CS2 Smoke Grenades Guide

Smoke Grenade Basics

Smoke grenades cost $300 and are one of the most powerful utility items in CS2. A well-placed smoke can block enemy vision, create safe passage for your team, or deny information. Each player can carry one smoke grenade.

Smoke Mechanics in CS2

• Duration: Smokes last approximately 18 seconds in CS2
• Bloom time: Takes about 1 second to fully deploy after landing
• Size: Creates a sphere approximately 144 units in diameter
• One-way potential: Smokes that land on elevated surfaces or edges can create one-way vision advantages
• Interaction with fire: Smokes extinguish molotovs and incendiary grenades — a crucial defensive tool

Types of Smoke Usage

Entry Smokes

Block defensive positions to allow your team to push onto a site. Example: smoking CT spawn on Dust2 when executing an A take.

Retake Smokes

CTs use smokes to isolate parts of a bombsite during retakes, forcing 1v1 duels instead of fighting multiple enemies simultaneously.

Fake Smokes

Throw smokes at one site to draw rotations, then execute at the other site. Effective in the mid-game when opponents are watching for utility patterns.

Extinguish Smokes

Counter enemy molotovs by throwing a smoke directly into the fire. Essential for both sides — CTs extinguishing molotovs on-site, Ts clearing molotovs from choke points.

Essential Lineups by Map

Every competitive player should know at least 3-5 smoke lineups per map they play. The most important smokes to learn first:

Mirage

• A site: CT spawn, Jungle, Stairs
• B site: Short corner, Bench/Couch
• Mid: Window, Connector

Inferno

• A site: CT spawn (from T spawn), Arch, Moto
• B site: CT smoke, Coffins
• Banana: Deep banana smoke

Dust2

• A site: CT spawn cross, Long corner
• B site: Back platform, Window
• Mid: Xbox/Catwalk

Practice Tips

• Use private servers with commands: sv_cheats 1; sv_infinite_ammo 1; sv_grenade_trajectory_prac_pipreview 1
• Learn jumpthrow bind — essential for consistent lineups: alias "+jumpthrow" "+jump;-attack"; alias "-jumpthrow" "-jump"; bind "KEY" "+jumpthrow"
• Start with 3 smokes per map — learn them perfectly before adding more
• Watch pro matches — pay attention to how teams use smokes in executes