CS2 Thera Guide – Strategies to Master

Thera is out! One of the newest community maps released in July 2024 alongside Mills, Thera joins the ranks of possible maps for competitive and casual games. Designed by creators FMPONE (creator of Cache) and MF Kitten, the map Thera follows the tried and tested three-lane setup with two bomb sites but brings a twist of excitement through the verticality of the map. To help you explore what this beautiful map set place in Santorini has to offer, we’ve put together a CS2 Thera Guide, which will walk you through the critical positions in Thera and strategies to master for both the CT and Terrorist teams!

Key Positions in Thera

Kicking off our CS2 Thera Guide, let’s first review Thera’s key positions/callouts. The following positions in Thera are on the map oriented with the T Spawn on the map’s south side.

• T Spawn – T Spawn, short for Terrorist Spawn, is where all T-side players start each round. T Spawn is located on the south side of the map.
• CT Spawn – CT Spawn, short for Counter-Terrorist Spawn, is where all CT-side players start each round. CT Spawn is located on the north side of the map, opposite the T Spawn.
• A Site – A Site is one of two sites on Thera where Terrorist players can plant the bomb. A Site is located between the two spawns on the east side of the map.
• B Site – B Site is the other of two sites on Thera where Terrorist players can plant the bomb. B Site is located directly opposite to the A Site on the west side of the map.
• Middle – Middle, also known as Mid for short, is the central hub of Thera, connecting the two spawns and providing passageways to the two sites. Mid-control is crucial to taking control of the map, as it runs vertically through the middle of the map.
• Basement – Basement is one of two pathways leading to the A Site for T-side players. It’s similar to an underpass in other maps, such as Mirage, as it runs under the Site. Basement is located south of the A Site.
• Short – Short is the other of two pathways leading to the A Site for T-side players. Short is a much more open space located at the southwest corner of the A Site that connects with Mid.
• Tower – Tower is one of two main pathways leading to the B Site for T-side players. Like the A Site, Tower provides a vertical element to the map. Tower is located at the southeast corner of the B Site.
• B Main – B Main is the other pathway leading to the B Site for T-side players. B Main is a much more open space, located east of the B Site and connects with Mid.

Counter Terrorists’ Strategies

Though Thera is new to the game, it follows the tried and tested three-lane setup, making CT gameplay relatively standard. Our CS2 Thera Guide recommends a 2-1-2 split, with two players dedicated to defending each site and one player defending Mid.

A Site Defense – 2 Players

A Site on Thera is quite a mess, as it features many entrances and details to watch out for. There are plenty of options and positions for CT players to hold, but we recommend that one player holds A Door, where they could advance into the Basement Stairs, and one player holds Short/Double Doors to defend against the Mid-push. A Site is by no means easy to defend, but using utility helps and makes defending the site much more manageable.

B Site Defense – 2 Players

B Site is a bit more straightforward with fewer angles to hold, but it is connected directly to Mid. The result is the risk of a split push from Mid (but it also makes retake much easier!). That’s why we recommend one player defends against the Mid push by stationing at B Main, and one player positions to defend either Tower or peak Chair. This ensures that all ways onto the site are defended. Similar to the A Site, the B Site features many boosts that can surprise CT players. Such boosts include Balcony, where T-side players can peek directly on ground level, and Boost, where T-side players can access the site and avoid going through Tower.

Mid Defense – 1 Player

The player Mid holds the most crucial role in the CT team, as Mid control is integral to the defense of the two sites. As there are few options when holding Mid, T-Side players have an effortless time smoking off Window, blocking off the only clear view through Mid. It’s recommended that the Mid-player is ready to rotate to other positions on the map, such as Corner or Connector. As with any other role, understand that Mid will require the Mid player to continue switching it up based on enemy player behavior.

Terrorists’ Strategies

In the last section of our CS2 Thera Guide, let’s go over some Terrorist strategies. The following strategies are some safe bets on executes that your team can do to take each site, but understand that your team can change some things up if the strategies aren’t working!

A Site Split Push

Because Basement on A Site is such a cramped place, it’s wise to split up forces, with two or three players tackling Connector to gain access to Site through Short. As always, with complicated sites such as those found on Ancient, Nuke, and Mirage, using molotovs to clear corners is critical. Smokes can also be thrown on A Ramp and CT Main to block enemy rotations.

B Site Split Push

B Site is far less of a headache to take compared to A Site, featuring far fewer angles to clear. The recommended split is a 2-3 split between Tower and Mid. The players Tower can opt to boost a player onto Chair while the rest continue to the first level of the Site. The players going Mid must throw down smokes either in the middle of Mid or in Window to cross into B Main safely. For post-plant situations, smoke Heaven and B Stairs to block enemy rotations.

Wrapping Up!

In this CS2 Thera Guide, we’ve covered the critical positions on the map, along with some strategies to use for both the CT and T sides. To explore more map guides like this or game settings customization guides, check out our other blogs on the SkinLords CS2 Blog Page! As always, keep learning and have fun out there!