Master Overpass in CS:GO with this ultimate guide to smokes, flashes, molotovs, and grenade lineups. Learn pro-level utility tactics for A and B site control, retakes, and executes.

Overpass is one of the most tactical and utility-heavy maps in Counter-Strike. From the massive verticality to tight choke points and wide-open bombsites, the map demands players to use grenades effectively. Unlike maps like Mirage or Inferno where utility can feel routine, Overpass requires strategic timing and precise placement. If you’re not mastering your smokes and flashes, you’re leaving your team vulnerable to early picks, failed executes, and hopeless retakes.

The reason Overpass stands out is because of how much map control you can exert with proper utility. Want to take A long safely? Use a flash and molotov. Need to shut down a B rush? Drop a well-timed smoke at Monster. Even for retakes, the utility makes or breaks your chances. One Heaven smoke on B can make a post-plant situation entirely winnable. Without good grenade usage, you’re essentially walking into a gunfight with a blindfold on.

Utility isn’t just about entry or defense—it’s about control. When you control angles, you control the pace of the game. With just a couple of smokes and a flash, you can bait out rotations, delay pushes, or even fake an entire site take. Overpass rewards smart grenade users, and punishes those who rely only on raw aim.

So, if you’re serious about climbing the ranks or just want to stop getting deleted by early AWPs and aggressive peeks, mastering Overpass utility is a must. In this guide, we’re going to walk through the best smoke lineups, pop flashes, and molotovs that every player—from silver to global—should know.

Overview of Smokes, Flashbangs, Molotovs, and HE Grenades

Overpass gives you room to shine with all four grenades. Let’s break down what each one can do for you:

  • Smokes: Use these to block vision at key angles—AWP spots like Heaven, Truck, or Bank. They’re essential for site takes and retakes.
  • Flashbangs: Great for blinding opponents behind common holds. A well-placed pop flash can win you a duel even against a sniper.
  • Molotovs: Use these to clear out aggressive pushes or force players out of power positions like Toxic or Barrels.
  • HE Grenades: While less commonly used in executes, a good nade can chunk down rushing enemies or finish off tagged opponents.

Used together, these tools create space, deny information, and give you the upper hand. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of T-side essentials first.

T Side Essentials – Controlling the Map with Smokes

A Site Smoke Lineups

A site on Overpass can be incredibly hard to take without utility. The defenders often have AWPers on Truck or Bank, riflers playing close bathrooms or optimus, and plenty of crossfire setups. This is where your smokes come in.

Bank Smoke

To throw a perfect Bank smoke, stand next to the corner just outside bathrooms. Aim at the top of the lamp post and jump-throw. This will block the vision of any CT playing deep bank, making it much easier to plant on default or in the open. It’s ideal for post-plant safety as well.

What makes the Bank smoke so powerful is how it isolates fights. Without it, you’re exposed to players from Bank, Heaven (rotating in), and even Truck simultaneously. With it, you can narrow your angle and push into the site more confidently.

Truck Smoke

Truck is a power position. A player can see from long, short, and even peek into bathrooms. Smoking it off denies that entire part of the map. To line it up, stand at the edge of the flowerbed wall (near short A), aim slightly above the middle of the green sign, and do a jump-throw. It lands perfectly to block the truck vision.

Combining Truck and Bank smokes together? That’s a textbook A execute.

Stairs Smoke (CT Spawn)

If you want to go all-in, throwing a stairs smoke to block CT spawn vision is perfect for fakes or full rushes. It forces rotations to come from Heaven or connector and gives your team precious seconds.

Smokes for A are about removing options from the CTs. The more vision you block, the more chaotic their defense becomes.

B Site Smoke Lineups

When you’re executing B site on Overpass, speed and precision are everything. The site is tighter, but the angles are brutal. Here are your go-to smokes for a clean B take.

Heaven Smoke

One of the most important smokes in the entire game. CTs love to anchor Heaven with an AWP or rifle. If you leave it open, you’re just asking to get shredded. To throw this, head to T spawn near the wall, aim above the second tree in the background, and jump-throw. The smoke lands cleanly in Heaven and completely obscures that angle.

Even if no one’s there, the smoke makes it riskier for the CTs to rotate and peek late.

Bridge Smoke

Bridge smoke cuts off the rotator’s view from graffiti and back site. It lets your team push in from Monster or short without fear of being gunned down instantly. This smoke is great when paired with a Heaven smoke and a molotov for barrels.

Bridge is a less common smoke in lower ranks but highly effective in organized play. It’s a great tool for site dominance.

Short B Smoke

Short B is often held aggressively by CTs trying to gather info. Smoking it gives you room to cross into water safely and set up a full execute. It’s especially helpful when you’re going for a mid-round push and want to isolate Monster.

Used in combination, these three smokes can completely cut off the B site’s defensive setup.

CT Side Counter-Utility – Holding the Push

Early Round Smokes and Nades

As a CT on Overpass, your job isn’t just about holding angles—it’s about delaying and denying enemy pushes. Early round utility is your strongest weapon to stop a fast T-side execute in its tracks. Think of it like placing landmines across the map that force Ts to respect your control.

Monster Smoke

Monster is the most vulnerable and most common entry point for a B site rush. A single smoke thrown at the start of the round delays any aggression and gives your B anchor time to call for support. Stand near the sandbags or barrels and aim at the top left of the wall pipe—this is your fast, consistent smoke.

The key here is timing. Throw this within the first 5–6 seconds of the round and repeat it once it starts fading (if possible). Many players waste utility too early or too late. Remember, you’re not just blocking vision—you’re playing chess. Every second the T side waits behind that smoke, your team rotates, repositions, or flanks.

Short Control Molotov

Another underrated CT play is using a molotov to stop Ts from taking short B control. A well-thrown molly into the short pipe or behind the sandbags not only does damage but forces the Ts to either commit or fall back. This is key to limiting their B control and denies water pressure, which is crucial for multi-layered site hits.

You can throw this molly from barrels or even graffiti, depending on how aggressive you want to play. Mix up your timings to keep Ts guessing—sometimes throw it at the start, sometimes mid-round after hearing utility.

These early nades are your first line of defense. Used properly, they don’t just stall—they frustrate. They make Ts waste their own smokes or flashes. They make them hesitate. And hesitation is deadly.

Retake Smokes and Flashes

Even with perfect early round defense, sometimes the Ts break through and plant the bomb. That’s where your retake utility comes in. Without these tools, you’re gambling on raw aim—and on Overpass, that’s a risky move.

Heaven Flash for B Retake

A powerful and easy flash that turns the tide of B retakes. From CT spawn or graffiti, throw a flash that bounces off the Heaven ledge into the site. Done right, it pops above the default plant zone and blinds anyone behind barrels or on-site.

This flash is perfect when teammates are coming in from CT and short together. Call it out, time it right, and swing together. It can clear multiple angles instantly. And unlike a dry peek, it doesn’t give away anything until it lands.

Dumpster Smoke for A Retake

If the Ts have planted A and are playing post-plant from long or bathrooms, the Dumpster smoke is a must. You throw it from the A stairs or truck area to cut off their line of sight from long A.

Without it, you’re running into a deadly crossfire. With it, you narrow the fight to just optimus and bank—angles you can double peek. This smoke makes or breaks A retakes and is essential for structured CT play.

Retake utility is about patience and synergy. Don’t rush in dry. Use your nades wisely, communicate, and turn those 2v3s into clutch wins.

Flashbang Setups – Blinding the Opposition

Pop Flashes for A Site Entry

Pop flashes are your golden ticket to a safe site entry. Unlike regular flashes, pop flashes explode the moment they come into view—giving opponents no time to turn. On Overpass, A site is filled with tight corners and long sightlines, making flashes incredibly impactful.

One great lineup: stand at the A short wall near the flowers, aim above the archway, and left-click throw. It pops right in front of Bank, blinding anyone holding from Truck or Dumpster. Combine this with your smoke execute, and you’re golden.

Another powerful A flash is for bathrooms. From mid, bounce a flash off the right side wall before pushing through. It clears anyone playing divider, cubby, or close toilet without exposing your team.

Flashbangs are more than just entry tools—they’re info tools too. Throw one into long A and listen. If no one turns, they’re not there. If you hear a teammate’s flash pop and no follow-up shots, you’re probably safe to peek.

Flash setups are all about coordination. Call your flashes, time your pushes, and make sure your teammates are ready to swing. Don’t be that guy who flashes his entire team—practice makes perfect.

Pop Flashes for B Site Rushes

B site on Overpass is notoriously hard to take dry. Between barrels, graffiti, and pit, CTs have multiple angles to shred you. That’s why pop flashes are crucial here.

The go-to flash: stand behind the sandbags on short, aim at the wooden beam above Monster, and jump-throw. It pops right above pit and blinds anyone watching short or peeking from site.

Another underrated one: Monster entry flash. From T spawn or just outside Monster, bounce a flash off the wall so it lands deep in site. It blinds barrels, back site, and even Heaven if timed well.

These flashes let you storm the site with minimal resistance. Even if one CT isn’t blinded, they’re often distracted or repositioning, which gives you an edge.

Again, communication is king. Have someone call “flashing now!” and push together. Don’t flash without a plan. Don’t push without a flash. These two rules will save you countless rounds.

Molotov Lineups – Clearing Key Angles

Toxic Molotov (B Site)

Toxic is a sneaky corner just beside the barrels on B site. It’s a prime spot for CTs to hold passive or anchor solo. And yet, it’s so often ignored by Ts during site takes. Big mistake.

To molly Toxic, stand near short pipe, aim at the tree line just above barrels, and left-click throw. It lands cleanly and spreads into the corner. This forces the CT out or into the open, giving you a free duel or at least map control.

This molly is particularly useful in post-plant. If you know a CT might be creeping up short to defuse or push, throw this into Toxic and delay their push. It’s also great for clearing after-plants when you’re playing short and want to stop a potential defuse.

Molotovs like this are about denying comfort. Force CTs out of the shadows, burn their positions, and take control one fire at a time.

Barrels Molotov (B Site)

Barrels is one of the strongest positions for anchoring B site. CTs often sit there with rifles or AWP, ready to punish any Monster push. If you don’t clear it, you risk walking into a perfect angle that can cost your team the round. That’s where the barrels molotov comes in.

To line this up, go near the short pipe entrance. Aim above the wire frame structure towards barrels and do a running jump-throw. The molotov will bounce and land directly at barrels, forcing any player hiding there to move out or burn. This is especially effective when combined with a Heaven smoke and bridge flash—it creates pure chaos on the site.

You’d be surprised how often teams forget this molly. In lower ranks, it’s rarely used, making it a great tool to catch defenders off-guard. And in higher-level matches, it’s part of the standard B execute. Even pros use it religiously—because they know how deadly that position can be.

Don’t just spam it randomly, though. Use sound cues. If you hear a jump, or see a jiggle from pit, it’s likely someone is at barrels. Call it out, throw the molly, and clear the angle before peeking.

Barrels molotov is about eliminating one of the highest-impact CT spots with one simple grenade. Master it, and you’ll start taking B site much more confidently.


Bathroom Molotov (A Site)

Bathrooms can be a nightmare on Overpass. CTs love hiding around cubby, divider, or even close left as you enter from short. These spots can’t always be cleared with aim alone—and that’s where the bathroom molly shines.

To clear this spot, line up near the connector exit, aim toward the small pipe visible on the bathroom wall, and left-click throw. The molotov will spread into the bathroom area, specifically the left corner where CTs often sit and wait.

If you’re running an A split—say from connector and short—it’s essential to clear this before entering. Otherwise, your team could be blindsided by one lurking player who stalls the whole push.

Molotovs like these are all about tempo. They don’t just force the player out—they force CTs to move, react, and reveal themselves. Combine with a flash over the top and you’ve got a perfect entry setup.

This lineup is also handy in post-plant situations. If the bomb is planted default and you expect a bathroom retake, drop the molly and delay the push. Time is your ally when you’re on T side with the bomb ticking.


HE Grenades – Damage and Disruption

Pre-Nades for Rush Control

HE grenades aren’t as flashy as smokes or mollies, but they’re brutally effective when used smartly. Pre-nading choke points is one of the best ways to start the round strong on Overpass—especially if you’re on CT.

If you hear early footsteps toward Monster or short, don’t hesitate—toss that nade. A simple grenade thrown toward Monster tunnel as the round begins can chunk rushing Ts down to half HP. Combine that with a follow-up molly, and you’ve practically won the round before the fight even starts.

Same goes for bathrooms or connector. From A site, you can throw a nade toward short or long entrance and punish players trying to gain early control. It slows them down, chips away at armor, and makes any gunfight easier for you.

This kind of play doesn’t just cause damage—it causes fear. Suddenly Ts start second-guessing fast pushes. They wait out utility. They give you time to rotate. All because of a single grenade.

So don’t underestimate the humble HE. When paired with smart positioning and calls, it’s one of your best early game tools.


Post-Plant HE Spots

Post-plant HE usage is often overlooked, but it can turn the tide when used intelligently. If the bomb is planted and you know or suspect where the enemy is playing, throw an HE to deny defuse attempts or disrupt retake setups.

For B site, if the bomb is planted default, you can throw a nade from short that lands perfectly at the plant spot. It either delays the defuse or finishes off a tagged player trying to stick it.

At A site, a well-timed nade toward Truck or Bank after hearing sound cues can flush out defenders trying to sneak in or stick close angles.

Even if it doesn’t get a kill, it serves a psychological purpose. You’re letting them know: “We know where you are. You’re not safe.” That pressure adds up fast.

HE grenades aren’t just for early damage—they’re tools for precision and timing. Use them smartly, and you’ll win more post-plant fights than you ever imagined.


Crosshair Placement and Consistency Tips

How to Line Up Smokes Perfectly Every Time

One of the biggest reasons players fail their smoke lineups is poor crosshair discipline. On Overpass, with its tall trees, skyboxes, and precise angles, lining up smokes isn’t always intuitive. But with a few tips and consistent habits, you can make every smoke land perfectly every time.

First, always use jump-throw binds. Many Overpass smokes require it—like Heaven, Truck, and Bank. Without it, your smokes will fall short or miss completely. Bind it in your console like this:
alias "+jumpthrow" "+jump;-attack"; alias "-jumpthrow" "-jump"; bind v "+jumpthrow"

Second, understand anchor points. Good lineups use consistent visual cues—like signs, shadows, or corners. Don’t just guess where to aim. Memorize what to stand next to and what to aim at. Use workshop maps like “Yprac Overpass” or “Configurable Smoke Practice” to drill them in.

Third, practice your movement before throwing. Any movement—even a sidestep—can mess up a smoke. Stand still, check your lineup, and throw. The cleaner your motion, the more consistent your throw.

Finally, repetition is key. Don’t expect perfection on the first day. Load up Overpass solo or with a friend and practice smokes repeatedly. Time yourself. Record your success rate. Turn it into a mini training session.

Lineups are what separate confident executes from chaotic ones. The more precise you are, the more you enable your team to focus on aim and timing—not fixing bad utility. And in a game like Counter-Strike, that makes all the difference.

Practicing Smokes and Lineups – Effective Methods

Using Custom Maps and Workshop Tools

There’s no shortcut to mastering grenade lineups on Overpass—but there are smart ways to practice. And nothing beats custom maps on the Steam Workshop for drilling your utility skills.

Start with maps like “Yprac Overpass Guide” or “Crashz’s Smoke Training”. These maps are designed with dedicated grenade spots, complete with visual markers, guides, and even practice bots. You can load them up solo and practice each smoke, molotov, or flash until it becomes second nature.

These maps are also interactive. They often tell you if your throw was correct, and many include demo views or ghost lines to help you adjust if you miss. You can even set up binds to replenish grenades, toggle noclip, and reset throw positions—saving tons of time.

Besides, practicing in a custom map removes the stress of messing up in a real game. There’s no pressure, no teammates complaining, just you, the utility, and your commitment to improvement.

You should aim to spend at least 15–30 minutes a few times a week practicing utility. Focus on one site at a time. Learn 3–4 key smokes, 2 flashes, and 1 molotov for each site. Don’t try to memorize everything at once.

This routine helps cement muscle memory and makes executing under pressure easier. Because once you know where to stand and how to throw, you stop second-guessing yourself in matches. And that kind of confidence wins rounds.


Training Routines to Improve Muscle Memory

Repetition is the mother of mastery. If you want your grenade lineups to become automatic, you need to build muscle memory through consistent practice.

Here’s a sample weekly training plan:

  • Day 1 – A Site Focus: Practice Bank, Truck, and Dumpster smokes. Combine with long A pop flashes and bathroom mollies.
  • Day 2 – B Site Focus: Drill Heaven, Bridge, and Short smokes. Add in Toxic and Barrels molotovs.
  • Day 3 – Retake Utility: Practice CT retake flashes and smokes from both sites.
  • Day 4 – Fast Execute Day: Set a timer and practice a full utility execute under time pressure (e.g., smoke + flash + molly in under 8 seconds).
  • Day 5 – Review and Test: Load up a private match or join a deathmatch server. Mid-game, pause and imagine the execute. See if you can do it from memory.

Every session, record which throws you mess up. Focus more on those next time. Over time, your success rate improves, your timings sharpen, and you’ll throw utility like a seasoned pro.

The goal is for it to become reflex—so when a teammate calls “Heaven smoke,” your body just knows what to do. That’s when you know you’ve made it.


Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Misaligned Smokes

Nothing’s worse than planning a perfect push only for someone’s smoke to bounce the wrong way and leave an angle wide open. Misaligned smokes are the most common utility mistake—especially on Overpass, where so many lineups rely on jump-throws and skybox cues.

The solution? Stick to consistent lineups. Don’t freehand unless you’ve practiced it hundreds of times. Use static landmarks—signs, pipes, flowers, or bricks—to aim. And use a jump-throw bind for any smoke that requires precision.

Another trick: always double-check your feet placement before throwing. Even being one pixel off can ruin the trajectory of a smoke on this map.

Also, be careful when under pressure. Don’t rush lineups mid-round without preparation. If you’re worried you’ll mess up, don’t throw. Call for a teammate instead or use another piece of utility.

Overthrowing or Underthrowing Nades

This happens most with HE grenades and flashbangs. Players aim too high or throw from the wrong spot, and the nade either sails past the target or lands too shallow. The result? Missed damage, wasted utility.

To fix this, train using bots or Workshop maps. Focus on common nade throws and record how far they land. Learn how high you should aim depending on your position.

Also, use walls and bounces to control your flash placement. A well-bounced flash around a corner is much safer and more consistent than throwing it straight in and hoping it blinds the enemy.

Utility isn’t just about knowing what to throw—it’s about knowing how and when to throw it.


Pro Examples – Smokes Used by Top Teams on Overpass

NAVI, G2, and FURIA Smoke Strategies

If you’ve ever watched a NAVI Overpass demo, you’ve probably seen their Heaven smokes in action. Perfectly timed, consistently thrown, and often paired with molotovs and flashes that clear every angle. That’s not random—it’s rehearsed, and you can copy it.

NAVI loves to run late executes on Overpass. They take early map control, then regroup for a heavy utility dump. When they go B, it’s almost always Heaven smoked, Barrels molly’d, and Toxic cleared with a flash.

G2, on the other hand, prefers aggressive control. They often smoke Bank and Truck quickly to allow fast long entries. They also throw mid-round bathroom mollies and connector nades to keep CTs guessing.

FURIA’s Overpass is all about chaos. They throw unorthodox smokes to confuse rotations—like a Heaven smoke from short B during a fake A push. They also use HE grenades to soften up connector players early, and they love chaining utility to force 1v1s.

You can find these lineups in demo reviews or YouTube breakdowns. Steal them, tweak them, and make them your own. If it works for the pros, it’ll definitely work in your matchmaking games.


Creating Your Own Setups – Adapting on the Fly

Reading the Opponent and Countering Rotations

No two rounds play out the same. That’s why you need to learn to adapt. Once you know the basics, you can start crafting your own utility setups based on how the enemy plays.

Is the CT always playing Heaven with an AWP? Add a molly to force him off angle before you even throw the smoke. Are they triple-stacking A early round? Fake with Bank and Truck smokes and hit B through connector.

Think of your utility as chess pieces. Don’t just throw for the sake of throwing. Bait out enemy utility. Time your grenades to counter their rotations. If they always molly short pipe, wait it out, then flash and push.

Pay attention to sound. Count enemy smokes. Notice patterns. Then adjust.

The best Overpass players are the ones who predict. If you throw a Bank smoke and see no rotation, it’s likely the enemy knows it’s a fake. Follow up with a real push—or layer your nades to keep the illusion going.

Be flexible. Utility should react to what you see, not just follow a script.


Communication and Team Utility Coordination

How to Plan a Utility Execute

Before every round, ask: “What’s our plan?” If the goal is to take A, decide who smokes what. Assign a Heaven smoke, a Bank smoke, and a flash. Time it together. Count to 3, then throw.

Good teams plan utility like an orchestra. Each nade has a role, and when thrown together, they create a deadly harmony.

Also, always have a backup. If someone dies with a crucial smoke, have another player ready to throw it. Nothing ruins a push like missing a key smoke and getting gunned down from Heaven.

Practice executes in scrims or custom games. Rehearse them like set plays. Then, when you’re live, it’s muscle memory.

Calling and Timing Grenades in PUGs and Matches

In solo queue, communication is king. If you know a lineup, say so. Call: “I’ve got Heaven smoke. Who has flash?” Don’t assume teammates know. Coordinate.

Also, time your throws. Don’t throw a smoke and wait 10 seconds before pushing. That defeats the purpose. Use a countdown. “3… 2… 1… go.” Flash, swing, clear.

And if a teammate messes up? Don’t rage. Just call for a reset. Overpass punishes bad utility, but teamwork can make up for a lot.


Conclusion

Utility is what separates casual players from strategic gods on Overpass. Mastering smokes, flashes, mollies, and nades lets you control fights before they happen. It lets you take space, deny information, and win rounds before the bullets even fly.

From Heaven smokes to Toxic mollies, from B executes to A retakes, every single grenade has power—if you know how to use it.

So practice. Plan. Communicate. Watch the pros. Build your own setups. And above all, don’t stop learning.

When your team sees that perfect smoke land, or when your molly clears barrels at just the right second—they’ll thank you. And you’ll know: you just won that round with your brain, not just your aim.


FAQs

What are the best smokes for B site take on Overpass?

The must-know smokes are Heaven, Bridge, and Short B. Together, they block every major angle CTs use to defend B, letting you enter safely.

How do I practice Overpass grenade lineups effectively?

Use Workshop maps like “Yprac Overpass” or “Crashz’s Training Map.” Repetition, custom visuals, and jump-throw binds will make every throw consistent.

What’s the difference between Heaven and Bridge smokes?

Heaven smoke blocks off the upper AWP angle above B site, while Bridge smoke blocks graffiti and CT rotations. Both are essential for full executes.

Can I solo execute a site with utility?

Yes, especially on Overpass. With precise smokes and flashes, you can fake or even fully take sites. It’s harder, but entirely possible with the right lineups.

Do pros use jump-throws or regular throws more?

Jump-throws are used when a smoke or flash needs to travel a long distance—like Heaven or Bank. Most pro players have a bind for this.

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Oliver Dickinson

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