Inferno

CT-Side Strategies

Initial Positioning

Generally, you’ll start with 3 players on A and 2 on B. The A-side trio is usually divided among Apartments, Short (commonly known as Porch), and Long (or Arch side). It’s critical for the Long player to maintain control of Mid as long as possible. The AWPer usually takes this spot but should fall back to create a crossfire from the A-site and Pit if overwhelmed.

B-Side Control

Players on B aim to establish Banana control early in the round, often with a 3-player start for a utility dump. Once Banana control is established, one CT holds the Banana aggressively and the others rotate back to A. If the T-side realizes this starting setup early, they’ll push A hard, so it’s crucial that the Short and Apartments players stay alive. After taking Banana, be alert to the possibility of a T-side retake, often done with a flashbang and multiple players.

Rotations

Quick rotations are key. Once Banana control is achieved, the extra B players need to rotate to A swiftly. The ability to adapt and rotate quickly is essential, as savvy T-side players may try to exploit a weakness as soon as they identify the CT setup.

T-Side Strategies

The Default

The T-side often starts with a “default” setup, which involves two players taking Banana control, one (usually with an AWP) holding Mid, and two players moving through Second Mid to Apartments. This setup can change based on the round’s specific strategy.

Taking Control

Early Banana control might involve braving the CTs’ utility, while a later take could wait for the CT utility to be exhausted before moving in. After gaining control of Banana, one player generally stays put while the rest rotate to help take Top Mid control.

Pistol Rounds

CT-Side

On CT pistols, a default setup is often the best course of action. Especially if you play against 5-man stacks, you need to gamble a bit so stacking Mid with 4 players and 1 B player with utility is a good variation. Also, you could stack B with 3 players early.

T-Side

For the T-side pistols, quick strategies like a B rush with an early smoke for CT or a full-force Mid to A run can be highly effective.

Tips and Tricks

• Utility Game: On CT, well-placed smokes at the T-Ramp or Apartments can disrupt the T-side setup. Also, you should smoke Mid too early when there is no pressure. On the T-side, you should flash Mid early, and throw a molotov at B car because it will deny information early. But also keeping molotovs for New Box or Dark on B can oust defending CTs.
• Eco Rounds: On Eco, unorthodox plays can pay off. The use of shotguns and SMGs in tight spaces like Apps can yield surprising results.
• Communication: Callouts and team communication are essential for quick rotations and effective utility use. Especially on the T-side, stick with your team and your team’s plan (IGL) instead of pushing solo early.