Nuke callouts in CS2: place names, smokes and map history

Valve’s official map guide for Nuke in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) holds smoke lineups, as of the game files mirrored on Oct. 15, 2026. The game’s text file lists the place names for the map.

This page collects those names and lineups in Valve’s own words. It then follows Nuke through Valve’s posts, from a 2012 revision to the September 2023 CS2 release notes.

Nuke callouts: the game’s place names

The CS2 text file lists these place names under Nuke:

Hut Roof, Secret, Crane, Vents, Decon, Observation, Admin, Toxic, Mini, Control Room, Heaven, Hell, Vending, Trophy, Silo, Sniper Box, Radio, Hut, Crows, Squeaky, Yellow, Main, CT Red, Red, Warehouse, Back Stairs, Rafters and Forklift.

Official smoke lineups

These are the smoke lineups in Valve’s official guide for the map, as of Oct. 15, 2026. Each one comes with a hint for where to stand and a hint for where to aim.

Outside Smoke Wall: Close Mini Smoke and Far Garage Smoke

Valve’s guide names the standing spot “Outside Smoke Wall.” Its hint reads “Push into the dark seam on this wall.”

Two throws start from this spot. For Close Mini Smoke, the guide says “Aim at right side of lamp. Left Click Jump Throw.” For Far Garage Smoke, it says “Aim at corner of railings, Left Click Jump Throw.”

Garage Smoke

The standing-spot hint is “Push into center of the pole.” The aim hint is “Aim at middle of bracket shadow. Left Click Jump Throw.”

Unbreakable Smoke

The standing-spot hint is “Push into the center of the heart.” The aim hint is “Aim at corner of building. Left Click Throw.” Valve’s guide marks this lineup as a plain throw, not a jump throw.

Nuke’s history in Valve’s posts

Dates below are as Valve gave them. For the two Steam announcements, Valve’s time stamps are in Pacific time.

2012: a competitive revision joins the standard map

On Dec. 12, 2012, Valve wrote that pro tournaments often played a competitive revision of Nuke by Sal “Volcano” Garozzo. The update that day incorporated elements of Volcano’s revision into the standard Nuke. Valve also pointed players to de_fuser magazine’s Nuke strategy coverage and to a CS:GO Pro Tip on NiP’s strats.

2014: three map groups and changes to both bombsites

The July 1, 2014 release notes divided maps into three groups: Active Duty, Reserves and Operation. Nuke was in Active Duty, alongside Dust II, Mirage, Inferno, Cobblestone, Overpass and Cache. Valve wrote that the assignments would be re-evaluated every Operation.

The same notes listed three changes to Nuke:

• Reduced fog.
• Blocked visibility through the bottom of cover in Bombsite A.
• Made the ceiling in Bombsite B twice as thick.

2015: moved to the Reserve pool

The March 31, 2015 release notes added Train to the Active Duty pool and moved Nuke to the Reserve pool.

2016: Wildfire, then back to Active Duty

Operation Wildfire began on Feb. 17, 2016. Valve’s post announced “the return of Nuke!” and wrote that the latest evolution of the map was available in Competitive Matchmaking and in the Operation Wildfire Map Group.

On April 21, 2016, Valve wrote: “Today, we’re reintroducing Nuke to the Active Duty map group, and moving Inferno to the reserves.” Valve added that Nuke would be one of the seven maps played at the CS:GO Major Championship at ESL One Cologne 2016.

2018: a round of map adjustments

On March 29, 2018, Valve wrote that the day’s update included “a host of adjustments” to Nuke, Dust II and Canals.

2023: game modes and audio work

Valve’s release notes of June 29, 2023, posted at 5:31 p.m. PDT, added Nuke to the Deathmatch, Casual and Competitive game modes and removed Mirage. The same notes added a unique audio occlusion layer to help with vertical sound positioning in Nuke.

The Sept. 27, 2023 release notes, posted at 2:29 p.m. PDT, announced that Counter-Strike 2 was available and free to play. Under maps, they list adjusted vertical audio occlusion boundaries in Nuke and Vertigo.

Key dates

• Volcano’s revision folded into the standard map: Dec. 12, 2012
• Nuke placed in Active Duty: July 1, 2014
• Nuke moved to the Reserve pool: March 31, 2015
• Operation Wildfire and the return of Nuke: Feb. 17, 2016
• Nuke back in Active Duty: April 21, 2016
• Adjustments to Nuke, Dust II and Canals: March 29, 2018
• Nuke added to Deathmatch, Casual and Competitive: June 29, 2023
• Counter-Strike 2 release notes adjust Nuke audio boundaries: Sept. 27, 2023

FAQ

What are the place names on Nuke in CS2?

The game’s text file lists Hut Roof, Secret, Crane, Vents, Decon, Observation, Admin, Toxic, Mini, Control Room, Heaven, Hell, Vending and Trophy. It also lists Silo, Sniper Box, Radio, Hut, Crows, Squeaky, Yellow, Main, CT Red, Red, Warehouse, Back Stairs, Rafters and Forklift.

Does Valve have official smoke lineups for Nuke?

Yes. As of Oct. 15, 2026, Valve’s map guide has Close Mini Smoke and Far Garage Smoke from the Outside Smoke Wall spot, plus Garage Smoke and Unbreakable Smoke.

Was Nuke ever moved out of Active Duty?

Valve’s March 31, 2015 release notes moved Nuke to the Reserve pool. Valve reintroduced it to Active Duty on April 21, 2016.

Was Nuke played at a Major?

Valve wrote on April 21, 2016 that Nuke would be one of the seven maps played at the CS:GO Major Championship at ESL One Cologne 2016.