Nuke in CS2: Callouts, Layout and How Pros Play It

Updated Oct 8, 2026 · 2 min read

Nuke at a glance

First released: November 1999, original Counter-Strike
Big reworks: 2016 redesign, updated in 2018
In the current pool: since CS2 launch
Side lean: clearly CT-sided
Known for: stacked bombsites, fast CT rotations, the fight for Outside

The layout

Outside is the big open yard around the building. Whoever controls it can reach Secret (a route to B) or the Main entrance and Heaven above A.
A site (upper) sits inside the main building. Ts enter through Hut, Main, Squeaky door or from Heaven.
Ramp is the inside route from Lobby down toward B.
B site (lower) is below A, reached through Ramp, Secret, or the vents that connect the two floors.

Key callouts

Area	Callouts
A site	Hut, Squeaky, Heaven, Hell, Main, Mini
Inside	Lobby, Ramp, Trophy, Vents
B site	Ramp, Secret, Toxic, Double doors, Decon, Back of B
Outside	Outside, Garage, Silo, T roof, Secret
Spawns	T spawn, CT spawn

How pros play Nuke

CT side. CTs exploit the vertical layout. A player can drop from A to B through the vents or a hatch in seconds, so the defense can shift quickly to whichever site is hit. Teams often play aggressive on Outside and Ramp to get early kills and information.

T side. Ts have to win either Outside or Ramp to have a real attack. A common plan is to take Outside control, then threaten Secret (to B) and Main or Heaven (to A) at the same time. Without map control, Ts often lose rounds before they reach a site.

What to watch: whether the Ts can take Outside cheaply. A T side that wins Outside early has options; one that loses it is forced into predictable pushes up Ramp.

Nuke in the veto

Nuke is one of the most banned maps in pro play. Teams that have mastered it pick it as a strong comfort map; everyone else bans it early. On Nuke, a team usually wants to start on T side, so it can finish the map on the stronger CT side. See CT Side vs T Side.

Upcoming matches

All current maps are listed in the CS2 Map Pool guide.

FAQ

Why is Nuke CT-sided?

The two bombsites are stacked vertically, so CTs can rotate between them in seconds through vents and ladders, while Ts have long routes. That makes defending easier than attacking.

Where are the bombsites on Nuke?

A site is on the upper floor of the main building, under Heaven. B site is directly below it on the lower floor, reached through Ramp, Secret or the vents.

How old is Nuke?

Nuke appeared in the original Counter-Strike in November 1999. It was redesigned in 2016 and updated again in 2018.

Related guides

CS2 Map Pool: Current Active Duty Maps and Every ChangeThe current CS2 Active Duty pool: Ancient, Anubis, Cache, Dust2, Inferno, Mirage and Nuke. Cache replaced Overpass in July 2026. Every change since launch.
Map Veto in CS2 Explained: How Teams Pick and Ban MapsBefore a CS2 series, teams remove and pick maps from the 7-map pool. How the veto works in BO1 and BO3, what a decider is and who chooses sides.
CT Side vs T Side: How Sides and Halftime Work in CS2In CS2, Terrorists attack and Counter-Terrorists defend. How each side wins a round, when teams switch at halftime and which maps favor CT or T side.
Veto (map veto)The veto is the pick and ban process before a CS2 series: teams remove and choose maps from the 7-map pool. Bans, picks and the decider in a few lines.
RetakeA retake in CS2 is when CTs move back into a bombsite after the bomb is planted, kill the defenders and defuse within 40 seconds. How retakes work.
Lurk (lurker)To lurk in CS2 is to play alone, away from your team, usually on the T side, to catch rotating defenders or hold a flank. What a lurker does and why.

Sources

Reviewed by the R1GG team