Map overview
Mirage’s layout connects the Terrorist side to both bombsites through different lanes. The central area is important because it links routes toward A and B and gives teams options to pressure the defenders from more than one direction. A team that controls a route gains access to space, but still has to clear the angles that protect the site.
Players use established callouts such as Mid, A Ramp, Palace, Connector, B Apartments and Market to communicate positions. Accurate callouts help teammates decide whether to hold, assist or rotate. The map’s routes and sightlines make clear communication especially valuable when opponents split pressure across both sites.
Bombsites & approaches
A is approached through A Ramp and Palace, with Connector and Mid affecting how players can reach or defend the site. After an entry, attackers need to check the site and nearby positions before planting the C4 Explosive. Defenders can contest these approaches from the site or rotate through connected areas.
B is approached through B Apartments and the Market side. The attackers must account for defenders on site and players arriving through the connected routes. A successful plant does not end the task: Terrorists must defend the bomb, while Counter-Terrorists clear the area and attempt the Defuse Kit interaction if equipped.
Mid control & rotations
Mid is a contested space rather than a guaranteed route to either site. Controlling it can let a team threaten Connector or other transitions and may force defenders to watch more than one direction. Teams should communicate which parts of Mid they have checked; seeing one position does not prove the whole area is clear.
Defenders rotate based on player sightings, bomb information and remaining time. Rotating too early can leave a site exposed, while a delayed response can make a retake difficult. Attackers can use a Smoke Grenade to obstruct a sightline and a Flashbang to support a crossing, but utility does not remove the need to clear corners.
CS2 applicability & map pool
This entry describes Mirage as a CS2 Bomb Defusal map. The layout description is separate from matchmaking availability: map-pool inclusion changes over time and should be documented in Map Rotations with dates. This page does not treat a past rotation as a permanent CS2 rule.
Collision, visibility and C4 fixes (August 21, 2024)
On August 21, 2024, CS2 adjusted collision on the van for smoother movement, fixed wall-penetration issues around some arches, and corrected view jitter when jumping on a crate near Palace. The patch also changed collision that had allowed smoke grenades to enter a wall, adjusted grenade clipping and collision on some props, and fixed C4 stuck spots. These changes address distinct movement, visual, grenade and objective-object interactions; the notes do not provide a new Mirage route diagram or name every affected prop.
The van and prop adjustments affect movement around map geometry, while grenade clipping and smoke-wall interaction concern where thrown utility can travel. The view-jitter correction is a camera presentation fix. C4 recovery changes are separate from the bomb’s standard objective rules.
Mid, Window, Underpass and Connector
Mirage’s Mid is divided into Top Mid toward T Spawn and Bottom Mid toward CT Spawn. Sniper’s Nest, usually called Window, overlooks Mid and links the CT-side approach to the central lane; Ladder Room and Underpass provide the lower connection from the T-side Apartments area toward Mid. Connector joins Mid with the A-side Jungle and site approaches. These names describe distinct entrances and elevations: a call of “Window” is more precise than “Mid,” while “Underpass” tells teammates that an opponent is using the lower route.
Control of Mid matters because players can transition toward either bombsite from its connected routes. From Mid, an attacker can challenge Window, move toward Connector/Jungle or reach Catwalk and the B-side approach; CTs can contest those crossings from Window, Connector and nearby site positions. A player who sees an opponent cross one doorway has not cleared every linked route. Share the last confirmed location and direction, especially before a teammate rotates through Connector or toward Window.
A site, Palace, B Apartments and Market
A site is approached from A Ramp and Palace. Tetris and the site boxes divide the entry area, while Balcony, Stairs, CT/Triple, Jungle and Connector identify positions around the site and its retake routes. Palace looks toward both A and T Spawn, so the callout helps distinguish an attacker emerging from the elevated side from one entering through Ramp. CTs can approach from CT Spawn, Stairs or Jungle/Connector; the exact position matters when describing which angle has been cleared.
B site is connected to B Apartments, Catwalk and Market. Market Door is the direct CT-side opening; Van and Bench identify cover and outer site positions. From Apartments, attackers enter through the balcony-side opening, while defenders can approach through Market or Catwalk. After the bomb is planted, site control depends on which of these exits remain covered. Smoke can block a doorway or sightline during a crossing, but a team still needs to clear the named corners before treating the site as safe.
CS2 layout and dated map record
The Wiki records a CS2 map update on December 6, 2023 that fixed a gap under the door at Middle. It is a specific collision correction to the CS2 map, not evidence that the broader route layout changed. Older development and community-map history is separate from this CS2 layout description. The CS2 Mirage page should be read with its named spaces—A Ramp, Palace, Mid, Window, Connector, Underpass, B Apartments, Catwalk and Market—rather than assuming that every route in an earlier community version is identical.
Map-pool membership can change independently from map geometry. See Map Rotations for dated matchmaking availability and use this page for the CS2 site connections and callouts.
Limited Test fixes (June 14, 2023)
The June 14, 2023 Limited Test update fixed a server-lagging spot near Mirage’s bench, corrected several unusual wall-penetration cases, and adjusted the end-of-match screen. The note does not identify the individual wall surfaces or describe the presentation change to the end screen, so no specific lineup, penetration value or UI layout is inferred.
Limited Test map fixes (June 15, 2023)
The June 15, 2023 Limited Test update lists various fixes for Mirage without specifying the affected areas or the fix types. This records a dated maintenance pass only; it does not support a new route description or a claim about particular sightlines or collision.
Lightmaps, Underpass smoke and skybox fix (June 20, 2023)
On June 20, 2023, Mirage received several lightmap fixes. The same Limited Test update changed smoke-cloud interaction with the metal rollup grating in Underpass: smoke clouds could pass through the grating. It also closed a way for players to jiggle into the skybox. The notes do not identify particular light fixtures, a route or lineup, or the exact exploit position, so those details are not inferred. These are dated corrections to the Counter-Strike 2 Mirage build, not a statement about map-pool availability.
Removed from the Limited Test map pool (June 29, 2023)
Mirage was removed from the available Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test map pool on June 29, 2023, when Nuke and Office entered selected queues. This records that day’s test rotation only; it does not describe a change to Mirage’s layout or imply permanent removal from CS2.
Limited Test map rotation (June 6, 2023)
On June 6, 2023, Mirage replaced Dust II on official Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test matchmaking servers. This is a dated map-pool change: the announcement does not describe a Mirage layout revision or removal of Dust II from the game. Mirage’s inclusion at this stage should be kept distinct from later Limited Test rotations and retail availability.
Named position and collision fixes (June 9, 2023)
The June 9, 2023 Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test update removed a wallbang through the door toward Connector, blocked a gap in the Top Mid box stack and closed a pixel gap by Ticket Booth. It also restored the jump onto the firebox at A site. The patch lists additional player and grenade collision fixes and minor graphical corrections without naming further positions. These are dated geometry and collision notes; they do not provide alternate routes or grenade lineups.
B-site pillar pixel boost fixed (September 8, 2023)
The September 8, 2023 Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test update fixed a pixel boost on pillars at Mirage B site. The note names the affected landmark and exploit category, but does not specify the exact pillar, setup or movement sequence. It records a map-boundary correction; it is not a general change to every boost or jump on Mirage.
Collision, line-of-sight and performance fixes (April 25, 2024)
Mirage received bug and exploit fixes, collision and line-of-sight adjustments, and minor performance improvements in the April 25, 2024 update. The patch groups Mirage with Overpass, Nuke, Vertigo and Office and does not identify the affected surfaces or specific exploits. This entry therefore records the map-level maintenance without inventing a new path, angle or smoke lineup.
Ambient-occlusion shader fix (April 28, 2026)
The April 28, 2026 update fixed an Ambient Occlusion shader issue involving alpha-tested materials that produced overly dark, chunky silhouettes on Mirage railings. This is a rendering correction to those railing silhouettes, not a change to the railing collision, route visibility or player model rules. The note names the affected map and visual symptom but does not list every material or graphics setting involved.