The C4 explosive is a critical piece of equipment in Counter-Strike 2, often determining whether a team wins or loses a round. CS.MONEY Blog tell you everything you need to know about C4 in CS2, from how it works to unique tactics and strategies.
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How Does C4 Work in CS2?
The C4 explosive is an item exclusively available to the Attacking side in:
- Casual Mode
- Competitive Mode
- Premier Mode
At the beginning of each round, the game randomly assigns one single C4 pack to one of the Attackers. Once assigned, the player can drop the C4 on the ground or pass it to a teammate. If the player stays inactive for too long, the game automatically drops the C4.
To win the round, the attacking team needs to eliminate all opponents or detonate the C4 at one of the bomb sites. Each map has two plant sites where the C4 can be armed. To plant it, the player must reach a designated zone, hold the C4, and press the fire button (or E). During the planting process, players can’t switch weapons or perform other actions, nor can they move. The player crouches and remains in place until the planting is complete or interrupted, taking just over 3 seconds.
Once planted, a timer begins. In Casual mode, this timer is set to 45 seconds, while in Competitive and Premier modes, it’s 40 seconds. During this time, the defending team must defuse the C4. Defusing takes 10 seconds, or 5 seconds if the player has a defuse kit. Once C4 is defused, the defenders automatically win the round regardless of the attackers’ survival count.
If the C4 isn’t defused in time, it explodes, causing massive damage to nearby players. The blast radius decreases with distance, but avoiding it completely is challenging. A C4 explosion secures a round win for the attackers.
Key Characteristics of C4 in CS2
The C4 in CS2 has unique characteristics. First, carrying it doesn’t reduce movement speed, allowing the player to move as quickly as if they were holding a knife. Additionally, the C4 is always visible on the Attackers’ minimap via a special icon. Defenders also see this icon, but only when the C4 carrier is within their line of sight.
Only Attackers can pick up the C4, and it cannot be moved once dropped on the ground, even by explosions or shots. It can, however, be slightly nudged by interacting with objects, such as the soccer ball on Dust 2, although this is more of a bug than an intended thing.
When dropped, the C4 flashes with an LED to make it easier to spot. After planting, it continues to flash and emits a beeping sound that varies by location. A C4 planted on B Site, for example, produces a lower-pitched sound. This audio cue is subtle but becomes easier to recognize with experience.
C4 Tactics and Tricks
There’s a small trick involving the C4. While both planting and defusing, the C4 trigger a sound while stopping either action does not produce any sounds. Players can use this to their advantage, for example, by faking a plant or defuse to lure opponents out of hiding.
And also, you can hang charms on the C4, as was added to the game quite recently! So if you want to decorate your C4, you can do it in a way. You can buy charms at low prices on CS.MONEY!
Mastering the use of the C4 is essential for success in Counter-Strike 2. Successfully planting the C4 grants the attacking team more money, even if they lose the round. Additionally, once planted, the odds of winning the round improve significantly. Defenders can also leverage the C4 strategically—by controlling it, they can force attackers to come to them, simplifying their path to victory.
