Ambush Tips

Important note

All the tips and suggestions provided below are for guidance only. These are not methods that will guarantee wins in competitive matches. These suggestions have been prepared in reference to player experiences and acquired knowledge over the duration of the games existance. You can find more detailed information about the competitive mode under Documentation > Read Me > Modes.

Bomb planting and defusing

In competitive mode, the Alt + E key combination is used to plant or defuse the bomb. Depending on the side you are on, the appropriate action for the two will start automatically (CT=defuse, T=plant).

You must not perform any other actions while planting or defusing the bomb. Moving, using a weapon, or performing any other action will cause the process to fail. Jumping, shooting, even drawing your weapons could cause you to lose the round.

Map knowledge and routes

Every bomb site on competitive maps have multiple entry points. Constantly using the same entry point can make you easily predictable and punishable by the opposing team. Therefore, it is important to learn the side paths and alternative routes of the map. For example, Bombsite B on the Anubis map has 3 entrances. One is B main, located south of Mid Connector; one is B Entry Path, located southeast of the CT Spawn area; and another is the T to B path, located southwest of the T Spawn area.

Being able to plan different routes depending on the flow of the match provides a great advantage. You can get navigation information for the bomb sites by using either the Shift + M or Control + M key combinations, depending on what it is set to in settings.

Bomb planting areas consist of small areas located within the bomb site zone that produce different floor sounds. The metallic floor on the Downtown map is an example of this.

When moving on maps, using the 45-degree turn system usually provides a more comfortable movement experience for visually impaired players. For beginner players, using a mouse can make navigation difficult. This is just a suggestion and is not mandatory.

Team play and friendly fire

Competitive matches are played on a team basis. However, since Friendly Fire is active, you can accidentally kill your teammates. In such a case, your team will be at a numerical disadvantage.

The beeping sounds made by your teammates are different from the beeping sounds of the opposing players. Also, since you start in a position close to your teammates at the beginning of the round, you can easily distinguish these sounds. You should take care not to harm your teammates.

Equipment and economy management

You do not lose the weapons and equipment you have as long as you survive. Your ammunition is automatically replenished at the end of every round.

For this reason, you should not repurchase equipment you already have after rounds you did not die in. You only lose your equipment when you die, when sides switch, or when the Tiebreak stage (overtime) begins.

Quick buy system

During Buy Time, you can make quick purchases via the Buy Menu using B + number combinations.

The categories in the menu are matched with numbers. For example, pistols are matched with 1, SMG weapons with 2, and rifles with 3. When the B + 1 + 3 key combination is used, a Desert Eagle can be purchased without the need to press the Enter key.

Using timeouts

Remember that your team has a timeout option during Buy Time. If necessary, you can use the F7 > Competitive Mode Options menu to take a timeout.

Using utilities

You can use incendiary equipment to prevent bomb planting or defusing processes, block specific entry and exit points of the map, or set strategic areas on fire to allow your teammates to support you faster.

Smoke grenades can be used to retreat safely, hide the bomb site, or extinguish burning areas. When a grenade is thrown into a smoke cloud, the smoke dissipates. This method can also be used to reveal opponents inside the smoke.

Sound control and silent movement

During a match, players can hear many of the movements you make and can guess your location from these sounds.

Therefore, be careful not to bump into walls, make unnecessary noise, and keep your movements controlled while moving through the map. When necessary, you can use the silent walking mechanic with the Shift + W, A, S, D key combinations to approach opponents without being noticed.

Coordination advice and basic CT/T strategy suggestions

Success in competitive mode is not just about good aiming. In-team coordination and the correct approach for CT and T determine the outcome of most matches.

• Communication: One of the most important behaviors is constant information sharing. When an opponent is seen, their location, number of players, the utility used, and the direction the opponent is heading should be conveyed to the team by the player witnessing this situation in a short and clear manner. Communication should be kept as clean and short as possible, as unnecessary chatter can drown out critical sounds.
• Team Plan: Instead of players making different decisions at the same time, sticking to a predetermined plan significantly increases team effectiveness. It should be clear who will hold which area, who will control the mid-area, and who will initiate rotation when necessary at the beginning of the round.
• Cross-angles: Especially, instead of two players holding the same angle, creating cross-angles that support each other supports trade kills and increases the defense.
• Economy: Furthermore, economy management is an important part of coordination. Having the team perform full buys, half buys, or save rounds together allows for stronger rounds in the long run.

On the CT Side

The main goal is not to capture the entire map, but to use time against the opponent. Defensive players should avoid unnecessary duels and gather information while staying alive as much as possible.

• Once it is understood which area the bomb is heading to, a controlled rotation should be performed, and teammates should be waited for instead of going in one by one.
• Especially smoke grenades, flashbangs, and Molotovs should be used to slow down the opponent. Blocking narrow passages with smoke, delaying entry points with Molotovs, and using flashes simultaneously with a teammate's contact are cornerstones of defense.
• In cases where the bomb is planted, retakes should be planned together if possible, aiming to divide the opponent's attention by applying pressure from different entrances at the same time. Heroic attempts alone often lead to the loss of the round, or at minimum, numerical superiority.

On the T Side

The main strategy is to gather information and break the defense. In the first seconds of the round, control should be taken in different parts of the map to learn about the placement of CT players.

• Instead of rushing to the same area every round, playing slowly from time to time to make the defense waste their utilities provides a great advantage. Mid-area control is critical as it opens up rotation paths on many maps.
• Before attacking an area, the positions of defenders should be cleared with entry smokes, blinding flashes, and Molotovs if necessary.
• The teammate coming right behind the entering player must be at a distance to get a trade kill if needed.
• After the bomb is planted, instead of everyone scattering to different angles, they should play in positions where they can see each other to create crossfire. In many cases, using time and forcing the opponent to defuse instead of aggressively rushing is a safer approach.

> The strongest teams in competitive mode achieve success thanks to disciplined communication, strategic utility use, economy management, and joint decision-making skills as much as individual talent.

Post-bomb planting and defuse strategies

General approach

In competitive mode, the planting of the bomb starts the second phase of the round. After the bomb is planted, the Terrorist team's goal is to protect the bomb until the time runs out, and the CT team's goal is to defuse the bomb safely. For this reason, post-bomb positioning, utility usage, and team coordination are of great importance.

Bomb defense strategies for Terrorists

After the bomb is planted, it is generally not a good choice for all players to pile up inside the bomb site. Instead, scattering to different points that overlook the bomb site allows you to control the opponent team's entries more easily.

• One player staying close to the bomb while other players control the entry paths can create a more balanced defense. Thus, the CT player trying to defuse the bomb can be pressured from different angles.
• The Deserted Recess elevation located at bomb site A on the Anubis map is a good example of this. Since this high position overlooks a significant portion of the bomb site, it is suitable for protecting the planted bomb from a distance. A player located here can notice CT players approaching site A early and can block bomb defuse attempts. At the same time, it can be harder for opponents to target them because they are shooting from a different elevation.
• When defending the bomb, time is on your side. Instead of getting into unnecessary duels, forcing the opponent to approach the bomb is often more advantageous. Using smoke grenades and incendiary equipment can delay the progress of the CT team and make the bomb defuse time even more difficult.

Bomb defuse strategies for CT

The most important mistake on the CT side is players entering the bomb site one by one. Before defusing the bomb, you should move with your teammates as much as possible and clear the area of enemies.

• Applying pressure from different entrances while approaching the bomb site allows you to distract the Terrorist team. While one player occupies the opponent, the other player can approach the bomb. Utility usage provides a great advantage at this stage.
• CT players can take over the elevations of the map and see a large part of the bomb sites. For example, the Heaven elevation at bomb site A on the Anubis map is an important advantage point for CT players. Since the Heaven position overlooks a large part of site A from above, it can be used both to gather information and to control the bomb site. A CT player located on Heaven can put pressure on Terrorists located in Deserted Recess or other defensive points and create a safe entry opportunity for their teammates.
• Controlling high positions like Heaven before starting to defuse the bomb can reduce the impact of remaining Terrorist players. Likewise, while one player is pressuring the area from Heaven, the other player can start defusing the bomb.

The role of utilities

In scenarios where the bomb is planted, utilities can be more valuable than weapons in some cases.

• Terrorists can hide the bomb with a smoke grenade, block defusing with molotoves, and slow down approaching CT players with flashbangs.
• CT players can cut lines of sight with smoke grenades, clear defensive positions with grenades, and provide an advantage during entry into the bomb site with flashbangs.

Team coordination

The most important factor after the bomb is planted is team coordination.

• The Terrorist side should determine in advance who will protect the bomb directly and who will control the entry paths.
• The CT side should plan which player will control high points like Heaven, which player will defuse the bomb, and which player will provide cover during a retake.

Thanks to correct position sharing and correct information transfer, both Terrorists can defend the planted bomb more safely, and the CT team can perform much more successful bomb defuse attempts.