CS2 Map Pool 2026: All 7 Active Duty Maps, Cache's Return and How Premier Picks Maps
The current CS2 Active Duty map pool: all seven maps, why Cache replaced Overpass, the new Premier map pick, pro pick rates and which maps to learn first.
On this page
Key takeaways
- The Active Duty pool has seven maps: Ancient, Anubis, Cache, Dust II, Inferno, Mirage and Nuke.
- Cache replaced Overpass on July 8, 2026, at the start of Premier Season 5 — its first time in the pro pool since 2019.
- Since September 22, 2026, Premier has no bans: teams pick four maps and the game draws one at random.
- In pro play, Mirage and Dust II are picked most often. Anubis is the least picked map.
- The PGL Major Singapore (Nov 24 – Dec 13) is played on this same pool.
Every Premier match and every big tournament in Counter-Strike 2 is played on the same seven maps — the Active Duty pool. In 2026 this pool changed twice in ways that matter to every player: Cache came back in July, and in September Valve removed map bans from Premier. Here is the full picture, map by map.
The current pool at a glance
| Map | Style | What decides rounds | In the pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient | Jungle temple | Early map control, especially mid | Since 2021 |
| Anubis | Egyptian, built by the community | Open angles and water areas | Back since Jan 2026 |
| Cache | Rebuilt for Source 2 | Fast fights for mid | New — since Jul 8, 2026 |
| Dust II | The classic | Long sightlines, pure aim duels | Classic |
| Inferno | Tight corridors | Smokes and molotovs at chokepoints | Classic |
| Mirage | Balanced, easy to learn | Mid control and site splits | Classic — most played |
| Nuke | Two floors, one above the other | Teamwork; defenders (CT) win more rounds | Classic |
What changed in 2026
- January 21 — Anubis returns. Anubis replaced Train for Premier Season 4.
- April 28–29 — Cache is back in the game. A fully rebuilt Cache arrived in Competitive, Casual and Deathmatch, but not yet in Premier.
- July 8 — Cache joins Active Duty. Premier Season 5 started, Cache replaced Overpass. The first pro event with Cache was BLAST Bounty in late July.
- September 22 — no more bans in Premier. The old veto was replaced with a pick system and a random draw (see below).
How Premier chooses the map now
Until September 2026, Premier worked like pro matches: teams banned maps until one was left. Many players banned the same maps every time, so Mirage and Dust II were played far more than the rest. Valve changed it in the “Rush Hour” update on September 22, 2026:
- Team 1 picks one map.
- Team 2 picks two maps.
- Team 1 picks a fourth map.
- The game randomly selects one of the four, and the match starts.
You can no longer fully avoid a map you don’t like — but your favourite map has a real chance to come up. According to Leetify data on about 12.7 million Premier matches, Mirage fell to about 20% and Dust II to about 20% of games by late October, while Cache, Anubis, Nuke and Inferno were played more often than before.
Which maps the pros play most
Pro teams still use the classic veto with bans, so their numbers look different. Share of all maps played in professional CS2 in the first half of 2026:
Two things stand out. Mirage and Dust II together make up almost half of all pro maps. And Anubis is picked the least, by a wide margin. Keep this in mind when you watch the PGL Major Singapore: the map vetoes often tell you which team is more comfortable before the first round starts.
Other maps you can still play
Not every map in CS2 is Active Duty. These are available in other modes but not in Premier or pro tournaments:
| Group | Maps | Where you can play them |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve | Overpass, Train, Vertigo | Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch |
| Community maps (from July 2026) | Boulder, Fachwerk, Shelter | Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch |
| Hostage maps | Office, Italy | Casual |
Which map should you learn first?
- Mirage — the safest start. Simple layout, everyone knows the callouts, and it comes up most often.
- Dust II — easy to understand and great for aim. Picked almost as often as Mirage.
- Inferno or Ancient — the next step. Here you learn to use grenades properly.
- Cache — worth learning now. Fewer players know it well yet, so good preparation pays off.
Want to practise smokes and molotovs on your own? Our CS2 console commands guide has a ready-to-paste practice config with grenade trajectory preview and infinite ammo.
Sources
- Map screenshots: Counter-Strike 2 (Valve), captured in-game
- Counter-Strike 2 update notes, July 8 and September 22, 2026 (official Steam news)
- Cache returns to CS2 Active Duty — GINX
- All CS2 updates timeline — esports.gg
- Most popular CS2 maps, H1 2026 — esports.gg
- CS2 update overhauls Premier map pick system — Dot Esports
- Mirage and Dust 2 pick rates drop with new map pick system — TalkEsport
FAQ
What maps are in the CS2 Active Duty pool right now?
Ancient, Anubis, Cache, Dust II, Inferno, Mirage and Nuke. These seven maps are used in Premier and in professional tournaments, including Majors.
Why was Overpass removed from CS2?
Valve does not explain every rotation, but Overpass was the least picked map in the pool at that time, both in matchmaking and at the IEM Cologne Major. Cache took its place on July 8, 2026. Overpass is still playable in Competitive and Casual.
How does the Premier map pick work now?
Team 1 picks one map, Team 2 picks two, Team 1 picks one more. The game then randomly selects one of those four maps. There is no ban phase anymore.
Which CS2 map should a beginner learn first?
Mirage. It is the most played map, its layout is simple and every teammate will know the callouts. Dust II is the second choice.
When will the CS2 map pool change next?
Valve usually changes the pool at the start of a new Premier season. No change has been announced yet for after the PGL Major Singapore. We will update this page when it happens.
