Guide to Anubis

Anubis made a surprise return to Counter-Strike 2 Active Duty on January 19, 2026, replacing Train in Premier Season 4. The Egyptian-themed map spent only six months in reserve after being removed in July 2025 for Overpass. This controversial decision shocked the community, as many expected Cache to join the pool instead. Train lasted just one year before removal, making Anubis' quick comeback unexpected.

The Return and Community Reaction

Valve announced the change just days before Premier Season 4 and BLAST Bounty Winter 2026: Closed Qualifier on January 13. This late timing frustrated professional teams already preparing for tournaments. The CS2 Anubis map returned with the visible updates, disappointing players who expected balance changes.

Community reaction was mixed. Some welcomed Anubis back, hoping for improved CT gameplay. Others criticized removing Train before it reached full potential. Most frustration centered on Cache's absence after Valve bought FMPONE's remake in 2025.

Major layout changes (January 2026):

Change to Mid (Bridge):

• The drop from the bridge has been moved closer to the mid doors. Previously, it was in the middle, which made jumping into the water too risky for CT. Now it is easier for the defense to control the water and make early attacks.
• The orientation of the doors on the mid has been reversed to make it easier for the defense to hold the bridge.

Plent B:

• A new hole has been added above the Connector (near the E-box). This allows grenades to be thrown from the connector to the back of Plent B and vice versa.

Plent A:

• The boxes on the plent itself have been moved higher up the stairs (to the Walkway). This creates better positions for defending the site.
• Scaffolding has been added to the column near the plent.

Is Anubis T Sided?

Yes, definitively. Anubis is the most T-sided map in CS2 with a 56.7% Terrorist win rate in professional play. FACEIT shows similar numbers at 56.97%. The gap between Anubis and Dust2 (51.8% T-sided) is larger than between Dust2 and the most CT-sided maps. However, the new changes provide more opportunities for the defense of special forces, and time will tell whether they are justified.

Why So Extremely T-Sided?

Map creator Roald designed Anubis with a philosophy: "Terrorists should always be able to reach a bombsite, even when having lower numbers." This creates fundamental advantages:

• Terrorists reach Canal and Mid before CTs arrive
• Multiple pathways to both bombsites limit defensive options
• Quick access to A Main and B Main enables fast executes
• Easy smoke setups block defender positions
• Retakes are difficult due to numerous angles

Roald acknowledged the imbalance and proposed experimental changes, including potentially removing the Upper area to give CTs more map control options. However, Valve hasn't confirmed any updates yet.

Key Callouts

• T-Side Areas: T Spawn, Alley, Ruins, Upper (rugs area), Stairs
• Mid Control: Top Mid, Mid Doors, Bridge, Canal (Water), Connector
• A Site: A Main, Boat (Water), Fountain, Heaven, Temple, Pillar, A Connector
• B Site: B Long, B Main, Gate, Pillar, Heaven (B Ruins), Back Site, Street, Dark

Understanding this Anubis guide callout system ensures proper team communication.

T-Side Strategies

With a 56.7% advantage, maximize Terrorist strengths through aggressive early control.

Instant Mid Control: Rush Canal immediately. You reach it before CTs. Control Bridge and Connector to pressure both sites simultaneously. This forces CTs to spread thin and reveals their positions.

A Site Execute: Smoke Heaven and Temple from outside A Main. Molotov Fountain to clear common positions. Flash over Main wall. Send three players through A Main while two push Connector for trades. Plant behind Fountain pillar for safe post-plant.

B Site Fast Hit: Smoke Heaven (B) from Ruins without lineup. Flash through Gate. Molotov Pillar and Back Site. Three players rush B Main while two push through Canal to Dark. The tight spaces favor close-range weapons and fast executes.

Split Attacks: Anubis rewards coordinated splits. Send two players through Canal to Dark while three hit B Main. Or push three A Main and two Connector. Time the hits to arrive simultaneously.

CT-Side Strategies

Learning how to play Anubis on CT requires adapting to the T-sided nature. You're fighting uphill but smart setups work.

Defensive Setup: Run 2-1-2 or 1-1-3. Most teams use one A anchor, two B defenders, and two floating between Mid and sites. The key is flexibility - don't commit until you have information.

Aggressive Mid Contest: You must contest Canal early or surrender map control entirely. Push Bridge with utility. Even if you trade one-for-one, gathering information about T positioning is valuable.

A Site Defense: Anchor from Heaven or Temple. Don't expose yourself needlessly. Use mollies on Boat when hearing movement. Smoke A Main to delay pushes. Your goal is buying time for rotations, not stopping executes alone.

B Site Holds: Use off-angles at Pillar, Gate, and Dark. Vary positions each round. When pushed, fall back pillar-to-pillar rather than dying. Force Ts to clear methodically while teammates rotate.

Retakes: Never retake alone. Gather your team. Smoke A Main and Connector for A retakes. Smoke Gate for B retakes. Flash before entering. Check every corner systematically.

Essential Utility Lineups

T-Side Smokes from T Spawn:

• Stand at green door corner facing Mid. Jump-throw to smoke Mid and E-box. These cover two critical CT positions instantly.
• Heaven (A) smoke from outside A Main
• Temple smoke from Boat area

CT-Side Smokes from CT Spawn:

• Press against fence corner at CT Spawn. One position covers: E-box, Middle, River Arches, and A Main. Master this for fast defensive utility.

Critical Mollies:

• Fountain (T-side) to clear A defenders
• Boat (CT-side) to delay A pushes
• Pillar (T-side) to clear B defenders
• B Main (CT-side) to stall site hits

Important Flashes:

• Pop-flash over A Main wall before pushing
• Flash through Gate on B before execute
• Counter-flash from Heaven when hearing T movement

Weapon Selection

AWP Positions: Heaven (A), Bridge (Mid), Heaven (B Ruins), Temple. The map's long sightlines favor AWPers but tight corridors make repositioning risky.

Rifles: Dominate Anubis. Pre-aim common angles in corridors. The design rewards positioning and crosshair placement over raw aim.

SMGs Force-Buys: Narrow areas like Alley, Stairs, and Gate favor close-range weapons. Rush B with MP9 or MAC-10 for chaos.

Common Mistakes

Terrorists: Don't ignore Mid - it's the heartbeat of the map. Avoid predictable A Main rushes every round. Use lurk plays through multiple pathways. Don't plant in exposed crossfire spots.

CTs: Don't play too passive or Ts take everything for free. Avoid over-rotating on fakes - wait for bomb confirmation. Mix up positions every round. Never attempt retakes alone.

Both Sides: Water/Canal dampens footsteps - use it for sneaky plays. Listen carefully for enemy rotations through water. Coordinate utility with teammates. Don't waste nades randomly.

Professional Meta

Top teams approach Anubis uniquely. Vitality dominates through ZywOo's aggressive Bridge control, using his information to adjust defensive setups. Team Spirit excels at coordinated B executes with perfect utility timing. MOUZ uses creative split attacks keeping CTs guessing.

The map appeared at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 immediately after returning to Active Duty. FURIA defeated 9INE on Anubis, with molodoy carrying his team. Spirit demolished SINNERS on the map. Early tournaments show teams are still adapting.

Advanced Tips

Hide behind Fountain pillars for unexpected angles. Play tight Alley corners. Use Back Site (B) for ninja plays. Water areas dampen footsteps - abuse this for sneaky approaches.

Economically, force-buy more aggressively on T-side given your advantage. On CT-side, save often to ensure full utility. The T-sided nature makes CT economy management crucial.

Master fake strategies. Make noise at A with one molotov and two players while five hit B. The layout rewards coordinated deception.

Conclusion

Anubis' surprise return to Active Duty shapes the first half of 2026's competitive season. The most T-sided map at 56.7% requires strategic adaptation on both sides. Terrorists exploit quick site access and multiple pathways. Counter-Terrorists play dynamically with aggressive Mid presence and flexible rotations.

With Valve confirming balance changes, players must master the newest map's form. Study professional matches, practice utility lineups, and adapt to opponent tendencies. Whether at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 or IEM Kraków, Anubis will define the meta. The Egyptian battleground's complexity and visual appeal make it one of CS2's most engaging - if controversial - competitive environments in 2026.