UKTerrorist

Smoke Grenade Guide

Introduction

Smoke grenades are probably one of the least used items on the equipment list. But as of recently, I've come to realize the potential power these givers of gas contain. Not to sound melodramatic, but these little babies can turn the tides of a single round. Sometimes even an entire game.

The Basics

At $300, smoke grenades are rather inexpensive. They can be bought by pressing the "buy" key (default B) and then '8' and '5'. Only one SG can be bought at a time. Whew, that was simple wasn't it? Right, let's move onto the reason this guide was written, the tactics...

Tactics

To most players, the smoke grenade is the most annoying part of CS, next to the AWM/P of course. But think about it, both of them are in the game, put in there for a reason, why shouldn't we use them? War isn't about being polite, it's about killing the enemy.

So, the tactics, the best part about the smoke grenade is that it has the ability to determine the movements of the other team. One of the first tactics I'm going to teach you is the most simple. it's the 'Fear Tactic'....

The Fear Tactic

Let's get a bit psychological for a second, by nature people are afraid of the unknown. It's in all of us, well maybe just most of us. And that's why this tactic is named the 'Fear Tactic', because we fear the unknown, we are sometimes wary of crossing the smoke into unknown territory. This is why it's so simple, because it really doesn't take any extra effort. Throw a grenade where the enemy like to approach, they see the smoke and go the other way. You've scared the enemy into taking another route, something that's hard to do in a game like CS.

Cover Your Six

If you are camping somewhere where you know the opposing team will pass, in order to get to a part of the map perhaps (e.g. bombsite) - such as a de_dust tunnel or cs_office hallway. Throw a smoke grenade at one of the entrances and watch the second entrance. Because if your enemy sees the smoke in one hallway, he'll be inclined to take another route (see above)....the route that you are watching. So you should be able to nail him. And also, if your foe is the brave type, he might run gung-ho right through the smoke. After he comes through, he may see you, but the smoke will hinder him, and he won't be prepared to fight back. By the time he is...well...you've filled him full of lead.

The smoke's only purpose is too...'cover your six' while you watch other entrances, and
to try to force the enemy to come to the entrance you're watching. It should be noted that you shouldn't just forget about the smoke entrance, because there will be a time when a guy comes through, and if you have your back to him, you're as good as dead.

Opposing Team Block Tactic/Flanking

This is a good tactic to use if your team is well organized, or if they can follow directions. The easiest way to explain this is to use cs_office as an example. Okay, let's say your team are the CTs and there are seven players (including you) on the team.

What you do is tell two guys to camp at the base of the back garage steps (right of CT spawn). They should throw a smoke grenade (as well as more to follow up after the initial smoke fades) at the middle of the steps and just wait for anyone to dare come through the smoke.

While those two guys are camping down there, take the other four guys and quickly move up the front steps, making sure to stay together; move throughout the office building taking out all enemies in your path. The tactic is named what it is because it's why you'll kill the Ts quickly. Your two guys and their smoke has blocked some of the Ts from advancing down the steps. They're afraid to go down the steps because of what lies on the other side; because of that, you have a chance to attack them from behind while they wait for the smoke to clear. You can't use this tactic to often though, because they'll catch onto your scheme and it can backfire.

To put it simply, and not in map terms....your team mates distract them with smoke whilst you and some others flank the enemy, resulting in your squad attacking from the side or rear.

Smoke Grenade Bomb Tactic/Trick

Playing a De map? You a terrorist? And you have the bomb too?! Well, here's a way to confuse the CTs when they try to defuse the bomb. Get to any bombsite and plant the bomb, wait ten seconds and the throw a smoke grenade right where the bomb is. The smoke will make it difficult for the CTs to find the bomb, and it just might blow up in their faces.

Nameless Tactics and Strategies

I could continually give you examples of places you should throw smoke grenades. But instead, I'm going to close this guide by giving you guys some basic times and situations you might wanna pull the pin:

• Choke Points: Small hallways and crowded areas are one of the best places to drop these suckers. If your team is having problems getting past a hallway or a tight route, you should throw a smoke grenade to protect your guys from enemy fire.
• Open areas, Enfilades: Smoke grenades are the sniper's worst enemy, so go ahead and use them! It's always dangerous crossing a big space without any cover to protect you, and a well placed SG can impair your enemy's vision.

  Note: CS_Militia is a very good map to use this tactic.

• Multiples: Nothing can scare an enemy (or lag a server, tsk) like multiple smoke grenades. Obviously, this just increases the concentration of smoke in the place where the grenades are thrown. Not too hard to understand, now is it?

That's about it for my smoke grenade guide, I just wanted to keep it in general, not do map specific tactics. But if you guys think this guide is useful, I might think of writing map specific strategies. Email me if you have any questions or comment below.