You’ve probably found yourself stuck in a game of CS2, wondering why your team can’t seem to win a single T-side round? Or maybe you’ve had those games where the CTs just get steamrolled, and you’re left questioning if the map is even balanced. Well, the numbers don’t lie and some maps are naturally tilted towards one side.
Between the data from Premier Matchmaking and pro play, a clear pattern is revealed. Some maps are defensive fortresses, favoring the Counter-Terrorists, while others give Terrorists the upper hand. Let’s break it all down.
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CT-Sided or T-Sided? (Premier)
Looking at the data provided by Leetify, we can classify maps into three categories: CT-sided, T-sided, and balanced maps.
CT-Sided Maps
These maps tend to favor defenders due to strong hold positions, easy rotations, and limited entry points for attackers.
- Train – One of the most CT-sided maps in the pool, with CTs winning around 52.6% of rounds at the pro level and up to 53.9% in high-rank matchmaking.
- Nuke – A long-standing CT stronghold. At the highest levels, CTs win 52.3% of the time.
Mirage – While considered balanced in casual discussions, the numbers lean slightly toward CT dominance, with win rates sitting at 51.2% in pro play and hovering around 50.8%-51.5% in matchmaking.
T-Sided Maps
These maps tend to favor Terrorists, often because of multiple bombsite entry points and difficult CT retakes.
- Inferno – The most T-sided map overall, with pro-level Terrorists winning 51.9% of the time. Even in matchmaking, T-side maintains a solid win rate of 52%+.
- Anubis – The most T-sided map across all skill levels. In pro play, Ts win 56.7% of rounds, and it gets even more extreme in matchmaking, reaching 54%+ at the highest ranks.
Balanced Maps
These maps have win rates hovering around 50%, making them relatively even between sides.
- Dust2 – A classic, known for its balanced gameplay. In pro matches, it’s nearly dead even at 50.9% T-side win rate.
- Ancient – Another close-to-balanced map, but leaning slightly towards the T-side at higher ranks, with 50.7%-52.2% win rates.
Matchmaking vs. Pro Play – Is There a Difference?
Yes, and it’s actually quite interesting. While map balances remain similar, certain trends show when comparing Premier Matchmaking to professional play.
In Matchmaking Premier, CT-sided maps tend to be even more CT-sided at higher ranks. Train and Nuke, for example, have CT win rates reaching nearly 54% in high-ranked play (20K+ Elo). This suggests that defensive setups are easier to execute for lower-ranked players, who may struggle with coordinated T-side attacks.
Meanwhile, T-sided maps like Anubis become even more extreme in pro play, with the win rate jumping from 54% in matchmaking to nearly 57% in pro games. This highlights how top-tier players are exceptionally good at optimizing Terrorist strategies, making use of advanced executes and coordinated team play.
Inferno and Ancient are unique cases where the T-side advantage remains consistent across both matchmaking and pro-level games. These maps provide equal opportunities for different playstyles and flexible rotations, allowing teams to make full use of their strat book.
Pick Smarter
So, what’s the takeaway? Pro players are better at optimizing Terrorist strategies, particularly on maps like Anubis, while CT-side dominance in matchmaking suggests that defensive setups are easier to execute for lower-ranked players.
If you’re queuing up for Premier mode, expect Train, Nuke, and Mirage to be a bit tougher for Terrorists, while Anubis and Inferno offer great opportunities for aggressive T-side play. Meanwhile, Dust2 and Ancient remain solid picks for a balanced game.
So next time you’re debating whether a map is CT or T-sided, check the numbers because they might just surprise you.
