CS2 HE Grenade Guide

HE Grenade Basics

The HE (High Explosive) grenade costs $300 and deals area-of-effect damage. Each player can carry one. While it won't kill a full-health armored opponent by itself, it's an excellent tool for softening enemies before a fight.

Damage Mechanics

Damage Falloff

Damage decreases rapidly with distance from the explosion center. The effective radius is approximately 350 units. Beyond that, damage drops to negligible amounts. Armor reduces HE damage by approximately 50%.

When to Buy HE Grenades

Good Situations

• Anti-eco rounds — enemies without armor take nearly full damage. A single HE can kill
• Known stacked positions — if enemies are bunched together, one HE damages all of them
• Pre-damage before peeking — throw an HE into a common position, then peek while the enemy is hurt
• Finishing low-HP enemies — if you hear someone is tagged, an HE around a corner can secure the kill without exposure

Bad Situations

• Full buy vs full buy — $300 for 30-57 damage is less efficient than spending on a flash ($200) or smoke ($300) that can win entire duels
• When you can't afford full utility — prioritize smoke and flash over HE

Utility Priority Order

If you can only afford some utility, buy in this order:

1. Smoke ($300) — blocks vision, enables executes and retakes
2. Flash ($200) — blinds enemies for entries
3. Molotov/Incendiary ($400/$600) — area denial
4. HE Grenade ($300) — damage, least priority

Tips

• Throw early in the round — HE damage early in the round means the enemy plays the rest of the round at a disadvantage
• Coordinate with teammates — two HEs at the same spot can deal 60-100+ damage through armor
• Aim for the ground near enemies, not directly at them — the splash damage radius is what matters
• Bank HEs off walls — like flashbangs, you can bounce grenades around corners to hit hidden enemies