Grenade · Both

Decoy Grenade

The Decoy Grenade stands as the masterclass of psychological misdirection and tactical deception in Counter-Strike 2. Available to both Counter-Terrorists and Terrorists for a nominal fee of just $50, the Decoy Grenade is the cheapest utility item in the entire game. Modeled as a small electronic acoustic device equipped with a miniature propulsion charge, the Decoy Grenade is engineered to emit simulated gunfire audio matching the primary weapon currently held by the thrower, creating convincing auditory and radar illusions that can deceive opponents and disrupt enemy decision-making. Mechanically, when thrown, the Decoy Grenade bounces across the terrain and comes to rest, immediately beginning a rhythmic sequence of synthetic gunshots that lasts for approximately 15 seconds. The sound emitted dynamically mirrors the firing acoustics and cadence of the player primary firearm: if the thrower holds an AWP, the decoy echoes with thunderous sniper shots; if holding an AK-47 or M4, it fires realistic rifle bursts. Furthermore, during its operational cycle, the Decoy Grenade projects a false red enemy dot on the opposing team radar screen, tricking defensive callers into believing an attacker is actively firing from that location. At the conclusion of its 15-second acoustic cycle, the Decoy Grenade self-destructs in a small kinetic explosion, dealing up to 5 points of damage to any player standing immediately on top of it. While this explosion damage is negligible in normal combat, it has produced hilarious and legendary viral moments where a critically tagged 1-health player was eliminated by a detonating decoy grenade, delivering one of the rarest and most humiliating eliminations in gaming history. In high-level competitive play, the Decoy Grenade is utilized for sophisticated fake executes and information deception. On maps like Mirage or Dust II, an attacking team executing a "fake B" play can launch multiple decoys into the B-bombsite while the real squad quietly sets up on the A-site. The barrage of gunfire audio and radar indicators can trick defensive anchors into calling early rotations, pulling CT defenders away from the real target. Furthermore, high-level players occasionally throw a decoy grenade directly at an enemy in a duel: because the grenade physical model resembles a Flashbang while flying through the air, an opponent will instinctively flick their crosshair away to avoid being blinded, giving the thrower an easy elimination while the enemy head is turned. Esports history features memorable decoy moments that entertained millions of spectators. Legends like Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo and Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen have famously incorporated decoy grenades into elaborate fake defaults at Major tournaments. In several unforgettable showmatches, pro players have even secured round-winning kills with the 5-damage decoy explosion, cementing its status as the most entertaining piece of utility in Counter-Strike lore. Priced at an almost negligible $50 and providing a $300 kill award if an elimination is miraculously secured with its final blast, the Decoy Grenade is the ultimate low-cost tactical mind-game tool. It stands as an enduring tribute to the cerebral, psychological dimensions of Counter-Strike 2.