Cache is one of Counter-Strike's most legendary maps. Set in the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine, it's been a community favourite since its CS:Source days — and with Valve having acquired the CS2 version of the map from creator FMPONE. On April 29, 2026, Valve dropped a 5.1 GB update and officially returned one of Counter-Strike's most iconic maps to CS2 — fully rebuilt for the Source 2 engine after seven years away from the competitive map pool. The wait is over.
If you're a returning player who hasn't touched Cache since 2019, or a newer player experiencing it for the first time, this guide covers every named location on the map, what visually changed in Valve's rework, what stayed the same, and how it all fits into real rounds.
Callouts are the shared vocabulary of CS2 — agreed-upon names for specific spots on a map that let teammates communicate enemy locations, coordinate pushes, and call rotations in a fraction of the time it would take to describe them.
Cache makes callouts especially critical. It's a fast map by design. Rotations between sites happen in seconds, and mid control can instantly shift the balance of a round. When you say "two A Main, one Squeaky" your team knows exactly what's coming and can counter it before the rush arrives.
Cache is relentlessly fast: rotations are instant, and fights are often brutal, with rapid firefights where hesitation is a death sentence. When you call the right spot name, your teammates can position, trade, and throw utility with a plan instead of guessing.
Before diving into individual callouts, it helps to understand Cache's structure. The map divides cleanly into three functional zones:
A Site zone — accessed primarily via A Main (the long T-side corridor) or Squeaky (the door room). CTs defend from Quad, Forklift, and Balcony.
B Site zone — reached through B Main/B Halls and flanked by the Sun Room and Heaven. More enclosed than A, with tighter angles.
Mid — the central zone linking both sites. Control of Mid is often what determines which team wins the round, as it enables splits and cuts off rotations.
A Site is Cache's more open bombsite. Lots of wide angles, a dominant high-ground position (Balcony), and a secondary door entry that can be faked or rushed.
The primary Terrorist entry route to A Site. A wide corridor lined with crates that leads directly to the site. CT-side players may hold angles from Quad, Forklift, or Catwalk. Most A-site rounds start here.
A small room with a distinctive squeaky door that opens onto A Site from the T side. Squeaky refers to both the door itself and the small room behind it. Players often pre-nade or molly Squeaky to deny entry. It's frequently used for fast pushes or as a fake while pressure builds in A Main.
A big set of boxes located at the back of A Site. One of the most common CT anchor positions on A — a player holding Quad has sight lines onto both A Main and Squeaky entries. Also a common default plant spot for Ts.
Named after the yellow forklift props near the site entrance. Forklift offers strong angles onto A Main and is a classic CT hold. AWPers frequently set up here at the start of rounds.
The main set of crates located in the middle of A Site. When players say "default plant," this is where the bomb goes. A key reference point for all site-play communication.
A tight corner between A Main and Quad, named after CS:GO pro player NBK. A sneaky off-angle that catches pushers off guard. More relevant in pro play but worth knowing.
An elevated walkway overlooking A Site, accessible via the Ladder from Highway. Players can be boosted onto Lamp, a position alongside the side wall of A Site, so watch out for unexpected vertical angles.
A famous boost spot on the CT side of A Site that lets a player gain an unexpected elevated angle on T entries. Named after pro player Michael "shroud" Grzesiek. CTs can use the balcony and the shroud boost spot to gain beneficial angles on A Main.
An electrical box parallel with New Box, leading onto A Site from CT Spawn. A piece of cover on the CT rotation path that often becomes relevant during retakes.
Two pieces of cover on the CT rotation path leading onto A Site. Used during retakes and as position references when calling CT locations.
A large truck near the CT side of A Site with a direct
B Site is tighter and more layered than A. Multiple rooms feed into it, and the Heaven position gives CTs a strong elevated anchor.
The room Terrorists pass through immediately before entering B Site. The final chokepoint on the B approach — calling "B Main" means the attack is imminent.
The room directly in front of the Dumpster, opposite the Garage, with a direct route from T Spawn. The primary B-side movement corridor for Terrorists early in the round.
A key area on B Site named after a checkerboard-style floor pattern. Positioned near the Vent entry from Mid and used as both a plant zone and a contested angle during site defence. Mid control via Vents opens Checkers.
A ramp leading up to Rafters from CT Halls. An elevated CT position that overlooks B Site and provides strong crossfire angles. CTs often rotate into Heaven to defend B or retake. It's also a powerful AWP position, though vulnerable to molotovs and flashes.
A room with the sun painted on one wall, connecting B Halls. Terrorists pass through here when navigating toward B Main. Also hosts a window for throwing grenades into B Site.
A window where players can throw grenades into B Site from the Sun Room. Used for flashing the site before a B push — one of the standard grenade spots on Cache.
A set of barrels near B Site with a distinct visual. Used as a plant reference and a cover position. "Toxic plant" refers to placing the bomb behind these barrels for a trickier defuse angle.
The standard plant spot behind the tall boxes at the back of B Site. The most commonly used bomb position on B in default setups.
A position where a player can peek with only their head visible. Most relevant to B Site holds, where a CT can peek dangerously with minimal body exposure.
A group of boxes Ts can plant around or CTs can use to surprise attackers. Distinct from A Site's Quad — refers to a different box formation on B.
A named area near B Site. Useful as a landmark for mid-round communication about CT positions or bomb planting zones.
Mid is the control valve of Cache. If you hold Mid, your team gains information, faster rotations, and the ability to split either site without walking blind into stacks. Every key Mid callout matters from round one.
A large garage area directly in front of T Spawn. T-side players funnel through Garage on their way to Mid. Also a common smoke/flash target to deny CT info.
A red container position inside Garage used for picks and info. Aggressive Ts can peek from Red to gain early information on CT rotations through Mid.
A room opposite Red connecting the Garage to a path toward B Site. Primarily a T-side transition space.
A common reference cover point near the Mid/Highway end. White Box refers to the region surrounding and on top of the large white box at the end of Highway (mid-side), often used to peek Garage by CTs.
A short ramp leading up to A Site from Mid. Highway connects Mid (via the boost or Mid Box) to A Site. It's often used by rotating CTs or Ts gaining Mid control. A Highway lurk is a common T tactic to flank A from behind.
Sits at the beginning of Highway and is a common CT hold — a key part of Cache's Mid control. Sandbags denotes the area surrounding and atop the sandbags positioned between Connector and Mid Roof.
The roof area near Vents and Sandbags, used for vertical control and information. A player on Mid Roof can see across multiple entry angles. Risky to hold but powerful when it works.
A boostable spot that creates unexpected vertical angles into Mid. Typically requires a teammate to boost, but opens sightlines that opponents rarely expect.
A tucked corner near the A Main side used for hiding and close fights. Cubby is the corner directly beneath Boost, next to A Main. A common hiding spot for CTs making unexpected plays.
Vents refer to the vicinity surrounding and within the vents connecting Mid to B Checkers. Controlling Vents from Mid is how Ts split B Site from both Main and the flank.
The CT-side connector room used for control and AWP lines. Connector links Mid to CT Hall/CT Spawn and is often frequented by AWPers on the CT side at the round's start.
These callouts come up constantly during rotates, saves, and second-half setups.
The area where CTs spawn at the start of every round. Connects directly to CT Halls, Heaven, and Mid. Communication about rotations often references CT Spawn as a starting or passing point.
CT Halls refers to the expansive area between Truck and Hell, distinguishable by its size relative to other callouts on the map. The main artery for CT rotations between sites.
The round begins here for the Terrorist side. From T Spawn, players can branch toward A Main, Mid, or B Halls. Communication often starts here as players call the default plan.
A wide open area beyond T Spawn when heading to B. No actual boxes — just the name.
The open area where players choose to head to A Main or A Long. Called during early-round reads when watching for a split.
The main open area leading to B Site from CT Spawn. A key reference for CT-side rotations and for calling flanks.
A large truck located just beyond T Spawn when heading towards A. Distinct from the CT-side Truck near A Site — always specify side when calling Truck.
A rotation path connecting Mid to B. Used by CTs making a fast rotate and by Ts attempting a late-round flank.
For bookmarking and use as a cheat sheet:
T-Side / Approaches T Spawn · T Boxes · Garage · T Red · Dumpster · Outside A · A Main · Squeaky · B Halls · Sun Room · Flash Window · B Main
Mid Mid · White Box · Highway · Sandbags · Boost · Cubby · Vents · Mid Roof · Garage · CT Connector
A Site A Site · Default · Quad · Forklift · NBK · Ebox · New Box · Balcony · Ladder · Lamp · Shroud Boost · Truck (CT) · Backsite
B Site B Site · Default · Checkers · Heaven · Rafters · Sun Room · Toxic · Headshot · Quad Stack · Generator · Back Site
CT Side CT Spawn · CT Halls · Connector · Hell · Wood · Tree · Heaven · Truck (CT) · Lockers
Knowing the names is step one. Knowing when to call them is what actually wins rounds.
Occupation of Mid gives Terrorists options to split either bombsite and forces Counter-Terrorists to waste utility early. A common T-side approach: smoke Garage, push White Box, take Vents control — now you can split B from Main and Checkers simultaneously, and the CT rotation has to choose a side without information.
Standard smokes hit Forklift, Balcony, and CT Halls. Flashes cover A Main entry. One player pushes Squeaky simultaneously to divide defensive attention. The Quad stack becomes the default plant for a short defuse timer.
Smokes cover Heaven and CT rotation from Connector. Flash Window grenade from Sun Room blinds site defenders. Two players hit B Main together, one takes Default plant, one watches Heaven.
The most important habit for CT players: after every kill or information peek, call it out immediately. "One dead A Main, one still Squeaky" is the difference between a coordinated retake and four CTs walking into separate angles.
1. Play offline with bot_kick enabled Load Cache in a practice server (or via Workshop), kick all bots, and walk every area of the map while calling the name out loud. The muscle memory of movement + name locks the association in faster than reading alone.
2. Use a callout cheat sheet for your first few sessions Keep this guide open as a secondary window. After every death or rotation, check what area you were in and confirm the name. Within 3–5 sessions, the main callouts become automatic.
3. Focus on the 15 most-used spots first You don't need all 50+ callouts immediately. Master these first: A Main, Squeaky, Quad, Forklift, B Main, Checkers, Heaven, Mid, White Box, Highway, Sandbags, Vents, CT Halls, T Spawn, Garage. These cover 90% of in-game communication.
4. Watch Cache demos or pro games Listening to how experienced players call positions in real time ingrains the vocabulary faster than any list. Pro matches, coaching videos, and streamer footage all work.
Cache left the official CS:GO competitive map pool in 2019 but returned as a workshop remake for CS2 in March 2025, with potential for official competitive reintegration. Valve purchased the CS2 version of Cache from creator FMPONE, giving the developer full control over the map.
Cache was in development and released at the end of April 2026. Previously, Cache was mainly played via Workshop and custom servers. It's also already available on FACEIT, so ranked Cache matches are happening now.
The bottom line: if you're going to put time into learning a map in 2026, Cache is one of the highest-value investments you can make. The callouts from CS:GO carry over completely, and learning them now means you won't be caught flat-footed when Valve adds them back officially.
With Cache coming back, there is a reason to actually care what your loadout looks like. There's a certain satisfaction in winning a clutch on A Site with a skin you love, and Cache is exactly the kind of map that makes those moments feel even better.
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Yes. Valve released Cache on April 29, 2026 as part of a 5.1 GB update. It is now live in Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch, and Retakes. It is not yet in Premier or the professional Active Duty pool — that change is expected after the IEM Cologne Major 2026.
The biggest change is the removal of the heavy green/mossy aesthetic from the 2019 CS:GO rework. Valve's CS2 version has a cleaner, more industrial Chernobyl-inspired look with rebuilt textures, improved lighting, and better player visibility. It also differs noticeably from FMPONE's Workshop version in color palette and texture choices.
Start with the core 15: A Main, Squeaky, Quad, Forklift, B Main, Checkers, Heaven, Mid, White Box, Highway, Sandbags, Vents, CT Halls, Garage, and T Spawn. These cover the majority of in-game communication and are called every round.
Squeaky is a small room with a notoriously loud door that opens onto A Site from the T side. Both the room and the door use the same callout. It's a secondary A-site entry alongside A Main.
Checkers is an area on B Site named after its distinctive floor pattern. It's connected to the Vent exit from Mid and is a key position in B-site holds and executes.
Heaven is an elevated position on the CT side that overlooks B Site, accessible via ramp from CT Halls. It's one of the strongest defensive spots on B — high value for AWPs, but susceptible to molotovs.
No, not yet. As of the April 29, 2026 update, Cache is available in Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch, and Retakes. Premier and Active Duty integration is expected after the IEM Cologne Major 2026
The shroud boost is a CT-side elevated position on A Site named after pro player Michael "shroud" Grzesiek. A player boosted here gains an unexpected angle onto A Main that Terrorists rarely expect.
Yes. The map layout and callout names are essentially identical to the CS:GO version. If you played Cache before CS2, all the callouts you learned transfer directly.
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Many will need to be adjusted. CS2 uses a volumetric smoke system that behaves differently from CS:GO's flat smokes. The throwing positions are largely the same but trajectories and smoke expansion may differ. Community databases are being updated now that the official version is live.
NBK is a tight corner between A Main and Quad, named after French CS:GO pro player Nathan "NBK" Schmitt. It's a known off-angle that catches T-side players off guard when held correctly.