Anubis Pistol Round Strategy for CT and T

The Anubis pistol round decides the first few rounds of each half. Win it and your team gets rifles early. Lose it and you are often looking at an eco. This guide covers buys, T plans and CT setups for this specific map.

For general pistol round theory, read our CS2 pistol round guide. This page focuses on how Anubis changes the plan.

What should you buy with $800?

Every player starts the half with $800. Ts start with a Glock-18. CTs start with a USP-S or P2000, depending on loadout. Common buys look like this:

Flashes cost $200 and smokes $300. A Desert Eagle costs $700 and leaves only $100, so it is a specialist pick. Split the buys across the team so you have armour and utility.

How should Ts play the Anubis pistol round?

Pistols are weak at range and strong in numbers. The T side wants to reach a site with as many players as possible and fight at close distance.

• Pick one site. A five-player hit on A through Main, or on B through Gate, is often better than a slow default.
• Use the few grenades you have. One smoke on the key CT angle and two or three flashes are enough. On A, Heaven is the angle to block. On B, the Sniper window is.
• Trade every fight. Walk in pairs so a dead entry is traded at once. Our trade kills guide explains why.
• Plant for the post-plant. After the plant, spread out to watch CT routes. Pistol retakes are hard if Ts cover the doors.

Some teams prefer to fight for mid first. That works if your players are confident at Bridge and Double Doors, but it spends time and players that a pistol hit often needs.

How should CTs play the Anubis pistol round?

• Play close angles in pairs. A crossfire at close range lets you trade. A lone player at a long angle is easy to rush.
• Do not give free picks in mid. Refrag's review of the January 2026 update says the reversed Mid Doors let CTs stand close and take active angles. Use that, but do not overcommit.
• Use utility to slow rushes. A flash or HE at Gate or Main buys time for rotations. Molotovs are not usually affordable with armour on a pistol round.
• Buy kits where they matter. A player who will retake should consider a kit, since a defuse takes 10 seconds without one and 5 with one.

Plan the round after the pistol

Pistol rounds are half of the story. Talk about round two before round one starts.

• If you win as T: keep pressure while CTs are on a weak buy. Watch for a CT force buy.
• If you lose as T: usually save or play a light eco to build money for a full buy.
• If you win as CT: expect an anti-eco round and avoid giving your rifles away. See our anti-eco guide.
• If you lose as CT: decide together between a save and a force buy. Our force buy guide covers the trade-offs.

Practise the Anubis pistol round

Run a few pistol rounds against bots in a private match. Learn the timings to Gate, Main and Bridge, so you know how early CTs can arrive. Then practise the few grenades you plan to throw. Learn exact lineups with a lineup tool or video. Our Anubis smokes guide explains what each smoke blocks.

Sources and checks

Pistol and equipment prices were checked on 1 November 2026 against Hotspawn's CS2 pistol list. Callouts were checked against the CSDB Anubis guide, and the mid changes against Refrag's update breakdown. Valve can change prices and maps in any update.

Anubis Pistol Round Economy CS2