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Master every Palace angle, Canal crossing, and B Market split on Anubis — CS2's most balanced and underrated active duty map. From basic callouts to professional Canal-based strategies, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to dominate Anubis in ranked play.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Read Time
65 min
Author
CS2Hype Pro Team
Updated
December 2024
Map Overview & Layout
5 min
Map Callouts & Key Areas
Anubis callout overview — click to view full size
A Site
- Palace
- A Site/Default
- A Connector
- A Ramp (CT side)
- Statue
B Site
- B Tunnels
- Market
- B Site/Default
- B Connector
- Back Market
Mid (Canal)
- Canal (Mid)
- Boat / Jump spot
- CT Mid
- Mid Connector
What Makes Anubis Unique
- Canal Mid: The Canal requires a boat jump or swim — a traversal mechanic unlike any other active map
- Near-Perfect Balance: ~50/50 win rate makes every round purely skill-decided
- Palace Depth: Long, deep corridor entry to A — creates asymmetric information duels
- Market Split: B site is accessible from three distinct angles — coordination is essential
- Newest Active Map: Less deeply memorized — creative strategies work more often
- Egyptian Aesthetic: Wide sight lines through ruins create unique long-range duels
- Canal Info Value: A mid player can gather A or B intent and relay critical rotation info
- Underrated in Ranked: Many players haven't practiced it — knowledge is a huge advantage
Anubis Win Rate Breakdown
Based on professional and high-rank competitive data
CT Win Rate
50.2%
T Win Rate
49.8%
Anubis is the most balanced map in the active pool. The near-equal win rate means individual performance and utility knowledge dominate over structural map bias.
CT-Side Masterclass
15 min
Default CT Setup & Rotations
Palace Dominance
Aggressive early A control from CT side
1
One CT rushes Palace from A Ramp
2
Deny T Palace control with early peek
3
Use flashes from A Ramp to support duel
4
Win or trade, then fall back to A site
5
Communicate T positioning to team
B Market Hold
Passive anchor defending B from Market
1
One player deep Market angle
2
Second player holds B Tunnels from site
3
Molotov common B Tunnels entry on contact
4
Call for Canal player rotate if overwhelmed
5
Never over-push — play passive and rotate
Canal Control
Mid Canal aggressive information play
1
CT pushes Canal early with boat/jump timing
2
Deny T mid control and get key information
3
Flash into Canal to contest T presence
4
Relay A or B intent to both site holders
5
Rotate to pressured site via CT mid
Advanced CT Positions & Angles
Palace Deep Hold
Aggressive angle inside Palace corridor watching T approach. High-risk position that forces CTs to play an awkward wide angle on entry.
Canal One-Way Smoke
Advanced CT-side smoke in Canal that creates a one-way view into T mid. Allows information gathering and free kills on Canal entry.
Market Window Angle
Classic CT position at the Market window on B. Natural crosshair placement spot — watch for B Tunnels rush from this elevated angle.
A Site Statue
Tucked behind the Statue on A site. Catches Ts who push past default angle and don't check off-spots — common at all ranks.
Connector Flash
Pop-flash from CT Ramp into A Connector. Blinds Ts rotating from Canal to A and supports CT holding A site from the connector angle.
B Tunnels Headshot
Precise headshot angle at B Tunnels exit. Easy to learn, highly effective — Ts exiting Tunnels into B are exposed at perfect head height.
Pro CT Strategies on Anubis
Advanced techniques used by professional teams on Anubis
Essential Smokes
- Canal mid smoke (from CT mid)
- Palace entrance one-way smoke
- B Tunnels CT anchor smoke (retake)
- B Connector smoke for B site holds
Flash Setups
- Palace over-wall flash (A entry denial)
- Canal pop-flash for aggressive mid hold
- B retake flash from CT mid connector
- Market window bounce flash (B defense)
T-Side Domination
15 min
Essential T-Side Strategies
Palace Execute
Methodical A site take through Palace
1
Smoke Palace corner and A Connector
2
Flash into Palace for lead player entry
3
3 players Palace, 1 Canal info, 1 B bait
4
Enter A site through Palace with coordinated timing
5
Plant for Statue post-plant position
B Tunnels/Market Rush
Fast B take with direct Tunnels entry
1
Smoke Market window and B Connector
2
Flash for B Tunnels entry
3
3 players Tunnels, 1 Canal, 1 A pressure
4
Molotov back Market on site entry
5
Plant default, hold Tunnels and Market
Canal Mid Control
Use mid for information-based site splits
1
2 players cross Canal early with utility
2
Control CT mid and both site connectors
3
2 players pressure A Palace concurrently
4
1 player B Tunnels for CT anchor watch
5
Execute whichever site is weaker based on info
Advanced Executes & Setups
Standard Palace Execute
1
• 3 players Palace, 1 Canal, 1 B fake
• Gather smokes: Palace corner, A Connector, Statue
• Canal player provides mid info early
2
• Throw Palace smoke simultaneously with Connector
• Flash for first entry into A through Palace
• Canal player commits A Connector at same time
3
• Lead Palace player pushes into smoke aggressively
• Canal connector player flanks from Connector
• Trade and overwhelm with split entry
4
• Plant for Statue / default
• Cover Palace retake and CT Ramp angles
• Smoke Canal connector for post-plant safety
Advanced Utility Guide
20 min
Essential Smoke Lineups
Canal Mid Smoke
Smokes the CT mid exit from Canal. Essential for safe Canal crossing on T-side.
- Stand at the T-side Canal entrance
- Aim at the corner of the CT side pillar
- Left-click throw — lands to block CT mid exit perfectly
Palace Corner Smoke
Blocks the critical Palace corner angle on A site. Required for all A Palace executes.
- Thrown from T-side Palace approach
- Aim at the overhang of the stone arch
- Run-throw for consistent placement
Market Molotov
CT-side molotov that covers B Market exit. Delays B Tunnels rushes by 3-4 seconds — often decisive.
- Thrown from CT B connector area
- Lands directly on the Tunnels exit choke
- Combine with flash for free CT trading position
A Connector Smoke
Blocks CT rotation from Canal into A Connector. Cuts off the fastest CT retake route on A.
- Thrown from A Main approach near Palace entrance
- Multiple lineup variations available
- Essential for clean A site executes
Tunnel Flash
Bounce flash into B Tunnels exit that blinds Market CT without exposing the thrower.
- Stand behind the T-side Tunnels entrance wall
- Aim at the specific ceiling point inside Tunnels
- Right-click bounce — detonates on exit perfectly
Palace CT One-Way
CT-side one-way smoke thrown into Palace from A Ramp. See T feet while remaining hidden. Pixel-perfect lineup required.
- Specific crouched position on A Ramp — practice offline
- Reveals T at ankle-height through gap
- Game-changing setup in skilled hands
Flash Setups & Pop-Flashes
Offensive Flashes (T-Side)
Palace Entry Flash
Over-wall flash thrown from T-side outside Palace that blinds both the Palace corner CT and the A site Statue position simultaneously on entry.
Canal Cross Flash
Bounce flash off the Canal wall before crossing. Blinds the CT holding mid without exposing yourself — critical for safe Canal crossing.
B Market Flash
Thrown from B Tunnels into the Market window and back-market area. Blinds the CT watching B exit — essential for fast B Tunnels entry.
Defensive Flashes (CT-Side)
A Retake Flash
Thrown from A Connector into A site that blinds post-plant Ts. Coordinate with a second player entering from A Ramp for a clean two-angle retake.
B Retake Flash
From Canal connector into B site. Pairs with B Tunnels teammate entry — the cross-flash creates a simultaneous retake CTs love to use.
Palace Denial Flash
Aggressive early-round flash thrown from A Ramp into Palace. Punishes T-side players who push Palace without utility early in the round.
Pro Utility Tips
Advanced utility principles for Anubis
Timing & Coordination
- Canal smoke must be thrown before crossing — never cross blind
- A Palace execute needs at least two smokes thrown simultaneously
- Save one molotov per B player for Market denial on retakes
- Palace CT one-way requires offline practice — don't attempt it live without rehearsal
- Coordinate flash + push timing with a countdown: "Flash in 3..."
Common Mistakes
- Crossing Canal without smoke — free kill for CT mid holder
- Forgetting Market molotov on B execute — CT hides for a free kill
- Wasting all utility on an early info peek — nothing left for execute
- Not buying utility on pistol round — Anubis pistol smokes win rounds outright
- Over-committing to Canal control after being denied — reset and play site
Advanced Strategies
15 min
T-Side: Fake A, Go B Through Canal
Palace pressure baits CT rotation, then Canal control flips to a fast B execute. Highly effective when Canal player has confirmed mid CT positioning.
1
Send 2 players to Palace with flashbangs and molotov — make loud, committed noise without actually entering A site.
2
Wait for CT to call "A push" and rotate CT Ramp toward A. Canal CT player turns to support A.
3
2 players cross Canal into B Connector. B is now held by one Market anchor with no rotation coming.
4
Tunnel players + Canal players simultaneously converge on B. 4v1 with perfect split timing.
CT-Side: Aggressive Palace Peek
Rather than passively holding A site, an aggressive CT peek into Palace early forces Ts to react, burns utility, and can win the duel outright. Requires precise support from a teammate.
1
Teammate throws over-wall flash from A Connector into Palace — coordinated with the aggressor's push timing.
2
CT pushes from A Ramp into Palace corridor while flash is detonating. Pre-aim the first T angle.
3
Win the blind duel, then fall back immediately. Don't push deeper — the role is to burn T utility and get first blood.
4
Return to A site default position. Ts are now one player down or have used all their Palace utility.
Canal as the Information Hub
Professional teams treat Canal control as the primary Anubis game plan — not a bonus. A player who wins the Canal mid-duel effectively holds both sites simultaneously until the info is gathered and communicated. Here's how to structure this:
What Canal Tells You
- T presence in Canal = B split incoming
- No Canal activity = A Palace or B direct
- Canal + A Palace = Mid split on A
- Single Canal player = likely lurk, watch for late round flank
CT Canal Aggression
- Early Canal rush with flash punishes passive Ts
- Win the Canal duel = free round for CTs in most cases
- Don't over-commit — fall back if denied
- Boat jump timing is consistent — practice it in free play
Pro Tips & Why Anubis is Underrated
10 min
Rank-Specific Advice
What matters at each rank bracket on Anubis
Silver — Gold Nova
Learn the Canal crossing smoke and the B Tunnels exit flash. Most players at this rank have never practiced either — just knowing them wins rounds.
Master Guardian — Legendary Eagle
Add the Palace corner smoke and the fake-A-go-B Canal strat to your team playbook. Opponents at this level over-rotate to A constantly.
Supreme — Global Elite
Master Canal read patterns and mix aggressive CT Canal peeks with passive Palace holds. At this rank, meta-reading Anubis is a genuine differentiator.
Top 5 Anubis Pro Tips
Tips from professional players and coaching analysis
Canal control is the win condition every round
Whatever side wins the Canal duel wins the information war. Invest utility in Canal crossing even when you're not doing a Canal-based strat.
Palace is a 1v1 corridor — don't commit 5v1
The Palace corridor doesn't benefit from numbers. Send 2-3 with utility, not 4-5. Save players for Canal and B fake pressure.
Anubis rewards crosshair placement discipline
The map has many head-height corners. Players with strong crosshair placement at common angles will win far more duels than mechanical aimers who miss the spot.
Study Heroic and NaVi demos specifically
These teams have developed the most complete Anubis systems. Their Canal timing and fake patterns are a masterclass in how to play the map correctly.
Anubis is often avoided — learn it to force it
Many teams ban Anubis because they haven't studied it. If you know it well, forcing it in map veto gives you a massive structural advantage.
Anubis in the Current Meta
What you need to know about Anubis's competitive standing in 2024/2025
Pro Pick Rate
Anubis is increasingly popular at majors as teams have developed consistent setups. It's no longer a wildcard — expect opponents to be prepared. Its balanced nature makes it a reliable pick for teams that want to win on pure fundamentals.
Rifle vs. AWP Balance
Unlike Dust2, Anubis doesn't heavily favor AWPs. The Canal's close-range angles and B Tunnels proximity reward riflers. Strong AWP positions exist at Palace and Canal — but they're not dominant game-changers.
Economy Dynamics
Anubis utility is cheap and highly impactful. Force-buy rounds with smokes and molotovs can beat full-buy CTs if Canal crossing is executed cleanly. Never skip utility to upgrade to a rifle on this map.
