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This bomb spot is the easier of the two to reach as a terrorist. |
Type: Bomb defuse
Size: Large
Dust is certainly the most popular map in Counter-Strike. Even though it's been a part of the game for almost a year now, it still dominates the rest of the maps in terms of how many servers are playing it at any given moment. This is principally because, to the novice player, Dust seems to promote rushing by both teams each round, which few other maps do. Regardless of its appeal, if you don't play well on Dust, you're doomed to many hours of miserable Counter-Strike existence. Here's how to play - and dominate - this fast moving map.
Most players thinks that Dust is a rush map for both sides, even though there are two exposed and vulnerable bomb spots the counter-terrorists should protect. The danger, as always, is over-penetration of the terrorist base and the subsequent sound that strikes a deathblow through a counter-terrorist's heart: "The bomb has been planted." Now that doesn't mean your team should light a campfire and get comfortable at the bomb points. That goes against the nature of the map, and you're just not going to get teammates to listen to your camping logic when they could be running all around killing terrorists.
The practical way to play Dust as a counter-terrorist in the real world is about containment. You've got to contain the terrorist advance not only to protect your flank, but to simultaneously guard the bomb spots. As you spawn each round, buy your gear and get moving. Rush immediately to the right and enter the first bomb spot area. If you're good with a grenade, lob a high-explosive grenade into the tunnel entrance without breaking stride as you move through the doors into the first bomb spot area. About half the time, you'll injure or kill any marauding terrorists that are wisely rushing to the first bomb spot themselves.
Once you're in the first bomb area, you've got to quickly do one of two things. Either take cover behind a box that lets you fire at the opening of the terrorist tunnel entrance that's on your side or rush that opening and deny access to the tunnel completely. If you rush, be aware that you may walk right into two or three terrorists, some of which have probably already thrown grenades down the tunnel. But if you and a few others can secure the tunnel, you're in the tall cotton because you'll be single-handedly denying half the useful map to the terrorist team.
Once the tunnel is secured, advance to the terrorist base, but with caution. There are always some tenorists camping near the tunnel opening that leads to their base, and they just love drilling aggressive counter-terrorists. It's better to wait for your team to drop down under the bridge and come up from behind them.
If there was ever a map that demanded precision, speed, and teamwork as a terrorist, it's Dust. Every time you spawn into the round, you've got to buy your goods and get your feet moving. And don't stop or hesitate on your way to the bomb spot.
It doesn't matter if you rush left to the first bomb spot, which is easier, or down under the bridge to the counter-terrorist bomb spot - you've got to rush like mad. There's no way that three or four terrorists can't bash their way through that dangerous no man's land that the tunnel offers to both sides, and the payoff is a free run to plant the bomb without any pain. If you get held up in your half of the tunnel, for any reason, there's a good chance you're going to lose no matter how good your coverage is.
The reason why is that the onus to win the round rests squarely on the terrorist's shoulders, and if you get into a stalemate with the counter-terrorists that takes up time and bullets, you're going to be hard pressed to make up lost time. Plus, you're vulnerable from the backside to any counter-terrorists that rush under the bridge and come up the ramp to your rear. Get your team on the same page, rush forward with near-reckless abandon, and grenade the first tunnel opening as you approach it. After you throw your grenade and clear the dangerous opening, get your rifle out because you may have to clear out a rushing counter-terrorist or two that took our advice and went to the tunnel via the first bomb spot.
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This tunnel has a lot of cover, but it's still easy to get sniped from above. |
If it seems that the AWM is always at the center of these cheap trick sections, it's with good reason. No other weapon actually gives you a chance to take down two or three enemies while keeping you relatively safe.
Buy an AWM as a terrorist and rush to the exit point of the ramp that leads the counter-terrorists to your spawn point. Since you're at a high elevation, you can hear the pitter patter of little counter-terrorist feet before they're aware of you, and since the AWP is a relentless toe killer, you can wipe out two or three counter-terrorists without any damage. Once that's done, set up shop on one of the boxes that overlooks both the ramp exit and the terrorist entrance to the tunnel. Rushing counter-terrorists must come toward you via one of these pathways, and there's a good chance you'll get a kill or two in before they overwhelm you.
