Mirage has been under fire by many members of the Counter-Strike community as a map that should be revamped, or perhaps entirely replaced. A large part of this sentiment comes from a growing sense of staleness in the map, which has gone largely unchanged for years, save for the addition of the bench in Middle last year. While I won't suggest any new physical layout changes to the map, I do have a number of off-angles that can both make you more dangerous to the enemy team while simultaneously keeping the map fresh. Let's get into them.

Window Vent to Underpass/Cat

This first spot requires the vent to remain unbroken, so definitely be sure to let your teammates know in advance that you want them to leave it alone at the start of the round. If the enemy team is consistently taking control of Middle through Underpass, then a typical hold might not be enough to stop them. By getting onto the top of the vent, you can get a super tight angle down to spot incoming Terrorists in a spot they would otherwise have been safe. This is great for defending Underpass, and cat also help you spot early Cat pushers, which can be enough to provide crucial information to your B Bombsite players.

Underpass Boost to Top Middle

Next up is a great little boost to stop aggressing Terrorists from taking control of Top Middle. This is something you might do at the start of a round, but you will definitely be at risk from a quick Underpass rush. Consider having the boosting teammate Smoke or Incendiary Grenade that off. Once on their head, you can play around with the specific angle you want to play from, whether you prefer shifting to the left corner or remaining on the right side more. Either way, this is sure to catch off the Terrorists.

CT Trash Boost to A Bombsite

This boost is a more well-known than the previous two I have shown. I particularly enjoy using this during retake situations where CT/Ticketbooth has already been smoked off. I find this boost better than just trying to jump up on Ticketbooth, because while that only requires one player, it's much more predictable. By getting a teammate to boost you over the containers in front of the trash can, you can get a nice view of the majority of the A Bombsite. Firebox, Default, and Palace are all visible. Be careful not to edge out too far, or you'll fall off your teammate.

Cat Bricks to Middle or B Bombsite

The bricks on Cat are incredibly powerful for a couple of reasons. A defensive Counter-Terrorist can take a boost up to hold off enemies from Top Middle, while simultaneously keeping an eye on Underpass. Enemies pre-aiming the Cat area from Underpass will almost certainly be looking for the headshot angle onto a player standing on the ground instead of atop the bricks, giving you a serious advantage here. You also will get a view over the top of any Short smokes, letting you catch players trying to take over Connector. Overall, the spot is quite well-known but still can be quite strong when used sparingly. Just don't expect to get away with using it round after round without the enemies catching on.

Personally, I think this boost really shines in late-round situations, especially post-plant to retake the B Bombsite. You can look into the Apartments, spot anyone peeking from Bench, or even clear the middle of the site. When you decide it's time to jump down, I recommend having the teammate who boosted you swing at the same time as you to clear Pillar and the corner beside it. Do take care and avoid wasting too much time here in a retake situation, as it can often be compelling to remain on the bricks for too long.

Self-Boost Crates to Apartments

This self-boost is nearly a free kill in most lower level games. Almost nobody will cross the first Apartments window and pre-aim this angle. The added security of the walls of the Bombsite are great, because after getting the first kill you can easily fall off and relocate to safety while waiting for your teammates to rotate to help. Alternatively, you can try to catch a glimpse of Terrorists moving in from Short, but actually killing them from here will be very tough. Regardless, this is a great spot to set up with an AWP for an easy kill at the start of the enemy attack.

B Trash Boost to Apartments

Another really deadly off-angle for guarding the Apartments is found by boosting atop the green garbage can just outside of Market door. Most boosts will require your teammate to crouch to allow you up, then stand once you are on their head. In this case, however, I would recommend that they remain crouched for the optimal height to pick off rushing Terrorists. Similar to the self-boost, this one also can be somewhat useful in watching Short, but perhaps your boosting teammate will be better suited to do that. In any case, this is a spot that almost no players come out pre-aiming, and it should net you an easy kill or two.

Hopefully you were able to learn a few new angles and positions for Mirage. While none of these take much skill in terms of movement, they can definitely all be useful to add to your repertoire. If you've enjoyed these spots, perhaps you'd liike to check out a few grenade lineups on Dust II to better your game over there. Be sure to join the #Digscord to stay involved with all things Dignitas.

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