ACTIVE DUTY MAP POOL

Throughout this article I will assess commonly used CS:GO map pools and game modes in both competitive and casual play. As I mentioned before, the most popular CS:GO game mode is definitely bomb defusal with the most popular map being Mirage. CS:GO as an esports is based around this mod and that map. Not every map can be played like this, but here are all the active map pools for competitive CS:GO in 2020.

DUST II

The latest addition to the active list of competitive CS:GO map pools is Dust II. This map replaced Cobblestone on 20th April of 2018. Most of the teams are still getting used to the updated version of Dust. So far this year, Dust II has been played 883 times, which is a lot, since it was added just recently. Dust II is a pretty balanced map. If we compare CT and T side of the map, T side has a slight advantage, with a total of 51.9% of rounds won on T side.

This is a very big map, with T side having a big advantage when it comes to the information gain. Once they get a sniper, they can easily see how many CT’s crossed towards B bomb site, and they can respond accordingly. On the other hand, in order to avoid that, the CT side will have to waste a smoke grenade in order to give no info to their opponents. But most of the times, this will lead to a CT player’s tag, which will then be followed by rushing B bombsite. Other than that, this map is very balanced. It is also nice to see new strategies emerging every day.

NUKE

Just like Dust II, Nuke was introduced to the competitive CS:GO map pool in 2017. This is the least played map out of them all, and most of the teams hate it. Valve is constantly trying to balance it out, and I think they are just messing everything up. Constant changes to the map are not helping at all.

However, some teams managed to find a perfect game plan for Nuke, if we take Astralis as an example, they are simply too good on that map. At one time they had 20-0 score on Nuke, which is insane. On the other hand, this result is also a reflection on how many teams are either not playing this map, or they are avoiding it. In my personal opinion, Nuke should be replaced with the reworked Cobblestone.

At the moment, Nuke is the most CT-sided map in the pool. CT’s are winning 55% rounds more than T side. Overall, a very bad map, not only in my opinion, most professionals think the same.

CACHE

This is the only CS:GO map made entirely by the community, Valve had nothing to do with the creation of this map. Cache is the most T-sided map out of them all, with T’s winning a total of 53,3% of all rounds. It favors Terrorists mainly because of the different possibilities of hitting one bomb site, you can press it from 3 or more different angles. Overall, this is a very popular map that will never be removed from the competitive map pool.

TRAIN

Train is a legendary map. It has been around any Counter-Strike game, starting with Counter-Strike 1.6, to CS:Source and now it is one of the main maps in Counter-Strike:Global Offensive. A couple of years ago, this map was one of the most CT

sided maps in the entire pool, so some changes to it had to be made. Not much changed to be honest, but it had some positive effects, as it gave Terrorists a chance. But still, it is a very CT-sided map. In 2018, CT’s are winning 54,3% of all rounds.

For some not so competitive players, Train is not really a map they would want to play. Firstly, it has million angles to watch. Needless to say how hard it is to give call-outs on this map since there are a lot of trains and corners on the map. To conclude, this is the iconic map and it will never be removed from it, as long as professional teams enjoy playing it.

INFERNO

This is the second most popular CS:GO map in relation to the professional scene. Esports professionals enjoy playing it mainly because of how balanced Inferno is. At the moment T’s are winning 51.6% of all the rounds played. Furthermore, this map is not favouring anyone, only the team who is able to adapt to what the other side is putting on the table, and that is why pros enjoy playing it.

Inferno was played a lot in 2018. A total of 3,133 times. If we compare it to Nuke, we can clearly see that this map was played 3 times more than Nuke, which is insane.

Also, some of the best plays and strategies in 2020 can be found in this map. Really nice job by Valve to rework it and make it this balanced.

OVERPASS

Out of all the active duty maps, Overpass is the only once specifically created for CS:GO. Once you look at this map, at first it might seem great, but it is not that perfect. At the moment, this map is slightly CT-sided, with CT’s winning 52,5% of all the rounds. However, T’s have a real good chance to win more rounds by limiting vision and taking away map control.

If they are able to use their utility, they can cut off the rotations and they can punish pushing for information. However, if T’s do not have that type of map control everything can fall apart, mainly because of fast rotations from A bombsite to B bombsite. It takes around 6-7 seconds to have a vision of one of the sites. This makes this map ideal for a team of 5, simply because they can use their team play and cohesion to their advantage.

On the other hand, this is a CS:GO map with a lot of noise around it. To be honest, this sucks. There are generators on every important meeting point on the map, especially the one on short B, where you are not able to hear anything. Even worse than generators is the train. It passes around the map every 20 seconds, and it creates an unbelievable level of noise, and there is no way someone can stay focus while the train is passing by.

Even though Valve created a perfect map when it comes to strategies and game plans, they should really add an option to remove ambient sounds, since a lot of the game is focused on hearing footsteps and reloads, and this is not helping.

MIRAGE

Lastly, a CS:GO gem. Mirage is on top of the list for the most played map in 2018. Mirage has been played 2,323 times so far in 2018. Just like other popular maps in professional CS:GO scene, Mirage is very balanced. At the moment it slightly favors CT’s, as they are winning 51,2% of the rounds.

Just like Overpass, Mirage is based on team play, synergy, and the ability to execute certain strategies. There is also a level of adaptability needed in order to prevail on this map, mainly because both sides can mix aggressive and passive playstyle.

There are some rumors that Mirage could be reworked, and I feel it would hurt the map, badly. A lot of people are used to the grenade line-ups and I do not think that anyone wants to learn different smoke line-ups for A bomb site. To conclude, Mirage is an excellent map, where all the teams have to prove their worth if they want to win the match.

CASUAL CS:GO MAPS AND GAME MODES

At the moment, the professional scene is strictly based on bomb defusal mode. However, there are a lot of other maps waiting in line to be placed in the active duty map pool, but their biggest problem is that they are based on hostage rescues. These are the maps for hostage rescue mode:

– Insertion

– Italy

– Militia

– Office

– Assault

On the other hand, there are also other maps based on bomb defusal, but they are not balanced to be placed in the active duty map pool. This is the list of the maps which are not in the active pool:

– cobblestone

– Dust

– Aztec

– Austria

– Thrill

– Season

– Canals

– Vertigo

CS:GO GAME MODES

Bomb defusal and hostage rescue are not the only types of mods in CS:GO. With the introduction of the last operation(Hydra), there were a couple of new modes added to the game.

WINGMAN

This is basically a 2v2 matchmaking, which was updated not so long ago. This is a funny mode, which is mainly based on having fun with a friend. Not so long ago, most of the active duty maps were added to this type of competing. However, most of these maps have been shortened and adapted for 4 players.

FLYING SCOUTSMAN

A very entertaining game mode where there is barely any gravity. You are able to make sky-high jumps and shoot with scout only. A very nice and entertaining game mode that was added alongside Hydra operation.

These are only the most popular game modes in CS:GO at the moment. There are numerous other which you can enjoy. As you can see from this article, Counter-Strike:Global Offensive does not have to be all about competing, you can also have fun playing it.

How do you feel about hostage rescue game mode? Would you like to see it introduced into the professional CS:GO scene? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.