Every match in CS2 is won or lost by decisions made in seconds—and most of those decisions come down to map control and communication. If your team doesn’t know callouts like “Donut” on Ancient or “Heaven” on Nuke, you’re already at a disadvantage. CS2 currently features seven active duty maps, each with its own layout, meta and language. Teams with precise callout usage win more rounds—simple as that. In fact, coordinated teams can boost win rates by up to 20% on competitive servers just by improving map awareness and comms.
Whether you’re trying to climb matchmaking or grind Premier, knowing the current map pool and mastering all map callouts on CS2 is one of the easiest ways to step up your game today.
Active Duty Maps in CS2
CS2’s competitive pool includes seven maps. These are the official maps used in tournaments and ranked matchmaking. All pro teams prepare strats for these maps and most server rotations focus on them.
Mirage
A fan favorite and the only map that’s been active since CS:GO’s early days without major layout changes. Mirage rewards coordination and mid-control. Key callouts include Window, Connector, Jungle and Palace. Pug teams love Mirage because of its simplicity, but strong comms separate the decent players from the matchmakers.
Inferno
Famous for its tight chokepoints and utility-heavy gameplay. Holding Banana or taking it early often decides the round. Callouts like Car, Logs, Coffins and New Box are essential. Pro teams throw over 15 smokes and flashes per round on average here. One missed call or bad timing on Banana can flip a round instantly.
Nuke
The most vertical map in CS2. Understanding levels—A Site, Heaven, Vents and B Site (Lower)—is key. Many newer players get lost here because of layered floors and closed doors. The mini-map doesn’t tell the full story. Good Nuke teams constantly call positions like Silo, Secret, or Ramp, adjusting rotations on the fly.
Ancient
CS2 improved visibility on this map, but it’s still about early mid-control. Donut is the most misunderstood callout and failing to call Jaguar or Cave rotations causes chaos. Ancient favors teams that can hold tight angles and relay quick info. The narrow layout makes every smoke and sound cue matter.
Overpass
Rotation-heavy and built for mind games. Teams need to call out Connector, Short B, Heaven and Divider clearly. Overpass punishes teams that overrotate. On T-side, pushing A without control of Bathrooms or Long A often fails. CTs rely on strong site anchoring and quick flank info.
Anubis
A newer map with an Egyptian theme and three major lanes. Mid, Heaven, Canal and Main are critical callouts. Anubis rewards lurkers who can exploit timing. Knowing how to relay info about Heaven angles or Water pushes helps anchor sites effectively. On T-side, calling the flank through A Connector can decide a post-plant.
Vertigo
Vertical fights and risky plants. Callouts like Ramp, B Stairs, Tarp and Elevator are non-negotiable. Vertigo often feels chaotic, but structured comms tame it. Pro teams like G2 and Vitality focus heavily on audio and position-based rotations here. Miscommunicating positions like Back Site B can lose bomb control in seconds.
Why Callouts Win Games
Most players lose fights not because they lack aim, but because they’re caught off-guard. Knowing where an enemy is—or could be—lets your team trade kills effectively. In ranked CS2, even among players in the top 10%, most rounds are decided by better coordination, not better flicks.
Let’s say you’re on Ancient and a teammate spots someone going Donut, but doesn’t say it. You peek expecting a CT at Temple, get caught and die. Now the round’s lost. One callout could’ve changed the round.
Good teams use short, clear phrases. They don’t overtalk. Instead of saying “he might be near A site, probably behind boxes,” they say “Default A.” That gives your teammate all the info they need to flash or pre-aim. Fewer words, faster plays, more wins.
Real Impact in Ranked and Competitive Play
Stats back it up. According to FACEIT’s match data, teams with consistent comms and correct callouts win 18% more rounds on average. In higher ELOs, players use pre-agreed callout lists, even writing them down for new maps like Anubis.
CS pros talk constantly during rounds—not to spam info, but to lock in exact enemy positions and teammate actions. Watch any HLTV demo. You’ll hear calls like “two short B, one jumping boost,” and the entire team adjusts instantly.
You don’t need pro-level comms to benefit. Even in matchmaking, calling out “AWPer top mid” on Mirage or “one lurk B” on Inferno makes a huge difference. It helps your team reposition and stay one step ahead.
What You Should Do Right Now
Learn callouts map by map. Don’t try to memorize everything in one go. Play one map at a time, open it in offline mode, walk around and say each position out loud. Use workshop maps with callout markers to speed it up.
When you solo queue, mention the callout names early so your team uses the same language. If someone says “Ladder Room” and you’re used to “Short,” clarify it early. Consistency matters more than perfection.
Record your games and review callouts. Ask yourself: did you help your team with clear info? Did your callouts lead to kills or help prevent rotates? Improvement in communication often leads to faster rank progression than aim training alone.