Compared to other maps in Counter-Strike, Mirage is a relatively new addition, first appearing with CS:GO’s release in 2012. It has since become the most-played map in-game, with players never struggling to find a match. Mirage has never been removed from the Active Duty map pool, being the only map to feature at every Counter-Strike Major to date. As a result, Mirage callouts are extremely optimized, making them essential on the server.

We’ve put together a list of definitive Counter-Strike 2 callouts for Mirage, so you can learn to help communicate perfectly with your team.

Credit: Daniel Morris / Valve

Mirage Callouts

When jumping into a Mirage game, it’s important to note the map’s popularity. There’s a good chance most people in-game will be more familiar with the map than you. If that’s the case, don’t worry. Use the map of CS2 Mirage callouts below to call and push your team to victory.

Mirage is one of the more complex maps, especially for hiding spots on each bomb site. It’s intimidating for new players, but you can catch up fast. You achieve this by playing the map consistently. Before you know it, responding to these callouts becomes natural as you hear them in-game. Remember – the best Counter-Strike players had to start somewhere!

Essential Mirage Callouts

As a beginner, it’s easier for you to focus on learning a few essential callouts that you’ll use frequently. The rest comes later. Mirage’s key is plenty of hiding on CT side, with quick info needed for teammates. On T side, there are lots of clearing to be done on each site, or you’ll find some nasty surprises.

A Site:

CT side A Site can be tough to call, with various entry points. Your calls depend on your positioning.

If you’re watching Ticket, you’ll want to call Palace, Ramp, and Tetris.
If you’re sitting at Stairs, you’ll be calling Palace, but you need to be aware of anyone sneaking from Connector.
From Stairs, you should also keep an eye on Catwalk so you can call any possible B pushes from Middle.
If Ts rush the site, try and get info on where they’ve tucked themselves away as it can be essential for a retake. This usually includes Fire Box, Sandwich, Tetris, and Ticket.

B Site:

Your CT defense on B is quite straightforward.

From Arches, you can hear players running into Kitchen to call for rotation if needed.
As long as you have a good view of T Apartments, whether that’s from Window, Van, Arches, or Bench, calls here are easy to grasp.

T Side B is usually a fast play, so it can be tough to call quickly enough. But here, you just need to call a few key places where CTs will tuck away. Van and Bench are common, while lots of players hold Window to stop a T rush. Clear these and B Site is yours.

FAQs

Why has Mirage never been removed from Active Duty?

Mirage has never been removed from the Active Duty map pool because the map has never needed any kind of significant rework. Valve nailed the map on the first try. Other maps such as Inferno and Nuke have only left Active Duty for a rework, but otherwise have been staples of the game. Not Mirage. There are many that feel it’s now overdue for a rework after over a decade on the same map. 

Is Mirage the most popular Counter-strike map?

In short, yes. While for many years Dust 2 remained the quintessential Counter-Strike map, there are many casual players who now exclusively play Mirage. Now that Dust 2 is back after the CS2 release, perhaps it’s coming for Mirage’s crown but that seems unlikely. 

When was Mirage first released?

Mirage was first released alongside CS:GO in 2012. This makes it particularly unique. Many of the maps in CS:GO were based on CS 1.6 maps, making them at least 20 years of age, with some even older. By comparison, Mirage is new(ish). That does make the success of the map even more impressive, that it has managed to overtake so many classics to become a bonafide fan-favorite in the community.