Tactics for Playing as Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists in CS2
Gone are the days when people played Counter-Strike “just for fun” in computer clubs. To be precise, it was there that the spirit of competition between groups was born, which has endured and later transformed the game into an esports discipline. Now, without tactical knowledge in CS, you’ll earn the proud title of a noob even in a casual open match.
Yes, without understanding tactics in CS:GO, you can still win matches at lower ranks, but once you reach silver, you’ll start encountering skilled players, and you’ll have to improve not only your shooting skills but also your CS:GO tactics.
Today you’ll learn everything about which tactics in CS suit you when playing as CTs or Ts, how to buy during rounds, which skills to train for each side. And of course, the advantages of each faction — can’t go without those.
Playing as Counter-Terrorists in Counter-Strike 2
So, if you like defending with minimal movement, counter-terrorists are definitely for you. The advantages of this side include:
Relatively simple tactics in CS:GO, where you need to control bomb spots, monitor opponents, and react to their actions.
Fairly efficient economy, where a round without a bomb plant or after defusing it provides stable income.
Access to the M4A4/M4A1-S with controllable spray and tactical advantages.
Among the downsides of playing as CT in CS:GO are:
Constant defense, where it’s important to react quickly to enemy actions.
Spread-out forces, where the team needs to cover several bomb sites and approaches at once.
Rather standard tactics, where you mostly defend against opponents and rarely counterattack.
As for CS:GO tactics, counter-terrorists can operate according to the following schemes:
Classic defense: 2 players on A and B, 1 in mid or support, ensuring maximum bombsite protection and team survival.
Aggressive control with quick pushes into mid, tunnels, and forcing through key enemy lanes.
Rotations with quick movements, establishing defense, and counterattacks on enemy spots.
Crossfire setup with control of potential corridors the enemy might use.
Time control with gradual reduction of enemy space and numbers.
Retakes with dynamic movement between sites and a goal of quickly clearing enemies from bombsites.
Note: the described CS:GO tactics are universal when playing as CTs; we’ll look at specific examples for each map a bit later.
Playing as Terrorists in Counter-Strike 2
Tactics in CS:GO when playing as terrorists are fundamentally different from CT. No passive strategies — only a combination of aggression with well-thought-out group and solo maneuvers.
Advantages of this side include:
Initiative across all directions, such as site takes, corridor maneuvers, and luring CTs out of position.
Unquestionable movement advantage, where only terrorists set the pace and impose their rules on the round.
Top-tier equipment, like the AK-47, annihilating opponents with one-shot headshots, completely ignoring armor.
Deception and illusion, pushing enemies to make knowingly losing decisions.
Full control over time and intensity of matches by switching playstyles mid-round.
The downsides also include a few points:
Dependence on coordination among all teammates for a successful round build-up.
Site takes can cost teammates' lives, even with good teamplay.
Plants are crucial, as without bombs the economy suffers even in winning rounds.
As for terrorist tactics — it's fairly straightforward:
Slow map control with gradual displacement of CTs from bombsites and smooth dominance.
Rushes to sites without delays, team force against weak defenses with fast movement.
Fakes with flashes and smoke, distracting CTs to one site with a force imitation.
Rush to mid with corridor control and CT split, followed by site capture and planting.
Splits to probe defense, attempts to take sites with small forces and regrouping afterward.
Lates focusing on the final minute of the round, aggressive force on the site with grenades.
The described CS:GO tactics for terrorists are classics, which will need to be adapted to the specifics of each popular map. That’s exactly what we’ll cover next.
Tactics on Different Maps
Tactics in CS:GO for terrorists and CTs can vary greatly depending on the selected map. For example, Dust 2 CS:GO tactics differ significantly from those on maps like Mirage, Nuke, or Inferno. So, we’ll now look at the core team mechanics on four of the most popular maps — for both terrorists and counter-terrorists.
Dust 2 CS2 Tactics
CS:GO tactics on the Dust map are canonical, especially considering the map’s age and popularity among players. The following maneuvers and team actions are typical for it:
| CT | Terrorists |
|---|---|
| 2A – 1 Mid – 2B Two on A, where one holds long through "piggy" and the other covers CT and short. Mid watches the passage or short and supports the sites. B players are on-site and in tunnels. | Fast long push Smokes and flashes from T-spawn onto long, taking the pit and wiping out CTs. After that, either A take or pushing short via long. |
| Mid control 3 go long with flashes, followed by long or door control. The rest cover mid and B. | Control 2 on B, 1 on mid, and 2 on long/short. A calm CS tactic where terrorists wait and capitalize on CT mistakes. |
| Fast short take Two quickly take short with a smoke and flashes, then catch terrorists pushing Xbox. | Fake B with A push Noise on B with flashes and smokes, 3 go short through mid with an eventual A site take by terrorists. |
| Mid to B split Two push into B while three come through mid to CT spawn and advance to B, throwing smokes on mid doors and CT spawn. |
Smokes and flashes matter here just as much as team synergy. So make sure to train your utility usage to execute these tactics effectively.
Nuke CS2 Tactics
Don’t know how to play Nuke? Just like with the previous map, there are secret tricks for both sides of the conflict. Here’s how they look in practice:
| Terrorists | CTs |
|---|---|
| Outside via Secret Smokes to outside followed by a drop to B, a quick take of the basement, and entry onto B. | Classic 2 on A, 1 on ramp, heaven, and outside each. Watching and controlling houses, vents, ramp, outside, hangar, container, or garage. |
| Fake Outside with A Take Smokes with noise and a fake B force through Secret to distract CTs, followed by a push through houses and lobby to take A. | Outside Control One in garage with an AWP watching outside, the other pushing container with smokes and molotov to restrict Ts' movement to B. |
| Fast Ramp Rush to ramp with flashbangs and a potential fallback to B if CT resistance is too strong. | Ramp Control One on ramp, another on support with quick fallback and B control, regrouping on the site if necessary. |
| Lobby and Slow 2 on ramp holding it, 1 on Secret, and two in houses. A reconnaissance tactic to gather intel and wait for CT mistakes. |
How to carry in CS? Conquer Nuke with its vertical bombsites!
Mirage CS2 Tactics
CS GO Mirage tactics, like those on other maps, require knowledge of locations and well-practiced team coordination. Here are some CS GO Mirage tactics for both teams:
| CS GO Mirage Tactic for CT | CS GO Mirage Tactic for Terrorists |
|---|---|
| 2 A – 1 Mid – 2 B One in pit or under palace, another on CT spawn, one on mid, one in kitchen, and one in apartments. | Fast A Smokes on jungle, CT, connector, flashbangs onto site, and a fast push through pit/palace to take A. |
| Mid Control Window smoke with AWP control of mid, fast rotates to short/A if needed. | Mid Control 2–3 on mid with smokes, followed by a push to A or B. |
| Push Pit/Palace Push from A to pit with flashbangs, blocking enemy attack from palace. | Fake A to B Full fake on A with flashes, molotovs, and smokes, followed by a real push to B. |
| B Split 2 on mid, 2 on B, one supporting either group. |
Sounds easy on paper, but in matches you’ll need training and good synergy with your team.
Inferno CS2 Tactics
CS GO Inferno tactics have their own specifics; here they are:
| Terrorists | CTs |
|---|---|
| Banana Control Up to 3 on banana with flashes and molotovs, then one holds control while the rest go mid and push B. | 3A, 2B Classic tactic with control of pit, apartments, mid, short/long, and banana. |
| Fast A 3 go mid with flashes, smoke long, and force short to take A. | Banana Control Push banana with flashes and molotovs. |
| Full B Full utility on B with smokes, flashes, and molotovs, followed by a team rush onto B. | Apartment Force Second mid is pushed by players with flashbangs. |
| Fake B, Take A Noise on banana + real push to A through apartments and mid. |
Team tactics in CS GO are the foundation for victory. Train solo or with mentors at Goranked.GG to level up your skills!
