“Stable and resistant to most physical shocks, this improvised plastic explosive has a detonation velocity of over 8,000 meters per second when ignited.”―Official description
Introduction
The C4 Explosive, commonly known as C4, is essential equipment for Terrorists in the Counter-Strike series, used in bomb defusal scenarios.
Overview
C4, or Composition C-4, is a plastic explosive with a clay-like texture, making it versatile and easy to handle. It is made up of 91% RDX (Research Department Explosive) and has a detonation velocity of 8,092 m/s (26,550 ft/s).
At the start of each round, a random Terrorist receives the C4. If a human player is playing with bots and the settings prioritize human players, only they will get the C4.
In Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, the C4 carrier has a brown backpack. In Counter-Strike: Source and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the bomb is visibly strapped to the player’s back.
Bomb Indicator
In earlier versions of the game, the scoreboard displayed "Bomb" next to the player's name who was carrying the C4. In Source and Global Offensive, a bomb icon indicates the carrier. If the carrier is killed or drops the bomb, the HUD informs all Terrorists with messages like "(player name) dropped the bomb" or "(player name) picked up the bomb."
The C4 can be dropped and picked up by other Terrorists. When dropped in Source games, it flashes a bright light. The radar shows a red dot or a C4 icon to indicate the bomb's location.
For game balance, only Terrorists can pick up a dropped C4. Counter-Terrorists (CTs) cannot pick it up, except in specific scenarios like the Weapons Course. The dropped bomb cannot be moved by explosions or gunfire. Certain areas have invisible clips to prevent the bomb from being thrown into unreachable spots, but doors can move a dropped bomb.
In Global Offensive, if the bomb carrier remains idle too long, the bomb is automatically dropped. Running with the bomb is as fast as running with a knife.
On bomb defusal and Demolition maps, the C4 can only be planted at designated bomb sites. It will explode after a set time (45 seconds by default or 40 seconds in competitive play).
In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's Wildfire campaign, both players in the Co-op Strike mission "The Enemy of My Enemy..." are equipped with C4. Planting the C4 at specific points is a mission objective. Unlike standard C4, these bombs detonate only after players leave the compound.
Planting
To plant the C4, a Terrorist must go to a bombsite (indicated by A or B), select the C4 using the [5] key, and hold [Mouse 1] or the USE key ([E] by default in Global Offensive). Planting takes 3.2 seconds.
In Global Offensive, a different beeping sound with a lower pitch is heard when the bomb is planted at site B. The planting animation includes a radio exclamation, a switch sound, and a series of beeps audible to all players. During planting, the player is forced to crouch.
In earlier games, the planting player cannot move or jump but can crouch and turn freely. In Counter-Strike: Source, the player model bows down to plant the bomb, regardless of the first-person view stance. In Counter-Strike and Condition Zero, there is no bowing animation if the player plants while standing. The planting process is silent to other players, except for the planter.
Once planted, the C4 emits a loud beeping noise and flashes red light, increasing in tempo over time. The round timer is disabled after planting.
In Danger Zone, safes have explosives that can be armed like C4, but the bomb is not expended.
Detonation
After planting, if the CTs fail to defuse the bomb in time, it will detonate, resulting in a Terrorist victory. The C4 timer is set to 40 seconds in competitive mode and 45 seconds in casual modes.
As the timer runs out, a radio message warns CTs to evacuate and Terrorists about the impending explosion.
The C4's damage in Counter-Strike is 500 at point blank. In Global Offensive, the explosion radius is 1750 hammer units, with damage dropping off over distance. The explosion deals 500 max damage, but on maps like Vertigo and Nuke, it deals 400, and on Inferno, it deals 620. Armor halves the damage taken at most ranges.
Walls do not block damage within the blast radius. Kills from the C4 do not appear in the kill feed or score list but still cause the player to lose their weapons and equipment for the next round.
Defusal
After the C4 is planted, CTs must defuse it to win the round, regardless of remaining Terrorists. Defusing takes 10 seconds, or 5 seconds with a defuse kit.
CTs must approach the bomb, look at it, and hold the "USE" key. The defusing player cannot fire weapons and is vulnerable to attacks. Moving too far from the bomb or stopping the defusal process resets progress. When the bomb's light turns white, the defusal attempt will fail after a short moment.
In Global Offensive, a multimeter appears in the CT's left hand during defusal, indicating the process. This was added to make fake defuses harder. In earlier games, there is no visual indication of defusal, making it easy to fake.
Rewards Defusing or planting the bomb grants score points. In Global Offensive, planting the bomb rewards the player with $300 (excluding Arsenal: Demolition). In Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Source, the planting player does not receive the $300 reward.
Appearance in Deleted Scenes
In Deleted Scenes, C4 appears once in Counter Terrorist Training as a defusal objective. Variations like the Explosive Charge and Nuclear Weapon also appear as mission objectives.
Behind the Scenes
C4 was planned as an in-game equipment but was scrapped during development. Evidence includes error messages and beeping sound files. Although the bomb was never included in single-player maps, its coding remained.
The C4 is an exclusive device for Terrorists, and its intended use in the game remains unknown.
