In this guide I will teach you how to run a default setup on Mirage and how to run different setups from that position. Also included is useful information like when to run certain setups, pictures for clarification of positioning, and the map of Mirage with blue dots symbolizing where the CTs should be on each setup.

Default Setup

1 Mid, playing from Window Room
2 B, One playing Van, B Site, or Bench, one playing Archway.
2 A, One playing A Site, one playing under Palace.

This is the default position list for each player. As a default is called, these will be your positions. They are very basic and can be changed during either the start of rounds or while they are going on, based upon what is happening on the other side. Most of the more advanced setups mentioned in this guide will revolve around this basic setup. This is done so that the enemy team won't be able to get any large advantages to start rounds, such as picking off someone rushing through A Ramp or any other careless play. The default is mostly a passive position that allows the enemy team to have to peek into you and expose themselves, giving you better chances at picks and early information. Below I will go into greater detail of what each player should be doing on this default.

Mid

The Mid player in this is playing from Window room, preferably with an AWP or, on force buy rounds, a Scout. Your job is to get early intel of any Mid players and to hold Mid from the other team. In some scenarios you will have teammates to help you, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it in the form of a flash or crossfire. In the case of an A take from the Terrorists, you should play in one of two ways. You could go to Jungle Opening and try to pick off players coming out of Palace or crossing to site from A Ramp. Alternatively, you could watch top of Stairs and wait for your B Site teammates to rotate a player safely into Window then down to Connector. It really just depends on the situation and your overall playstyle. If it's a B take, you should rotate through CT Spawn into Market with your teammates.

B Setup

The B Site player has free roam to do whatever he feels most comfortable with here. If you like playing Bench, play there. If going aggressive in B is your style, you've got it. Like sitting back and waiting for the enemies to make the first move? Play from Back Pillar and setup a crossfire with your Archway teammate. The Archway player shouldn't be pushing down Catwalk and watching Mid in this default. They should just be holding Catwalk and watching Apps. If the Mid player gives a call that Ts are going down Catwalk, then he should be ready for that. If an Apps call is made, he should be ready for that too.

A Setup

The A Site player in this can either play from Default, Triple Box, or CT Spawn. Their job is to try to get the first kill on someone running from A Ramp to Tetris or from A Ramp to Site. Good aim is required here, and most of the time having an AWP in this spot is a much better option as it allows quicker peeks for kills than rifles do. Remember, you have a teammate under Palace, so players that come out of Ramp and onto Site shooting at you won't be able to shoot at him. Use this to your advantage. Lastly, the player under Palace can play one of two ways. Either he can try to play passively and wait for the enemies to come out of A Ramp and onto A Site or he can hold A Ramp from the headshot angle. Either one can work, but as you get into higher level CS, just sitting under Palace doesn't work as well because the enemies will just use molotovs to force you out and into a bad spot.

Connector Support Setup

1 Mid, Same as Default
2 B, Same as Default
1 A, Playing from CT Spawn
1 Connector

This setup is used for locking down Mid and B Site, while giving up some power on A. As stated, the B site players will play as if it was the default. However, the player under Palace will go to Connector and help the Mid player watch top of Mid. He can also play from the side of Connector and watch Underpass to make sure no enemies are planning on boosting into Window room or taking Connector. Meanwhile the A Site player will go to CT Spawn and watch passively. If an execute on A happens, he should wait for his B site teammates to rotate and retake together with help from them and the Connector player at Stairs.

Catwalk Support Setup

1 Mid, Same as Default
2 A, Same as Default
1 B, Playing from Van
1 Catwalk

Alternatively, this setup is used for locking down Mid and A Site, while reducing your strength on B. It's the same A spots as the default. The player that usually plays Archway on B will instead go to Catwalk and watch Top of Mid. This player's job is usually to play as a supporting player, being able to throw flashes into Mid. This player should also watch for the cross from Boxes to Chair in Mid. The other player will be playing on Van from B Site, and watching Apps for any early signs of an execute onto B. If the enemy team is coming B, the Van player should try to rotate to Bench or Back Pillar and wait for rotating A teammates.

Mid Control Setup

1 Mid, Same as Default
1 A, Playing from Ticket Booth
1 B, Playing from Van
1 Connector
1 Catwalk

This setup is used for really locking down Mid at the expense of site security. This should only be used if the enemy team is going Mid constantly and you know they will be executing through there. One player will be playing on Van from B Site. Once again, their job is to try to get information as early as possible if the enemy team is in Apps, so their Catwalk player can easily rotate in time to stop players from jumping out of window in Apps and surrounding the Van player. The A player will also be playing passively from CT Spawn, and be playing for a retake if the Terrorists decide to execute onto A Site. The overall idea is the same for both the Connector and Catwalk players. They will be assisting the Mid player and rotating back to their original default positions if needed. The main difference is that since there is so much Mid control that the Catwalk and Connector players can rotate quickly through Mid instead of going through longer, safer routes.

B Retake Setup

1 Mid, Same as Default
1 B, Playing from Market
3 A, Playing from Stairs, Triple, and Default Site

This setup is used to stop pushes onto A. This is very useful if the enemy team keeps taking A and you predict they will preform another A execute. The Mid player will be doing their normal job as the default, watching Mid for the team and calling any information he gets. One B player will be playing in Market. Their job is simply to watch Apartments, and if he sees multiple enemies, he plays defensively and holds Market door for pushes while waiting for his teammates to rotate for a retake. The other B player will be playing at A in this setup. The B player will be playing from Stairs, or bottom of Stairs, whichever they prefer. They will give assistance to the A players and help to stop any pushes from the T side. The Stairs player can also rotate to Connector if he needed to help prevent Ts from taking Connector.

A Retake Setup

1 Mid, Same as Default
1 A, Playing from Ticket Booth
3 B, Playing Bench, Archway, and Default Site

The Mid player does the same thing as the B retake. One A player will be watching A Ramp and Palace pushes for intel of where the enemy is. If an A execute happens, this player should fall off and wait for the B players to rotate and attempt a retake from there. The setup on B is one Archway, one Bench, and one somewhere on the site. The player on Archway should be playing the same as the default, waiting for information of a B or Catwalk push and then acting off of that. The Bench player can also play Van if they want to but this isn't advised, as if you die early then it's just a two player B hold, which is a lot easier to take than a three player hold. The B Site player's job is to assist whatever exit the Terrorists are trying to get out of. If they are trying to get out through the window of Aps, they hold window with the Archway player. If they are trying to get out through the doorway, then the B Site player holds the door with the Bench player. Their entire point is to give enough support so that the A and Mid player will have enough time to rotate and give support.

There are also other strategies you could run on save rounds, such as five-man pistol rushes into A Ramp or a five player stack onto a certain site when predicting an execute from the terrorist side, but I won't go into detail about those here. Make sure to experiment with what works for your team and make changes based on your own experiences. If you need to be more aggressive then play up close in Apps and on A. Many players forget that CS:GO isn't a 1 technique game, so be sure to adapt these setups to your own playstyles and dominate the CT side of Mirage!

Like our content? Support us by getting our merchandise in our shop