The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 showcased the competitive Counter-Strike 2 map pool in action, as teams battled across various maps to determine the best strategies. The tournament, divided into the Opening Stage and the Elimination Stage, revealed interesting trends regarding map preferences, side balance, and overall performance. Let’s analyze the maps played during the event, examine the differences between the two stages, and discuss the growing need for changes in the active pool, particularly replacing Vertigo with Train.
Opening Stage
In the Opening Stage, Ancient was the most-played map, appearing 12 times. However, it proved heavily CT-sided, with 56.9% of rounds won by the defense. This imbalance highlights ongoing struggles for Terrorist-side teams to execute effective strategies on Ancient.
Anubis, a relatively new map, was the second-most played with 11 matches. It leaned toward the T-side with a 56.1% win rate, showing how teams have adapted their offensive play to counter its challenges. Meanwhile, Inferno, a traditional staple, recorded 10 games and maintained a slight CT bias (55.4%), reflecting its timeless balance between both sides.
Mirage was picked 7 times, showcasing its stability in the map pool, though it remained CT-dominant with a 60.8% win rate. Vertigo continued to struggle, appearing only 6 times with a lopsided 67.6% CT win rate, raising questions about its viability. Finally, Nuke and Dust2 were the least-played maps with 5 and 3 matches, respectively. Dust2 was notable for its unexpected T-side advantage, hinting at its potential balance.
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Elimination Stage
In the Elimination Stage and playoffs, the map preferences shifted. Mirage became the clear favorite, played 20 times. Unlike the Opening Stage, Mirage offered a near-even balance, with 51.9% T-side rounds, proving its adaptability for both sides.
Nuke and Ancient followed closely with 13 matches each. Nuke continued to reward solid defensive setups, with 54.1% CT wins, while Ancient maintained its CT-heavy nature (43.6% T-side win rate). Despite its lower popularity, Dust2 appeared 9 times and emerged as the most balanced map in the pool, with T-side rounds winning 51.5% of the time.
Inferno and Anubis saw fewer games, with 8 and 6 matches, respectively. Inferno leaned surprisingly T-sided with a 60% win rate, indicating shifting strategies for Terrorists. Anubis, on the other hand, swung back toward the defense with 60.9% CT rounds, showing its dynamic nature in competitive play.
Finally, Vertigo appeared only 3 times. The map’s 63.5% CT win rate highlighted its growing imbalance, making it an unpopular choice among teams.
Overall Map Trends at the Event
When combining both the Opening Stage and Elimination Stage, two maps stood out: Ancient and Mirage. Ancient was the most popular map in the Opening Stage but fell behind in the Elimination Stage. Its heavy CT bias throughout the event continued to be a challenge. Mirage, on the other hand, dominated the Elimination Stage, proving why it remains a core map in the competitive scene.
Anubis and Inferno delivered exciting games, with shifting balances between CT and T sides. Nuke, as always, offered tactical depth and a balanced playing field. Surprisingly, Dust2 proved to be the most even map of the tournament, despite being one of the least picked overall.
However, Vertigo remains a clear outlier. With its low pick rate and consistent CT-sided dominance, the map appears outdated for high-level competition. Teams are increasingly avoiding it due to its imbalance and the lack of fresh tactical diversity.
The Case for Train: Time for a Change
The struggles of Vertigo have sparked conversations about its replacement in the active map pool. Recently, Valve reintroduced Train into CS2, a beloved classic map with a long history in competitive Counter-Strike. Train’s balanced layout and strategic depth make it a prime candidate to replace Vertigo.
Adding Train back into the map pool would not only provide a refreshing option for teams but also reinvigorate tournaments with dynamic strategies and exciting gameplay. Given its historical popularity, both players and fans would welcome Train’s return as a competitive staple.
The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 highlighted clear trends in the current CS2 map pool. Ancient and Mirage dominated in terms of pick rates, while Dust2 and Vertigo struggled to gain traction. With Vertigo’s continued imbalance and lack of interest, the time has come for a change. Valve has a golden opportunity to revitalize the map pool by reintroducing Train, a map that brings both strategic depth and balance.
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