The undisputed face of the Counter-Strike series, and still one of the most famous FPS maps in the history of gaming, Dust II is a map that everyone knows by now. Puggy and all about duel-taking, it is the ultimate warm-up map pick, but has also staged some of the most tactically-interesting and thrilling competitive match-ups in CS:GO’s long competitive history. To help you get better acquainted with this iconic map pick, Gamelevate takes you through everything you need to know about Dust II.
At A Glance: Dust II By The Numbers
Times Played: 12,558
Round Win Percentage: 48.7% CT / 51.3% T
Pistol Win Percentage: 53.7% CT / 46.3% T
Top Player: ZywOo – 1.26 Rating (151 Maps)
Top Team: Team Vitality – 1.07 Rating (147 Maps)
The A Site
Dust II is so often a map that rewards fast and aggressive calls from the T side, however, when aiming for the A site, taking the time to calculate your long-range play can prove to be just as pivotal. Straight assaulting the A site through Doors and then up through Long can feel a bit like a gauntlet run, with Ts needing to break through any defenders either in or just outside of Doors, hiding in Pit or Car or in the variety of spots on the site itself. Familiarise yourself with the calls and your molly and smoke positions for the best results.
On the flip side, defending the A site is all about positional play. Taking the right defensive positions based on your team’s level of utility is the key to halting any fast pushes by the T side. Rotations are also key, with mobility on Cat and CT Spawn at the right time being a vital part of any defense.
The B Site
Dust II’s B site is widely regarded as one of the hardest spots in all of CS:GO to retake. Flipping the Doors around leading into the site has certainly helped make a retake more viable, however, it can still be a tough (and sometimes infuriating) experience for the T side.
The CS:GO memes of ‘rushing B’ certainly have their home on Dust II, with Ts able to take advantage of the narrow choke-points down Tunnels and overwhelm the site by sheer numbers alone. The fact there are only really three open spots to hold, defending the post-plant is an easy enough task most of the time.
Defending the B site is all about minimizing the opportunities the T side have of overwhelming the site with numbers, whilst making sure other portions of the map aren’t left unguarded themselves. Delaying fast pushes through Tunnels or Window with molotovs and smokes is always a good option, so take the time to learn these bits of utility, especially when under pressure from opponents.
