Nuke is one of the longest-standing maps in Counter-Strike, but most players still stray away from it due to its difficult and confusing nature. Since the map has multiple layers, playing on Nuke can be pretty daunting with a lack of experience.
This is why using proper smokes can help you dominate opponents if you are ever forced to play this map. Both the Terrorist and Counter-Terrorist side can make exceptional usage of smokes, so let’s go over the best Nuke smokes you should begin using to dominate your games!
Terrorist Side Smokes
Nuke is arguably the most CT-sided map in the Active Duty Map pool, making it naturally difficult for players to find success on the Terrorist side. However, some well-placed smokes, especially in the Outside area, can help you turn the ship around and rake in enough rounds on the Terrorist side.
Outside Cross Smoke
The first smoke we’ll cover is used to block off the crossing area between T Spawn and the Rex box on the Outside area. This smoke will help you make your way behind the Red box safely without getting picked off by an enemy AWPer.
This smoke is relatively simple and doesn’t require very precise lineups. While you are exiting out of T Spawn, start running towards the Outside area, where you will see a singular antennae pole that is far behind the barricades. Aim at the tip of the antennae and simply throw your smoke while you are running.
The smoke will bloom right in the middle of the crossover and will take effect very quickly, allowing you to run behind Rex box without too much downtime.
Outside Smoke Wall
The next smoke is a two-part smoke, meaning you will need a total of two smokes. You can either throw both of them yourself (with your teammate dropping you a smoke), or you can have your teammate throw the second smoke.
These two smokes will create a wall for the Outside area in front of the Red box. This wall is crucial for helping Terrorist players cross from Red to Secret, as walking through this crossover is essentially suicide.
Outside Smoke Wall 1
For the first lineup, walk out of T Spawn until you see the truck that is carrying a big red box. Stand behind the truck, and line yourself up with the left rear.
Now, look towards the Outside area, where you should see a building with two sets of window panes. Aim your crosshair at the top-right corner of the left group of window panes. Finally, perform a jump throw of your smoke.
Outside Smoke Wall 2
For the second smoke, you will have to pass the truck area, and then immediately make a right turn. You should see the concrete wall next to the fence pole. Line yourself up where the concrete wall ends.
Look towards the Outside area, where you will see a large blue box directly in front of you. You should see a pipe clamp on the right side of the box. Aim at the right corner of the circular clamp and then perform a jump throw.
Outside Garage Smoke
Garage is arguably one of the best locations for Counter-Terrorist AWPers to hold from. So, it is best to smoke if off if you’re looking to make a play on the Outside area of the map.
For the Garage smoke, walk towards the outside area T Spawn and stand next to the large metal pole near the edge of the building. Now, line yourself up with the left side of the pole. Next, look towards the direction of Garage.
You will see the yellow ladder in front of you. Aim your crosshair just at the top left corner of the ladder. Finally, you can throw your smoke normally. This smoke will land in front of Garage, covering all sights.
A Heaven Smoke
Hitting the A bomb site dry can be a very daunting task, which is why a support player should throw a smoke to cover off Heaven before the main attacking unit storms the bomb site. If you’re that support player, here’s how you can smoke heaven.
Climb up the yellow ladder to reach the roof of the building directly in front of T Spawn. Once you have climbed up the ladder, do not move. Now, look towards the rooftop, where you should see a massive pipe extending from the left to the right.
Aim your crosshair in the middle of where the downward pipe aligns with the middle of the visible metal railing. Finally, run two steps forward and then jump throw your smoke.
Counter-Terrorist Side Smokes
Though the Counter-Terrorist side is generally much easier to play, Nuke can still be very tricky when a horde of Terrorists rush through a choke point and catch you off guard. Since most of the smokes for the Counter-Terrorist side are pretty straightforward, we’ll only teach you a couple of essential smokes you need to know.
Squeaky Smoke From A Site
If you’re playing on the A site, you are very vulnerable to rushes if Terrorists split through A Main and Squeaky. So, we recommend throwing this Squeaky smoke to alleviate some of the pressure.
On A Site, walk to the back corner of the site, where you would normally drop off heaven from. Stand next to the yellow platform where you would normally land, and push yourself to the corner.
You should see a box that is sticking on the lower side of the left A1 silo. Aim your crosshair on the top left corner of this box and perform a jump throw. The smoke will land perfectly in front of the Squeaky door, making it harder for Terrorists to rush in.
Hut From A Heaven
If you’re trying to retake the A bomb site from Heaven, you can throw a very useful smoke to block off Hut, allowing you to try taking back the bomb site with one less angle to watch.
Once you are in A Heaven, go to the back right corner facing the bomb site, and bump yourself into the corner. Next, look towards the site, and you will see a bunch of lamps hanging down the ceiling.
First of all, you are going to stay crouched throughout this lineup. Look for the lamp that is furthest out on the left side, and then aim at the middle of it. Finally, throw your smoke, but ensure you remain crouched.
Trophy Room Smoke From Ramp
In the early rounds, Terrorists might rush down the Ramp area through the Trophy Room, so it is often a good idea to smoke it off when the round starts.
As you are exiting CT Spawn and entering the Ramp area, keep running and start aiming your crosshair at the angled edge corner of the door frame that leads into Trophy Room. Aim above the red door frame, ensuring your crosshair is aimed at the white portion at the top.
Finally, do a casual running throw, and your smoke should land directly in front of the Trophy Room exit towards Ramp.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ll admit that playing the Terrorist side on Nuke can be very tricky. However, using some of the smokes we’ve covered above will definitely make things easier. Most of the smokes we’ve discussed is aimed at the Outside area, which is a large portion of the map. Make sure to take control of the area as much as possible to pinch Counter-Terrorists in.
On the other hand, there aren’t too many CT side lineups, since most smokes are pretty straightforward. You can simply aim and throw your smoke on most sections of the map, and it makes it even easier that most entry points are very tight. However, we went over three smokes that can be useful in early rounds or retake situations.