Grenades

The Ultimate Guide to Counter-Strike 2 Grenades

In the adrenaline-driven world of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), the correct use of grenades can be the difference between a victorious round and a frustrating loss. This guide will take a detailed look into the five types of grenades available in CS2 – Smoke, Molotov/Incendiary, Flashbang, High-Explosive (HE), and Decoy. We will delve into their use cases, strategies, and even some pro tips to give you the upper hand on the battlefield.

CS2 Grenades Guide

The key to good utility is the absence of bad utility. Make sure you only throw grenades when they have a purpose. F.e. don’t throw your HE at the start of the round, wait until you hear sound cues of multiple enemies and then throw the utility in their area or use it to look through a smoke at good timing. Use bindings for each grenade and make sure to don’t pull out grenades in the open!

Smoke Grenades

Smoke grenades are indispensable tools for obscuring vision and creating temporary cover. They are a game-changer when it comes to strategic positioning and map control.

Usage:

• Blocking Sightlines: Use smoke grenades to cover key sightlines and provide safe passage across open areas. They are particularly effective when crossing sniper lines of fire.
• Cover for Bomb Plant/Defusal: The cover provided by smoke grenades is crucial for safe bomb planting or defusal. Smokes can create a veil of uncertainty for the enemy team, making it harder for them to stop the plant or defuse.
• Delaying Tactics: If you’re defending a site and suspect the enemy team is pushing, a smoke grenade can delay their advance, buying precious time for your team.

Advanced Tactics:

• One-Way Smokes: These are smokes placed in a way that allows you to see the enemy without them being able to see you. They require specific positioning and practice but can provide significant advantages.
• Fake Strategies: Use smokes to fake an attack on a site, forcing rotations from the enemy team and allowing your team to attack the less defended site.

Molotovs/Incendiary Grenades

Molotovs (for Terrorists) and Incendiary Grenades (for Counter-Terrorists) create an area of fire that deals damage over time, making them excellent tools for area denial and flushing out enemies.

Usage:

• Area Denial: Use these grenades to block narrow passages and deny entry to the enemy team. This tactic is handy for delaying rushes or halting retakes.
• Flushing out enemies: Many players have favorite spots to hide or hold angles. Use a Molotov or Incendiary to force these players out into the open.
• Post-Plant Defense: After planting the bomb, a well-placed Molotov can delay the enemy’s defusal attempts.

Advanced Tactics:

• Double Molotovs: Two Molotovs thrown at the same spot deal damage twice as fast, quickly killing any player daring enough to pass through.
• Molotov/Smoke Interactions: Remember, throwing a smoke grenade into the fire will extinguish it, so be careful not to nullify your own or your teammates’ Molotov with poor smoke placement.

Flashbangs

Flashbangs are non-lethal grenades that momentarily blind and deafen players within their radius. Their effective usage requires good knowledge of map geometry and proper timing.

Usage:

• Entry Flash: Flashbangs are often used when entering a contested area. A well-thrown flash can blind opponents and provide you with easy kills.
• Defensive Flash: If you’re holding a position and hear enemies approaching, a well-timed flashbang can disorient the attacking team and provide you with a chance to strike.
• Retreating: If you’re under fire and need to retreat, throwing a flashbang can provide the cover you need to fall back safely.

Advanced Tactics:

• Pop Flashes: These are flashbangs thrown in such a way that they explode almost immediately after coming into view, giving enemies no time to turn away.
• Team Flashes: Coordinate with your team to throw flashbangs while teammates attack, minimizing the risk of blinding your own team while maximizing the potential to blind opponents.

High-Explosive (HE) Grenades

HE grenades deliver a potent blast, dealing significant damage to players within their radius. They are ideal for finishing off wounded enemies or softening up opponents before a gunfight.

Usage:

• Gaining Vision: New in CS2, exploding HE’s make smokes fully disappear for a moment, so a well-timed grenade can give you lots of information!
• Damage Output: If you have information on an enemy’s location, a well-placed HE grenade can deal considerable damage, giving you an advantage in the ensuing fight.
• Crowd Control: Throwing HE grenades into tight groups of enemies can maximize their damage potential and slow down the enemy’s, especially during enemy rushes.
• Denying Vision: Exploding HE grenades can deny vision for a brief moment, especially if they explode on the ground.

Advanced Tactics:

• Nade Stacking: This is a tactic where multiple players throw their HE grenades at the same spot simultaneously, dealing massive damage, potentially killing full-health enemies.
• Wallbang Damage: Remember, HE grenades can inflict damage through thin walls and objects, so you can damage enemies in cover by using creative grenade trajectories.

Decoy Grenade

Decoy Grenades emit fake gunshot sounds and show a false blip on the enemy’s radar, potentially causing confusion and misinformation.

Usage:

• Misdirection: Use decoy grenades to fake your location, drawing enemies away from your real position.
• False Clues: Decoys mimic your current weapon’s sound, allowing you to give false information about your firepower.
• Fake Flash: Decoys can be used to trick enemies into thinking you threw a flash, leading them to look away to dodge the flash.

Advanced Tactics:

• Fake Defuse: Throwing a Decoy while defusing can mask the defuse sound, tricking Terrorists into thinking you’re still not defusing.
• End Game: Decoys explode after their sound cycle, dealing minor damage. This can be enough to kill an unsuspecting low-health enemy in the end stages of a round.

Mastering each grenade in CS2 requires practice and understanding of the game’s intricate mechanics. Incorporate these strategies into your gameplay, adapt to specific situations, and you’ll find yourself outplaying opponents with your superior utility usage. Remember, the learning never stops, and every grenade thrown is a lesson in itself. Happy fragging!