win.gg
Win.gg Counter-Strike Will CS2 get rid of one-way smokes? Here’s what we know

Will CS2 get rid of one-way smokes? Here’s what we know

Author Icon
William Davis Published 15/07/2023
Counter-Strike 2 smokes

CS2 has completely changed everything about smokes, but the classic one-way has somehow managed to survive.

One-way smokes are some of the nastiest pieces of tech in Global Offensive. Whether it’s abusing high-up landing spots or messing with corners, the classic mechanic is either extremely frustrating or satisfying. CS2’s major smoke changes have pros divided but ranked grinders who abused the mechanics may be even more upset. So now that CS2 players have had time to mess with the new system, are one-way smokes a thing of the past? 

The main concern players have expressed is the way smokes now flow to fill up empty spaces. They’re no longer a big round cloud with clear floors and ceilings. This means that classic one-ways, like the one on Dust 2’s bomb plant zone toward long, will no longer work. Those types of one-way smokes are effectively gone from CS2.

However, height-based one-ways will continue to exist very similarly to before. In the clip below, austincs shows off an example on Dust 2 involving dropping smoke on top of a box. Smokes still have a clear limit on how low they can go, allowing players to see enemies at certain angles while remaining hidden. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_j080G0wg4&ab_channel=austincsCLIPS

These aren’t quite as versatile as what CSGO offers, but another new smoke mechanic compounds the nerf.

One-way smokes can get blasted away in CS2

In addition to eliminating corner-based one-way smokes, players will be able to blast away limited sightlines in CS2 entirely.

In CSGO, players can get multiple frags using a one-way smoke because shooting through it doesn’t reveal your position. However, in CS2, shooting through smokes will immediately give away your position. It’s still possible to get multiple kills in quick succession, but organized teams can quickly blast back. It may be best to have an escape plan after scoring your first kill through a one-way.

However, the smoke clearing away also opens up new opportunities for temporary one-ways all over the place. Shooting through the smoke gives the shooter a temporary sight line, and slightly off shots can be corrected with that information. It’s a double-edged sword, as they must keep safe while doing so. All things considered, one-ways should be a much fairer technique in the new engine.

William Davis
About William Davis

View full profile
Read Also
Here’s the complete Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 schedule Esports Betting
Here’s the complete Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 schedule Hannan Mundia The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has finally arrived, and here’s the complete schedule for the event to ensure you don’t miss anything. While it isn’t exactly the newest name in the esports scene, the EWC has quickly become a leading event for esports fans worldwide. It brings together professional players and fans from various games, combining them into one long event that everyone can enjoy. 2026’s Esports World Cup ...
XSE Pro League 2026 in China: Teams, format and prize pool Counter-Strike
XSE Pro League 2026 in China: Teams, format and prize pool Owen Harsono Counter-Strike is back after the IEM Cologne Major, as the XSE Pro League 2026 is the first notable event since then. 16 teams book flights to China to compete in the million-dollar event. Here’s everything you need to know about the XSE Pro League 2026 event. Top-tier Counter-Strike returns to the passionate grounds of China, as the event will take place in the city of Guangzhou. Teams will play in ...
Will Valve add Cache in the CS2 Premier Season 5 Active Duty map pool? Esports Betting
Will Valve add Cache in the CS2 Premier Season 5 Active Duty map pool? Wasif Ahmed Following the highly anticipated return of Cache to Counter-Strike 2 earlier this season, the competitive community has almost started believing that the legendary industrial map would soon make its way into the Active Duty map pool for Premier Season 5. This expectation followed a pattern set by Train, which Valve brought back late last year before quickly pushing it into the main professional tournament rotation. However, in a recent Twitter ...
IEM Cologne Grand Final: Team Falcons vs FURIA best betting predictions Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Grand Final: Team Falcons vs FURIA best betting predictions Owen Harsono Coming into the IEM Cologne Major, nobody would have expected a grand final series between Team Falcons and FURIA, but here we are. Will NiKo finally win his first Major, or will FalleN win another one before retiring at the end of the year? Here are our IEM Cologne Major Grand Final predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: Grand Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best-of-five Betting tip: Team Falcons ...
Team Spirit vs Team Falcons IEM Cologne Major: betting predictions and picks Counter-Strike
Team Spirit vs Team Falcons IEM Cologne Major: betting predictions and picks Owen Harsono We’re in for a treat, as Team Spirit will take on Team Falcons for a spot in the IEM Cologne Major grand final. Will NiKo finally get another shot at winning a Major, or will donk and company prevent him from accomplishing his lifelong goal? Here are our IEM Cologne Major Team Spirit vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: Semi-Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best-of-three Betting ...
Vitality vs Falcons betting predictions and best picks: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Counter-Strike
Vitality vs Falcons betting predictions and best picks: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Owen Harsono We’re treated to a possible grand final matchup here in the quarterfinal of the IEM Cologne Major, with Team Vitality taking on Team Falcons in an elimination match. These are two of the highest-profile teams in the game right now, but only one of them can continue their chase for the trophy. Here are our IEM Cologne Major Team Vitality vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: ...
IEM Cologne Major 2026 playoffs preview: matchups & predictions Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026 playoffs preview: matchups & predictions Owen Harsono The top eight teams at the IEM Cologne 2026 Major are set. Most of the favorites easily secured their spots, but we also have promising underdogs sneaking into the bracket. To keep you up to speed, here’s everything you need to know about the IEM Cologne Major playoffs. We started with 32 teams and are now only down to eight. After a grueling Stage 3, teams have been seeded into ...