de_nuke
Nuke
The only CS2 map with a vertical dimension that changes everything.
OVERVIEW
Nuke is a nuclear power plant setting unlike anything else in competitive Counter-Strike - a two-story facility where the A site sits in an outdoor yard and the B site is buried one floor below in a reactor core. The vertical layout makes Nuke the most unique map in the pool, forcing teams to think in three dimensions rather than the typical horizontal plane.
The upper A site connects to a massive outdoor area with Silo, Ramp, Hut, and a Squeaky door linking the two floors. T-side must fight through multiple choke points to reach either site; there is no wide open mid that can be taken for free. CTs hold powerful positions from Heaven above B and Locker near A, creating extreme information asymmetry in their favor in the early seconds of every round.
Nuke is consistently the most CT-dominant map in professional CS2 play. T-side strategy revolves around taking Heaven via Ramp or Outside, because without Heaven control the B site plant is nearly indefensible post-plant. Elite teams invest heavily in outside control and use the Squeaky door as a timing tool to multi-task both sites simultaneously, making clock management as important as aim.
CTs hold Heaven above B and have a natural rotation advantage through Squeaky; T-side pro win rates consistently sit below 44%.
BOMBSITES
Site A
Outdoor yard with multiple entry points - Ramp, Hut, Outside; Silo provides cover for the bomb plant.
Site B
Underground reactor core; nearly impossible to take without controlling Heaven above.
CALLOUTS 14 positions
KEY UTILITY
smoke Silo, smoke Garage to cross toward A Ramp without dying to AWP.
smoke Heaven, smoke CT Ramp, molotov Squeaky door to prevent rotation.
smoke Heaven, smoke Locker, flash through Vent; requires full team synergy.
early AWP position to deny CT Outside pressure and take map control.
blind lobby CTs to allow safe B entry via Vent in pistol rounds.
