Nuke - Defense

1-3-1 Setup

The 1-3-1 setup is 3D’s most common defensive setup. LiN plays outside in the garage with an AWP, Method and Volcano play in the upper bombsite, Ksharp AWPs from bird's nest and Rector holds ramp room with a rifle. The setup allows for easy rotation to the lower bombsite, although that is to be expected on nuke anyway, and enables players to double up on choke points relatively easily. A prime example of this is Ksharp, who can watch upper from the birds nest, but is also able to move out onto the balcony to watch outside at short notice.




At the start of the round, Volcano rushes straight up into bird's nest and drops down onto the forklift, throwing a grenade into the shed doorway as he lands. Method moves around the rafters, alternating between watching squeaky door, connector and the shed entrance. Although Rector is playing ramp room fairly audaciously, being directly visible from the offensive radio rooms, he defends it weakly, dropping down to the lower site whenever put under significant pressure.


Rotating to ramp from 1-3-1

In the event of a full rush on the ramp room, the versatility of 3D’s setup becomes apparent. As well as returning fire, Rector throws grenades and counter-flashes into the offensive corridor before dropping down the ramp to the lower site. Ksharp rotates quickly down from bird's nest and moves into the defensive corridor, AWPing into the ramp room.



Meanwhile, Volcano begins to flank the attackers after pushing through the offensive rooms, checking thoroughly for camping opponents as he passes through. LiN has the choice of rotating to lower using the staircase outside, or through the vents in upper. This organized shift in positions allows 3D to trap their opponents in the ramp room, significantly restricting their options.


2-2-1 Aggressive Outside

3D’s 2-2-1 setup keeps many of the positions used in their 1-3-1 strat, but incorporates an aggressive rush outside, hoping to take their attackers by surprise. At the beginning of the round, LiN and Method rush straight down towards the outside area, throwing flashbangs over the large box to blind any pushing attackers (POV screenshot #1). If there are no offensive players there, LiN turns immediately around and runs back toward the upper connector, while Method continues on to flank the opponents.




Once again, Volcano plays behind the forklift in the upper site, and Ksharp is in bird’s nest – although he no longer needs to check outside, so he can direct his full attention to the upper site. Rector holds the ramp room alone with a rifle, playing behind the box at the back, and LiN eventually posts up in the connector, watching the shed window and squeaky door.


1-2-2 Setup




Once again, this tactic is largely based on the original 1-3-1 setup, with a few minor modifications. The main variation is that Ksharp has moved to the ramp room rather than climbing up into birds nest, apparently in anticipation of a ramp room rush. In addition, LiN is defending outside with a rifle rather than an AWP, possibly due to a lack of money, and is playing much more cunningly as a result, weaving in between the red container and the garage, and changing positions more often.


3-2 Aggressive

One or two aggressive tactics in a team’s defensive arsenal help to add variety, as well as making it much harder for opponents to predict your setup. Team 3D’s aggressive 3-2 strat sends three players to the upper bombsite, and two to the ramp room. They play very aggressively on almost every choke point, pushing through into the offensive rooms and radio rooms toward their opponents.




As opposed to defending the ramp room in his usual passive manner, Rector pushes right up to the offensive corridor and flashes in, hoping to catch any pushing attackers off guard. Ksharp takes Rector’s old position at the back of the site, AWPing into the radio room, providing a little cover for his pushing teammate. Volcano has once again rushed into the offensive rooms via the shed and checks around thoroughly for camping opponents. Method supports him by simultaneously pushing through the squeaky door, while LiN stands at the entrance to the connector, partially defending outside, as well as keeping an eye on his teammates’ progress.