CS2 Molotov & Incendiary Guide
Molotov & Incendiary Basics
Fire grenades are essential area-denial tools in CS2. Terrorists use Molotov Cocktails ($400) and Counter-Terrorists use Incendiary Grenades ($600). Despite the price difference, they function identically.
Fire Mechanics
| Parameter | Molotov (T) | Incendiary (CT) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $400 | $600 |
| Duration | ~7 seconds | ~7 seconds |
| Damage | 40 HP/sec (with armor) | 40 HP/sec (with armor) |
| Extinguished by smoke | Yes | Yes |
| Max carry | 1 | 1 |
Spread Behavior
Fire spreads outward from the impact point and flows downhill. It will spread around small obstacles but cannot climb walls. On flat ground, the fire creates a circle roughly 3 meters in diameter.
Tactical Uses
1. Area Denial
Block enemy movement through choke points. Examples:
- CT side: Molotov banana on Inferno to stop a B rush
- CT side: Molotov ramp on Mirage to slow A executes
- T side: Molotov common CT positions to force defenders off angles
2. Flushing Positions
Force enemies out of cover. If you know someone is hiding behind a box or in a corner, a molotov forces them to move or take 40 DPS:
- Molotov under Pit on Inferno A site
- Molotov behind boxes on Dust2 B platform
- Molotov Graveyard (when it was open) on Inferno
3. Execute Support
Molotovs are crucial for site executes. They deny defensive positions, forcing CTs to fight from disadvantaged angles or rotate early.
4. Post-Plant
After planting the bomb, molotov the defuser position. The CT must either wait out the fire (losing time) or try to defuse through it (taking massive damage).
Smoke + Molotov Interaction
Smoke grenades instantly extinguish molotovs and incendiaries. This creates a fundamental counterplay:
- T side: Enemies molotov your choke point → throw a smoke to extinguish and push through
- CT side: You molotov a rush → enemies smoke it out → you know they want to push that area
This smoke-molotov interaction is one of the deepest tactical elements in CS2. Understanding it separates good teams from great ones.
Lineup Tips
- Practice on private servers — use
sv_cheats 1; sv_infinite_ammo 1 - Aim for the ground — fire spreads from the landing point, so precise ground placement matters
- Account for bounce — molotovs break on impact with the ground but can bounce off walls first
- Right-click for short throws — useful for molotovs you throw at your feet to deny a plant or defuse
- Learn 2-3 lineups per map — the most impactful ones for your position
