You do not need to memorize 30 Cache grenade lineups before playing Premier. Start with the utility that consistently removes the strongest A, Mid and B sightlines: Heaven, Tree/CT, Highway, Connector, Mid, A Main and B Main.
Cache returned to Active Duty in 2026 and received several geometry fixes after its return, so this guide prioritizes current utility roles rather than blindly copying old CS:GO pixels.
Best Cache Smokes to Learn First
| Priority | Utility | Side | Main Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heaven Smoke | T | Remove the strongest elevated B-site defender |
| 2 | Tree / CT Smoke | T | Block the main B rotation and retake sightline |
| 3 | Connector Smoke | T | Reduce CT influence during Mid control |
| 4 | Left Mid Smoke | T | Create safer Mid space from Garage |
| 5 | Highway Smoke | T | Isolate A from Mid/Highway pressure |
| 6 | Forklift Smoke / Molotov | T | Remove a dangerous close A-site position |
| 7 | A Main Smoke | CT | Stop or delay fast A pressure |
| 8 | B Main Smoke | CT | Delay B rushes and force Ts through utility |
| 9 | A Main Entry Flash | T | Help the first player cross into A |
| 10 | Checkers / B Entry Utility | T | Make the B-site clear safer |
Best Mid Smokes on Cache
Mid is the strategic center of Cache. Winning it gives Ts access toward both bombsites:
- Highway toward A;
- Vents toward B;
- rotation cuts;
- late-round fakes.
Connector Smoke
The Connector smoke is one of the most useful early-round T utilities.
Its purpose is to reduce one of the CT rotation and fighting angles while your team contests Mid.
Current lineup databases include versions thrown from the T-side approach or T Spawn area, with some versions using a jump-throw.
Use it when:
- taking Mid early;
- setting up an A split;
- trying to cross into deeper Mid positions;
- forcing CTs away from comfortable rotation vision.
Left Mid Smoke
A Left Mid smoke from the Garage side helps create a safer initial fight and reduces exposure to common CT angles.
It is especially useful when paired with a flash over Mid rather than sending the first player dry into multiple AWPs and rifles.
Mid Flash
A simple flash over or through Garage can be more valuable than another smoke if your teammates are ready to swing immediately.
Utility is strongest when the flash and peek happen together. A flash thrown five seconds before the entry gives the CTs time to recover.
Best A Site Smokes on Cache
Highway Smoke
Highway is one of the most important A-execute smokes because it reduces pressure from the Mid-to-A connection.
A strong A hit often combines:
- Highway smoke;
- Forklift utility;
- A Main entry flash;
- Squeaky or Mid pressure.
This forces the defenders to manage several angles instead of concentrating everything on A Main.
Forklift Smoke
Forklift is dangerous because a defender can play close to the entry and punish Ts focused on deeper site positions.
A smoke can isolate it, but a molotov is often preferable when you want to force the player completely out of the position.
Forklift Molotov
The Forklift molotov is one of the highest-value pieces of Cache utility because it directly removes a close defensive position.
Use it just before the entry rather than too early. If the fire expires before your team reaches the site, the CT can simply return.
Back Site / Truck Utility
Deep A positions should be handled with flashes, smokes or molotovs depending on the exact execute.
The objective is not to smoke every defender. It is to divide the site into manageable fights.
A Main Entry Flash
The entry flash should pop when the first players are already prepared to swing.
A well-timed flash can create more space than another smoke because it allows Ts to actually take control instead of simply blocking vision.
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Simple A Execute
A basic Premier-ready A execute can use:
- Highway smoke;
- Forklift molotov;
- A Main entry flash;
- Squeaky pressure;
- second player immediately trading the entry.
Do not wait for every grenade to fully bloom before moving. The execute should arrive as one coordinated sequence.
Best B Site Smokes on Cache
Heaven Smoke
This is one of the first Cache smokes every Premier player should learn.
Heaven gives CTs an elevated sightline over B and is powerful during both the initial defense and retake.
Smoking it:
- protects B Main entries;
- reduces AWP impact;
- makes site trades easier;
- temporarily separates Heaven from the bombsite.
Tree / CT Smoke
The Tree or CT smoke blocks another major defensive and rotation route.
Heaven + Tree/CT together transform the geometry of the B hit: instead of fighting several long sightlines at once, Ts can concentrate on Checkers, Headshot and the site itself.
Checkers Utility
Checkers should not be ignored simply because Heaven and CT are smoked.
Use a molotov, flash or coordinated clear depending on the situation.
A player surviving in Checkers can destroy a B execute after the Ts believe the major angles are already isolated.
B Entry Flash
A flash above or through the B entry gives the first player a better chance to clear close positions.
Again, timing matters more than throwing it perfectly from an exotic lineup.
Simple B Execute
- establish B Main control;
- smoke Heaven;
- smoke Tree/CT;
- clear Checkers;
- flash the entry;
- enter in trading distance;
- plant for B Main or another controlled post-plant position.
B Split With Mid and Vents
A stronger B execute adds Mid pressure.
If one or two players threaten Vents while others pressure B Main, CTs cannot concentrate all of their attention on one entrance.
This is one reason learning Mid utility has more value than memorizing only site smokes.
Best CT Smokes on Cache
A Main Anti-Rush Smoke
An early A Main smoke can stop a fast rush, force Ts to spend flashes or simply buy time for rotations.
Current lineup databases include CT-side versions thrown from the Truck/A area.
B Main Anti-Rush Smoke
B Main smoke serves the same purpose on the other side of the map.
It is especially valuable when your B setup needs time for:
- a rotator to arrive;
- a teammate to reposition;
- another grenade to become available;
- information from Mid.
Mid Defensive Utility
CTs should not use every smoke immediately at the beginning of the round.
Keeping one smoke for a second Mid block, Vents control or a late choke can be more valuable than dumping the entire utility set in the first 20 seconds.
Smoke vs Molotov: Which Should You Use?
| Situation | Better Utility |
|---|---|
| Block a long sightline | Smoke |
| Force a player out of Forklift or another close position | Molotov |
| Create an entry timing | Flash |
| Delay a rush | Smoke or molotov depending on choke |
| Clear a suspected hiding spot | Molotov + flash |
Do Old CS:GO Cache Smokes Still Work?
Some do, some do not, and some can be slightly inconsistent.
Cache was rebuilt for CS2 and Valve continued changing geometry after it entered Active Duty.
That means an old lineup can fail because:
- the standing position changed;
- a wall or clipping surface moved;
- a bounce behaves differently;
- the old target pixel no longer exists;
- the resulting smoke leaves a gap.
Test every old lineup in the current build before relying on it in Premier.
How to Practice Cache Smokes in CS2
Start a private Practice match on Cache and enable the developer console.
A useful current practice setup is:
sv_cheats 1 mp_warmup_end mp_roundtime_defuse 60 mp_freezetime 0 mp_buy_anywhere 1 mp_buytime 9999 mp_maxmoney 60000 mp_startmoney 60000 ammo_grenade_limit_total 5 sv_infinite_ammo 1 sv_grenade_trajectory_prac_pipreview 1 bot_kick bind "x" "sv_rethrow_last_grenade" bind "v" "noclip" mp_restartgame 1
The important modern preview command is sv_grenade_trajectory_prac_pipreview 1. Many old CS:GO guides still show trajectory commands that are no longer the correct CS2 practice workflow.
How to Learn a Lineup Faster
- learn the throw position;
- identify one clear visual aim reference;
- note whether it is standing, running or jump-throw;
- throw it five times consecutively;
- use noclip to inspect the landing;
- rethrow it with
sv_rethrow_last_grenade; - practice it from the actual round route, not only from a static spawn.
What Should You Memorize First?
If you only have 15 minutes, learn:
- Heaven smoke;
- Tree/CT smoke;
- Highway smoke;
- Connector smoke;
- one Mid smoke;
- Forklift molotov.
Those six pieces already give you useful utility for every major T-side plan.
What Should You Learn After That?
- A Main anti-rush smoke;
- B Main anti-rush smoke;
- A entry flash;
- B entry flash;
- Checkers molotov;
- site-specific post-plant utility.
Common Cache Utility Mistakes
- memorizing lineups without understanding why they are used;
- throwing Heaven smoke but forgetting Tree/CT;
- using every grenade before the execute starts;
- throwing entry flashes before teammates are ready;
- not clearing Checkers after smoking B;
- using a smoke where a molotov would force the defender out;
- trusting old CS:GO pixels without testing them;
- knowing ten smokes but no basic Mid control.
Cache Smokes and the New Premier Pick System
Cache is part of the current seven-map Premier pool.
Since September 22, teams select four candidate maps and one is chosen randomly.
You cannot guarantee Cache every queue, but having a prepared utility package means you can confidently include it when your team selects maps.
See CS2 Premier Map Pool.
Cache Utility Checklist
- Connector smoke;
- Left Mid smoke;
- Highway smoke;
- Forklift smoke or molotov;
- A entry flash;
- Heaven smoke;
- Tree/CT smoke;
- Checkers clear;
- B entry flash;
- A Main CT smoke;
- B Main CT smoke.
Learn the Full Cache Map
For callouts, positions, CT setups, rotations and complete site strategy, see our CS2 Cache Map Guide.
For the current competitive rotation, see CS2 Premier Season 5.
For rating progression, see How to Rank Up in CS2 Premier.
Last verified: October 2026. Cache received multiple geometry-related updates after returning to Active Duty. Exact lineup aim points should be re-tested after future map updates even when the general utility target remains strategically useful.
