Flashbang· Flashbang grenade

The flashbang is the most-thrown grenade in competitive CS2. Each player can carry up to 2, and both sides use them heavily on executes and retakes. A well-timed pop-flash disables a CT player for ~3 seconds — enough time for the entry to cross into sight and take the duel advantaged. "Pop flashing" (letting the grenade detonate right as it rounds a corner so defenders have no reaction time) is a core skill. Flashes are also used defensively: a CT flash thrown into a push site can neutralise an entry's aim and buy time for rotations. Flash usage per round is a proxy for tactical sophistication — teams that throw more flashes at executes generally win more executes.