, 1 Apps), B-split (3 via CT + 2 from Banana). Fakes are real — pressure Banana with utility then snap to A. B-split needs smoke on Short + Coffins, mollies behind Triple and into Dark. Mid lurker catches rotations.
Smokessmoke on Short + deep Banana (A-wrap); smoke on Coffins + CT (B-split); smoke on Library + flash over the A roof.
If you hold Top Banana (barrels, top of wall) — leave one on B (ideally AWP) and pre-rotate the second toward A. Setups 2B+3A or 3B+2A vs fakes. On A with Graveyard closed, the Pit/Short anchor holds easier — fewer back angles. The extended Balcony gives T more room from Apps — set a Short+Pit crossfire and molly under Balcony earlier.
Smokessmoke on T-Ramp/deep Banana to delay; smoke on Apps when pushing Boiler; smoke on CT for the B retake.
Half-force ($2000–3500): MP9/MAC-10 + armor + a couple smokes, press one direction. On CT eco stack a site or Mid and catch the rush in crossfire. After the Season-4 buff, MP7/MP5-SD are viable on forces — consider them vs weak armor.
Use loss-bonus logic: sometimes saving for the next full buy is worth more. 1v2 post-plant B — play Coffins/CT with smoke over the defuse line. On A, note CTs no longer have Graveyard to rat — the enemy is more predictable.
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
Here mid-round adaptation and information decide rounds, not pre-set strats. Teams read a single smoke or sound and change the plan on the fly. Perfect economy: no forces on the critical round, smart saves around loss bonus (sometimes deliberately saving a loss streak). Anti-strats: adjust to enemy tendencies every round. Sub-tick physics make lineups identical on FACEIT/Premier — utility must be flawless. Individual mechanics maxed, but discipline decides: lose 5 in a row, don't break structure.
Mid control before 1:30 correlates with ~58% round win — pressure with the Apps Window smoke and take Mid early. Dynamic hits: read the CT setup off their first utility and choose A/B mid-round. Use the new extended Balcony as an extra lurk/rotation spot on A. A proper B-split needs 3 smokes minimum (Arch, Short, Library), else the Library AWP is unpunished.
SmokesApps Window smoke (Mid); triple B-split (Arch + Short + Library); one-way options on A after the Balcony change.
Aggressive Top Banana control to free a B player for early rotation. Vary setups every round (dynamic positioning), deny reads. Re-smoking Banana is standard, but save utility for retake. Closed Graveyard simplifies A retake: redistribute utility, don't waste it on an angle that no longer exists.
Smokesdeep Banana smoke + HE-stack; smoke on Apps for the counter-push; retake smokes on B (CT/Coffins).
Here forces are calculated against enemy loss-bonus: break their full buy exactly when they need a save. Clutch = managing round clock and sound through smoke (in CS2 steps are audible through it). Fake-defuse, silent rotations, and exploit that smoke reacts to HE (you can punch a hole to expose a position).
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
Focus on fundamentals, not fancy strats. Buy armor and at least one smoke every buy round. Keep your crosshair at head level and pre-aim angles. Don't push solo — play off teammates and trades. Learn 2–3 core smokes per map, not 30. Keep economy simple: lost the round, save; won pistol, press. Sound wins rounds: walk on shift, listen for steps. At this level discipline beats aim.
Don't get lost in the verticality. Simplest plan: smoke wall on Outside (cut Heaven/Garage/Red), take the yard as a team, then decide — Secret down to B or Ramp. On pistol a fast A-rush via Hut/Squeaky with flashes and a Heaven smoke works. Fear the AWP in Garage and on B Ramp — smoke them off.
Smokessmoke wall on Outside (Red→Secret); smoke on Garage vs the AWP; smoke on Heaven for the A-rush.
Nuke loves CT — play off utility and info. A: one Heaven/Rafters, one at Mini/Hut. B/Ramp: one player with molly+smoke stalls the Ramp push. One controls Outside from Garage/Secret. On retake use Vents for a surprise entry. Buy AWP (Garage/Main). Vary positions round to round.
Smokessmoke on Ramp from Control vs a B push; smoke under Silo vs A; molly into Hut/Squeaky vs a rush.
Eco T — fast A-rush via Lobby with flashes, close fights in Hut/Squeaky. CT eco — stack A or Ramp with shotguns/SMGs. Clutch CT on B — play Decon/Vents and sound, stall. Clutch T — cut with smoke and deny CT trades.
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
This is where teamplay begins. Understand defaults and hit the site together, not scattered. Map control = information: take mid/banana/outside first. Throw utility in stacks — flash for the entryfragger, smoke+molly combined. Read the enemy economy and punish forces with HE+molotovs. Learn varied timings (fast/default/late) and fakes. In MR12 every round is heavy: don't waste a buy on dumb peeks. Know post-plant positions and crossfires.
Outside control by one player with full utility + split. Tactics: "Fake Outside" (smoke+nades simulate a take, then A via Lobby), Outside→Secret→lower B, boost on Blue Box for Garage control. Decoys create chaos on fakes. Sync it: A through Lobby (show presence) + B through Vents/Ramp simultaneously.
Smokesdouble Outside smoke (Red+Garage); smoke on Heaven for the Secret cross; smoke on Mini for the A-split.
Dynamic positioning is the main tool vs reading Ts. Aggressive info-pushes Lobby/Radio with flashes give picks but risk man-down. Hold Outside in layers (Garage+Secret crossfire). One Ramp player with molly+smoke is mandatory. Use verticality: nades through the upper windows over A.
Smokessmoke on Outside vs early T control; smoke on Ramp from Control; molly into Hut/Squeaky.
Forcing on Nuke is hard — disciplined eco + damage beats a weak force vs vertical defense. If you force — fast A via Lobby+Hut in numbers. Clutch CT — sound is critical here, Vents reveal rotations. Clutch T post-plant — hold crossfires (Toxic/Default on B, Hut/Heaven on A).
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
Here mid-round adaptation and information decide rounds, not pre-set strats. Teams read a single smoke or sound and change the plan on the fly. Perfect economy: no forces on the critical round, smart saves around loss bonus (sometimes deliberately saving a loss streak). Anti-strats: adjust to enemy tendencies every round. Sub-tick physics make lineups identical on FACEIT/Premier — utility must be flawless. Individual mechanics maxed, but discipline decides: lose 5 in a row, don't break structure.
Pro-level Nuke weaponizes verticality and rotations: one second Outside is empty, the next it's swarming with Ts. Layered utility hits, perfectly synced A/B split via Vents. Flank lurks via Outside/Secret break CT rotations. Specialist teams push Nuke to 70–80% win rate. Read the CT setup and switch site mid-round.
Smokesfull Outside wall from one spot; smoke on Heaven/Catwalk for a safe cross; smoke on Mini + Hut molly for the A execute.
The best Nuke teams win through unpredictability and tight rotation control. Early aggressive Outside/Lobby peeks for tempo, instant Vents rotations. Save utility for the B retake (nearly unsolvable without it). Mid-round adaptation off sound and a single peek decides.
SmokesB retake smokes (Ramp/Vents); smoke vs an Outside take; mollies on the Secret/Decon line.
Forces strictly against enemy loss-bonus and B-retake math. Clutch — a masterclass in sound and clock: in CS2 steps are audible through smoke, Vents reveal movement. Fake-defuse and silent inter-floor rotations. Exploit smoke reacting to HE to expose.
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
Focus on fundamentals, not fancy strats. Buy armor and at least one smoke every buy round. Keep your crosshair at head level and pre-aim angles. Don't push solo — play off teammates and trades. Learn 2–3 core smokes per map, not 30. Keep economy simple: lost the round, save; won pistol, press. Sound wins rounds: walk on shift, listen for steps. At this level discipline beats aim.
Easiest path — fast B: it's close to T-Spawn, enter via B Long. Learn to take Mid (Water/Canal) — it opens both sites. Default: 2 Mid/Water, 2 B Long, 1 A Main. Take Mid early — but mind the new flipped Mid Doors, CTs now see more. Simple A hit — A Main with a smoke on Heaven.
Smokessmoke on Heaven (A Main exit); smoke on Connector; smoke into the window/Water.
Setup: 1 A anchor, 2 B (Pillar + Water), 2 Mid/Bridge. After the rework Mid holds easier — play more active near Mid Doors. On A use the raised Walkway crates as cover on retake. Don't give Mid for free — losing Mid = collapse. Buy AWP (Sniper's Nest on B, Heaven on A).
Smokessmoke on A Main/Connector to delay; smoke into Water on B; molly under Pillar.
Eco T — fast B rush via B Long in numbers, close fights. CT eco — stack B (easy to defend on eco) or catch at Mid. Clutch CT on B — play Default/Pillar with an exit, stall. Clutch T — smoke A Heaven/Connector and take them one by one.
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
This is where teamplay begins. Understand defaults and hit the site together, not scattered. Map control = information: take mid/banana/outside first. Throw utility in stacks — flash for the entryfragger, smoke+molly combined. Read the enemy economy and punish forces with HE+molotovs. Learn varied timings (fast/default/late) and fakes. In MR12 every round is heavy: don't waste a buy on dumb peeks. Know post-plant positions and crossfires.
Mid control via Bridge/Connector pressures both sites — CTs spread thin. Take Water/Palace early to dictate CT movement. Mix A/B: fake one, hit the other. On B use the new E-box hole to molly Ninja/Back Site. If CTs stack B — fast A via Main. Don't enter Mid without a smoke on the flipped Mid Doors.
Smokessmoke on Mid Doors + Connector; smoke on Heaven for the A execute; smoke on Sniper's Nest for B Long.
Exploit the Mid rework: play active angles near Mid Doors, not a static one-and-done spot. The new Connector hole — throw incendiary the other way to re-control Connector and E-box from the second B player. On A the scaffolding kills the Heaven↔Camera AWP duel, push out of Camera with confidence. Early info-peeks matter on this T-sided map.
Smokessmoke on A Main; smoke on Connector vs a Mid split; molly into Water/Back Site.
Half-force: SMG + smoke, press Mid or B Long. After the Season-4 buff MP7/MP5-SD/Bizon are $100 cheaper — consider on forces. CT eco — stack B with the new hole support. Clutch CT on A — raised Walkway crates give cover. Clutch T — use the B hole to molly-cut rotations.
Spots use their real in-game names; alternate names are split with “/”.
Here mid-round adaptation and information decide rounds, not pre-set strats. Teams read a single smoke or sound and change the plan on the fly. Perfect economy: no forces on the critical round, smart saves around loss bonus (sometimes deliberately saving a loss streak). Anti-strats: adjust to enemy tendencies every round. Sub-tick physics make lineups identical on FACEIT/Premier — utility must be flawless. Individual mechanics maxed, but discipline decides: lose 5 in a row, don't break structure.
Anubis is still T-sided, but the Season-4 rework forces relearning defaults — old "safe" mid lineups now walk into new angles. Water+Connector control = pressure on both sites. Dynamic splits: read CT reaction to the first smoke and choose the site mid-round. On B the new hole opens clean utility paths — molly Ninja/Back Site before the execute. Palace lurks break rotations.
Smokessmoke on Mid Doors + Bridge for the Mid take; triple smokes for the B execute (Heaven, Connector, Sniper's Nest); one-way options on A after the crate change.
The rework gave CTs tools to fight for the map, not just react. Teams that rebuilt utility around the new Mid geometry fastest win the season. Hold Mid actively at Doors, re-control Connector via the new hole with incendiary. A scaffolding lets you aggressively exit Camera. Save utility for the A retake (genuinely doable now with Walkway cover).
SmokesA retake smokes (Connector/Camera); smoke vs a Mid take; mollies into Water/Back Site through the new hole.
Forces against enemy loss-bonus and the knowledge Anubis is T-sided — sometimes forcing CTs to spend on a retake is better. Clutch: sound through smoke (steps audible), fake-defuse, smoke reacts to HE. On A exploit that post-rework T has fewer rat angles (crates raised) — the enemy is more predictable in a clutch.
In CS2 smoke is volumetric: the "blanket" lasts 15s, full effect is exactly 18 seconds (~2s bloom, ~16s full opacity), reacts to bullets and HE (can briefly punch a hole), extinguishes molotovs. Steps are audible through smoke. Sub-tick makes lineups identical on FACEIT and Premier — learn them once. MR12 economy: rifle full buy T ≈$4500, AWP setup ≈$6000; loss bonus $1400→$3400; sometimes save the loss streak. SMGs (MAC-10 $1050 T / MP9 $1250 CT, plus MP7/MP5-SD/UMP-45) give $600 per kill (two MAC-10 frags return $1200 on a $1050 buy) — farm on anti-eco. Rifle gives $300 per kill, AWP only $100. New in 2026: CT players get an extra $50 per kill.
Smokes are conceptual — train exact lineups on a local server (sv_cheats 1; sv_grenade_trajectory 1). CS2 patches change the meta — re-check after big updates. Not affiliated with FACEIT or Valve.