This is the original Counter-Strike, the Half-Life mod Minh Le and Jess Cliffe put out in beta in June 1999, which Valve shipped at retail in November 2000 and finished as version 1.6 in 2003. Two teams of five buy weapons with money earned last round, and one death means sitting out until the round ends. The AK-47 costs 2500 dollars, the M4A1 costs 3100 and the AWP costs 4750, and every one of those numbers still shapes how a match is played.
Counter-Strike features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | de_dust2 | Bomb defusal, 5v5 | Mid control, fastest B rotations in the game | AWPer |
| 2 | de_inferno | Bomb defusal, 5v5 | Banana control, apartment access to A | AWPer |
| 3 | de_nuke | Bomb defusal, 5v5 | Vertical rotations, strong CT default | Entry fragger |
| 4 | de_train | Bomb defusal, 5v5 | Sniper sightlines, cover heavy site takes | Entry fragger |
| 5 | cs_office | Hostage rescue, 5v5 | Hostage rescue bonuses, close quarters practice | Entry fragger |
de_dust2: Starting Area
The most played map ever made, built around three lanes: long A, mid doors and catwalk, and the B tunnels. Mid control decides most rounds because it feeds rotations to both bomb sites.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Bomb defusal, 5v5 |
| Key Rewards | Mid control, fastest B rotations in the game |
| Recommended Role | AWPer |
| Key Weapons | M4A1 |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Round based buy economy. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to de_inferno.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
de_inferno: Early Game
Tight apartment blocks and the banana corridor to B. Utility matters more here than aim, since most approaches funnel through doorways a single grenade can hold.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Bomb defusal, 5v5 |
| Key Rewards | Banana control, apartment access to A |
| Recommended Role | AWPer |
| Key Weapons | M4A1 |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering One life per round. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for M4A1 if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in de_nuke.
de_nuke: Mid Game
Two bomb sites stacked vertically inside a power plant, with outside, ramp and the vents connecting them. Counter-Terrorists start with a strong hold, so Terrorist rounds depend on splitting attention.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Bomb defusal, 5v5 |
| Key Rewards | Vertical rotations, strong CT default |
| Recommended Role | Entry fragger |
| Key Weapons | M4A1 |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- AK-47 becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Bomb defusal and hostage rescue for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
de_train: Late Game
Open bomb sites full of rail cars that create dozens of angles and elevated positions. It is the classic AWP map, where a single rifle covering the yard can stall a whole execute.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Bomb defusal, 5v5 |
| Key Rewards | Sniper sightlines, cover heavy site takes |
| Recommended Role | Entry fragger |
| Key Weapons | AK-47 |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- AK-47 should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Spray pattern control mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into cs_office.
cs_office: Endgame
A hostage map rather than a bomb map, set in a snowbound office block. Corridors and cubicles keep fights close, so shotguns and submachine guns compete with rifles here in a way they do not on de_ maps.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Hostage rescue, 5v5 |
| Key Rewards | Hostage rescue bonuses, close quarters practice |
| Recommended Role | Entry fragger |
| Key Weapons | AK-47 |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with In-game leader for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: de_dust2 → de_inferno → de_nuke → de_train → cs_office. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons: Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Counter-Strike Guides
- Counter-Strike Counter-Strike Overview
- Counter-Strike Best Builds
- Counter-Strike Tier List
- Counter-Strike Walkthrough
- Counter-Strike Beginner's Guide
- Counter-Strike Tips & Tricks
- Counter-Strike Weapons Guide
- Counter-Strike Combat Guide
- Counter-Strike Boss Guide
- Counter-Strike Crafting Guide
- Counter-Strike Classes & Characters
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- Rainbow Six Siege Maps & Locations: fps game with similar mechanics
