Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) would be a totally different game if players still kept on doing without throwing smoke grenades. Besides being able to interrupt the enemy’s vision, a tactically thrown smoke can also guide you through the map, and even help you to do the perfect site execute.
This CS2 Smoke Cheat Sheet is a compilation of the most effective smoke grenades from seven maps of the competitive scene, Train, Dust 2, Mirage, Nuke, Ancient, Inferno, and Overpass. Knowing them will definitely give you a great team advantage if you are solo or playing with your team.
Train
Train is a game about managing the long sightlines that can kill you and not giving any information to AWPers. Smokes are essential for a safe site take and retake.
Key Smokes:
- A Main to Z Connector: The idea is to be at A Main and shoot at the nearest building corner. By using this smoke you cut off the Connector’s AWPers view when you are pushing A.
- B Upper to B Ramp: Locate Upper B, aim at the left edge of the big pipe and throw. This completely covers the Ramp entry.
- Popdog to Ladder Room Exit: A smoke on Ladder not only denies the defenders early control but also gives you safer access to mid.
Pro Tip: On Train, to practice smokes in CS2, you can force AWPers off their positions, not only smoke but also flash, as they are quite often waiting long sightlines from Heaven or Connector.
Dust 2
Dust 2 still is a sniper’s heaven, so smokes are a must if you want to cross the open areas and have control over a part of the map.
Key Smokes:
- Mid to Xbox: Starting from T Spawn, aim for the top left of the building and jump-throw. With this, the CT’s view from Mid Doors is completely blocked, and therefore it is safe to take Catwalk.
- CT Cross from Long: Use two smokes to hide the CT Spawn entirely when you are doing an A Long push.
- B Doors from Upper Tunnels: Go to the barrels, line up your aim just above the door frame, and throw the grenade. This covers B Doors, ensuring the site is taken without a hitch.
Pro Tip: The Xbox smoke is one of the game’s most vital smokes. If you don’t have it there, you will not only allow the CTs to have total control over mid without any resistance but also make it very easy for them to take A by picking you with their AWP.
Mirage
Mirage is a great place to use smokes as it allows you to approach the bombsites without the risk of being killed by aggressive angles.
Key Smokes:
- Window Smoke from T Spawn: Get in line with the right side of T Spawn wall, point at the antenna, and jump-throw. Thus, you deny the Mid AWPer’s vision early in the round.
- Jungle/Connector Smoke from A Ramp: Prior to throwing on A site, throw this so that no one can come from the rotation, and you will be protected while planting the bomb.
- Market Smoke from Apartments: B Apps, line up with the doorway and aim at the antenna. This will allow your teammates on site to isolate during the B execute.
Pro Tip: Use the Stairs smoke along with the Jungle smoke to hit A-site hard and get an easy close fight with the CTs.
Nuke
The vertical design of Nuke, along with its different levels, is the reason why the control of the site through smoke is so important.
Key Smokes:
- Outside Red to Secret: Two smokes are thrown from T Spawn along the left wall to block vision from Garage and Heaven. With this, a push in Secret is safe.
- Heaven Smoke from Lobby: Employed in A rushes with the aim of denying overwatch to CTs from Heaven.
- Mini Smoke from Outside: When splitting A from Main, throw to hide Mini defenders.
Pro Tip: The use of fakes is one of the main reasons why outside smokes are so important—throw them and hit A instead, getting the enemy off their guard as they come down for the rotation.
Ancient
Ancient is a tight, utility-focused map where smokes can reveal an area that was previously considered dangerous for pushing.
Key Smokes:
- Mid Doors Smoke from T Spawn: In spawn, look just above Mid, throw to cover CT aggression.
- Donut Smoke from Mid: Sac this before going to A to isolate Temple rotations.
- CT Smoke from A Main: You’re safe A plant becomes indispensable with this throw from A Main.
Pro Tip: Don’t just use smokes for quick plays on Ancient—controlling Mid without utility is almost impossible.
Inferno
Inferno’s narrow choke points make smokes necessary for any safe push or for holding a site.
Key Smokes:
- Top Banana Smoke from T Ramp: Prevents CTs from peeking Banana early via snipers or rifles.
- CT Spawn Smoke from Banana: From Car, aim at the electrical pole and throw. This gives you a free B site because the door is blocked, so no rotations are possible.
- Library Smoke from Short: While hitting A from Short Library is the perfect place to throw the smoke, which can nullify the rotation coming from Arch side.
Pro Tip:
Inferno is a part of the CS2 game revolving around the control of Banana. In case you lose Banana, the B site will be almost impossible to take back. So, to sum it up, fight smokes are the ones that initially give you the Banana control.
Overpass
Overpass is a map that rewards players that are the first to get control of the map, and the safest way to do it are smokes.
Key Smokes:
- Bathroom Smoke from Fountain: In Fountain, throw it towards the Bathroom entrance to deny early CT aggression.
- Heaven Smoke from Monster: This removes Heaven’s strong sightline over site when executing B.
- CT Smoke from Monster: Very important for cutting rotations during B hits.
Pro Tip: Overpass smokes can be great for fakes, do a full B execute from Monster while actually going with the bomb to A.
Final Tips for Mastering Smokes in CS2
- Practice in Offline Mode: Start up your own private server, give yourself unlimited ammo and grenades and practice every lineup until you don’t have to think to do it.
- Learn Jump-Throw Binds: Some smokes need to be exactly called jump throws – so unify the key for stability.
- Communicate with Your Team: Smokes will most likely work if you have flashes and coordinated pushes with them.
- Adapt to Enemy Play: So if defenders sprint through your smokes and kill you swiftly with pre-aims and counter-utility.
Conclusion
Smokes are a powerful weapon in CS2. With them, you can block the sight, make the enemy move to another place and give your team a chance to do the plan safely. From this cheat sheet, you learn smokes on Train, Dust 2, Mirage, Nuke, Ancient, Inferno, and Overpass, and by that you will be able to win essential rounds and matches.