SkinLords CS2 Guides The Best Mirage CS2 Strategies: Master CT Side Utility Usage

The Best Mirage CS2 Strategies: Master CT Side Utility Usage

For a map as old and as commonly played as Mirage, you can argue that pretty much everything about the map has already been discovered and tried. But this is what has led to Mirage being called by some as the “perfect map,” since winning all boils down to the execution of strategies that everyone already knows. It’s one of the most balanced maps in Counter-Strike, and having strategic depth is key to success here more than anything.

For a complete guide on mastering Mirage in CS2, check out this article:

CS2 Mirage Guide

Mirage A Site Counter-Terrorist Utility

A Site is the closest to both the attacking and defending teams, and as a result, both of them can quickly execute their utility lineups to block off angles. The two most common positions that CT players throw their smoke grenades towards are A Ramp and Palace, given that these are the two entry points to the site from T Spawn.

The A Ramp smoke grenade throw will always just be a simple left click while facing the position since the CTs will always reach that area before the Ts anyway. Alternatively, a molotov can also be thrown here a little deeper, which will either force a counter-smoke from the attackers or make them wait out the fire.

The Palace smoke can be thrown right from CT Spawn, requiring a simple lineup and jump throw to execute it easily. This will cover off vision into and from Palace completely, which is a big deal, especially for duels from Palace towards Jungle or Stairs.

Another important piece of utility, though not necessarily A Site itself, is the classic Top Mid smoke. Variations of this have been used by rotator CT players for years, with the ultimate result being to block vision and create time for any Nest player to establish their position against a T-side mid push.

The importance of blocking off these areas is to quickly establish solid positions within the bomb site while reducing the risk of any opposing player peeking out before your team has set into position.

Since many rounds on Mirage will play out as an A Split, either through A Ramp/Palace or even A Ramp/Connector, having the correct utility will swing the odds in your favor a whole lot better than a direct gunfight would.

Mirage B Site Counter-Terrorist Utility

B Site on Mirage is favored to the Counter-Terrrorist side since they will always arrive there first, however the amount of different utility executes that the attackers can pull off from various parts of the map will always level out the playing field.

Apart from the standard Incendiary Grenade toss deep into B Apartments, a simple execute can be to make a one-way smoke that completely covers off player model vision for anyone standing around Van. This makes use of a simple lineup and right-click throw once you have reached the corner of the wall next to Van.

Apart from the one-way smoke at Van, players can simply throw a normal smoke into B Apartments without any kind of special lineup, preferably aimed at the second window where the doorframe is located. This, combined with an Incendiary Grenade, will almost certainly stop any quick Rush B play.

Mid-Round Rotations

The great thing about Mirage is that either bomb site is easily accessible from the other. Locations like Underpass, which directly connects B Apartments to Mid, or Ladder Room, which lets a player quickly get from Short to Jungle, are just two examples of paths that any rotating player can take.

For the CT side, particularly, counter utility usage would largely revolve around Flashbangs and Incendiary Grenades as smokes are commonly used up in the opening minute of a round. Hidden spots like Bench and Van on B Site alongside Firebox, Tetris, and Under Palace on A Site are all common positions to throw utility at since that’s where Terrorists usually camp in post-plant scenarios.