CS2 Molotov vs Incendiary Grenade: What is the Difference?

If you’re a new player or someone who’s never really gotten a deeper understanding of utility, you might think that the Molotov cocktail and Incendiary Grenade in Counter-Strike are the same thing. While they have the same effect, which is to create flames on the ground, there are distinct differences that also reflect on their overall effectiveness.

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Molotov vs Incendiary Grenade: Appearance and Cost

This is the most obvious one that even a player in their first hour of CS will be able to determine. The Terrorists get the Molotov, given its nature as a more DIY explosive, while the CTs get the Incendiary Grenade, which looks neater and more compact. During the course of a game, though, it’s not rare for even veteran players to refer to both as “Molly” or simply “Firebomb” since they have the same purpose.

The CT version of the fire grenade costs $500, while the Ts only have to pay $400 for a Molotov. Both have a limit of one per round in your loadout, unlike Flashbangs, which you can carry two of at a time. They also occupy the same item slot despite having different names, so you cannot walk over and pick up a Molotov cocktail with an unused Incendiary Grenade and vice versa.

Molotov vs Incendiary Grenade: Spread and Duration Differences

The most common misconception even older players have is that the Molotov deals more damage than the Incendiary Grenade. They do the same amount of damage; however, there’s a reason everyone feels like the Molotov is better than its CT counterpart — flame spread and duration.

A Molotov generally has a better spread than the Incendiary Grenade, which means it covers more ground and reaches spots that an Incendiary typically doesn’t. This is part of the reason why players think it deals more damage, since you have to go a further distance to get out of one that’s thrown close to you.

The second and more noticeable of the differences is the duration. The Incendiary Grenade lasts for only 5.5 seconds, while the Molotov burns for 7. That 1.5-second difference may seem negligible, but its impact is very much felt. This not only makes the Molotov better for preventing enemy advances, but one and a half seconds extra of being in the fire is already equivalent to around 60hp of damage.

Molotov vs Incendiary Grenade: Final Verdict

All in all, the Molotov is the superior of the two incendiary devices in CS2. Though it’s exclusive for purchase to the Ts, even Counter-Terrorist players can get their hands on Molotovs that have been dropped by their opponents from time to time.

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