Set up a CS2 retake serverBomb-site retakes for targeted aim and utility training

Published on August 3, 2026 · last updated on November 4, 2026

What is retake mode?

In retake, every round starts with the bomb planted: the terrorists defend the bomb site, the counter-terrorists have to win it back (retake). Weapons and utility are allocated per round. The mode trains executes, aim, utility usage and positioning in short, intense rounds - ideal with around 3-4 players per side.

Requirements

A retake server runs via the RetakesPlugin for CounterStrikeSharp. So first install Metamod:Source and CounterStrikeSharp. In addition, you need retake-capable maps - you find many of them in the Steam Workshop.

Install and configure the RetakesPlugin

1. Download the current release of the RetakesPlugin (for CounterStrikeSharp).
2. Unpack it into addons/counterstrikesharp/plugins/ (via WebFTP or SFTP).
3. Optional: install additional allocator plugins for weapon/utility allocation if they are not included.
4. Restart the server or load the plugin with css_plugins reload.
5. Load a retake-capable map (e.g. via host_workshop_map <id>).

In the plugin configs, you set team sizes, allocation (pistols/full buy) and bomb site rotation. For most retake servers, 9-10 slots are enough - on our CS2 plans, slots are unlimited anyway.

The configuration that makes the difference

A retake server stands and falls with its weapon allocation. It decides whether the rounds feel varied or whether the same thing happens every ten minutes. The most important levers in the plugin configs:

• Team sizes. 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4 are common. More players per side make the bomb sites cramped and take the structure out of the rounds.
• Buy types. A good mix of pistol, half-buy and full-buy rounds keeps the pace high. Pure full-buy servers quickly become monotonous.
• Utility allocation. Whether players get grenades and how many changes the game more than the weapons themselves. Without smokes and flashes, retake turns into a pure aim duel.
• Bomb site rotation. A fixed bomb site leads to everyone memorizing the same positions. Alternating between A and B keeps the rounds fresh.

Start with the default values and change one thing at a time if something does not feel right. Retake plugins come with sensible defaults - the most common cause of a server that does not run smoothly is not one wrong value, but too many changed at once.

Which maps work

Retake needs maps with clearly cut bomb sites and manageable entrances. The classics from the active map pool - Mirage, Inferno, Nuke, Ancient - work well because everyone knows the positions and can jump right in.

One point is decisive and often overlooked: the plugin needs spawn points for the respective bomb site. On an arbitrary Workshop map without a matching configuration, it places players in unfavourable spots, and the rounds make no sense. So use maps for which a retake configuration is supplied, or add the spawns yourself.

How to include Workshop maps and whole collections is explained under Workshop maps & collections. For a public server, you also need a GSLT token, otherwise the server stays unreachable for strangers.

Retake, executes or deathmatch?

The three training modes are often confused, even though they train different skills:

• Retake practices the situation after the bomb plant - positioning, crossfires, time management. The mode for players who lose the post-plant too often in matches.
• Executes practices the attack on the bomb site with coordinated utility. The mode for teams that want to drill their standards.
• Deathmatch only practices aiming. Good for warming up, but without a tactical component.

All three run on the same foundation of Metamod and CounterStrikeSharp and only differ in the plugin. A server can sensibly run only one mode at a time, though - for several modes, you need several servers or a deliberate switch between configurations.

Frequently asked questions