INTRODUCTION

Once the attacking team manages to take over a bombsite and plant the bomb, it is up to the Counter-Terrorist team to retake the bombsite to win the round. There are many ways to maximise the potential of retakes, and in this blog we will go over some of the basic retake theories, tactics and tips.

WAITING FOR YOUR TEAM'S ROTATIONS

In the event that the site you are defending is attacked, it might be wise to try to stay alive and delay the attack so that your teammates have time rotate. By staying alive for as long as possible, you slow down the pace at which the attacking team gets a foothold in the site. Having a defender alive in a site makes it substantially easier for the rotating defenders to enter or retake.

EFFECTIVE GRENADE USAGE

Retakes are made considerably easier with effective nade usage. Hanging on to a nade or picking them up during your rotate will aid in making the retake more successful. For instance, smoking off Tunnels on B site Dust2 before entering will mean that the Terrorist in Tunnels is either forced to show himself, or forced to be disconnected from his team. Molotovs/incendiaries are useful for clearing angles which may not be easy to clear otherwise, forcing the Terrorist out into the open, like Firebox on Mirage A site. Learning set grenades for retaking will be of great assistance to you and your team, and ensure your retakes are more successful.

RETAKING AS A TEAM

It is always the better option to enter sites together, as the Terrorist players cannot focus on all the angles at once. Gaining access to a site during the retake is made easier by attacking all possible entry points. This forces the Terrorists to abandon their positioning and take duels with the Counter-Terrorists as they enter the site.

Clearing angles is essential to retaking the bombsite. On B site Train, a common angle for Terrorists to hold would be above Ladder, peeking into CT Connector. It is crucial for players to learn which angles to clear at which intervals. Try to remain mindful of common angles when entering a site, but don’t neglect to clear uncommon angles. Always check your corners!

If you are entering behind a teammate who has cleared an angle, it might be wise to continue covering the angles he has already cleared. The Terrorist above Ladder may peek after the angle has been cleared, catching unsuspecting players off-guard. By covering the angle while your teammates clear the rest of the site, you reduce the potential of the hiding Terrorist.

REMAIN AWARE OF TERRORIST AGGRESSION POST-PLANT

Terrorists might attempt to regain map real-estate once they have planted the bomb. An example of a likely area to find aggressing Terrorists is Long on Dust2. Controlling certain areas as a Terrorist gains an advantage when defending the planted bomb. Keeping in mind that Terrorists might elect to push certain areas will minimise your chances of being caught off-guard.

SAVING WEAPONS

Knowing when to save is important. While every situation is different, there are common circumstances during which saving your weapon and equipment is the better option. This includes being the last alive versus multiple players, not having the necessary equipment for the retake, or having an unstable economy where losing your weapons and equipment will force your team to eco.

PLAYING FOR EXIT KILLS

Exit kills are when the Counter-Terrorists elect not to try to retake, but instead try to kill the Terrorists as they exit the bombsite. This could be done during an eco round to pick up a weapon and save it into the next round, when the enemy’s economy is unstable and forcing rebuys could be advantageous to your team, or simply if it is unlikely that the bombsite could be retaken. This is situational, and the risk-reward should always be taken into account. Taking note of your inventory and the enemy’s economy before deciding to save or play for exits should be priority.

CONCLUSION

Retaking is an essential part of CS:GO. Understanding the theory behind retakes is crucial to put it into practise and to win more rounds! There are many community servers available which focus solely on retakes, and practise is vital to anyone wanting to become a better overall player.

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