Mastering the Window Smoke for A Site Executes
The window smoke is arguably the most important utility on Mirage when executing an A take. It blocks the sniper from Palace window as well as the deep angle from stairs, allowing your team to cross from Palace to default plant safely. To throw this line-up consistently, stand in the corner of the T ramp where the wooden pallet meets the wall. Face the small gap between the palace pillar and the brick wall, then aim at the top of the tallest chimney visible in the distance. A left-click throw will land the smoke directly in the window, clipping the edge perfectly. This smoke lasts just over 18 seconds, so coordinate your execute to explode onto site as soon as it pops. If you are playing from mid, you can also use a jump-throw bind from the ticket booth to achieve the same result. Practice this line-up offline for ten minutes and you will hit it every single time. Properly placed, this smoke forces the CT player in window to reposition or play fully blind, effectively neutralising one of the most dangerous defensive angles on the map.
The Jungle Smoke: Cutting Off CT Spawn Rotations
After planting the bomb on A, the most critical threat comes from CT spawn and jungle, where defenders can peek the default plant position with little risk. The jungle smoke eliminates that entire sightline, making post-plant retakes much easier. Stand in the corner of the balcony on T ramp, facing the stone arch that leads to palace. Line up the left edge of your crosshair with the right side of the white wall behind the jungle pit, then aim at the small dark window on the building above. Use a running throw after taking one step forward, and the smoke will drop perfectly in the jungle doorway. This smoke is also useful during the initial execute—if your team is going A, throw it first to cut off any CT who might peek from spawn. The main benefit is that it compresses the defender's options to staircase or triple box, both of which are easier to clear with a coordinated flash. In clutch situations, smoking jungle allows the bomb carrier to plant safe without worrying about a quick peek from that direction. It is a simple, high-impact line-up that every Mirage player should have in their arsenal.
A Ramp Smoke: Freezing B Site Holders in Place
For B site executes, the most powerful smoke is the one that lands on A ramp. This is the elevated ramp leading from apartments into B, often held by a CT player with an AWP or a rifle looking for a quick pick. To throw this smoke, position yourself in the corner of the B apartments courtyard, directly in front of the wooden door. Aim at the distinct crack in the wall above the ramp entrance, then hold the right mouse button to start a long throw. Let go when your crosshair reaches the top of the yellow neon sign outside the window—this requires a script-free, simple left-click release at the right moment. The smoke lands just inside the ramp, completely blocking the defender's view of the default plant area. This allows your team to jump out of the window and rush to the corner of the site without being shot. It is especially effective during anti-ecos, as it forces the lone defender to either close his eyes and pray or retreat into the sandbags, where a simple prefire will kill him. Pair this smoke with a flash over the rooftop to make the execute almost unstoppable. This line-up is easy to learn and has won countless rounds in both ranked and professional play.
The Default Mid Smoke: Splitting Short and Connector
Controlling mid is essential on Mirage, and the default mid smoke is the foundation of any mid-control strategy. It lands at the connector entrance, blocking the CT player from watching top mid from stairs. This lets your team take the mid control without getting peeked from connector. The line-up is simple: stand at the right side of the top mid window, aligned with the edge of the palace wall. Look for the small antenna on top of the sandwich shop, then jump and throw while pressing the throw button at the peak of your jump. The smoke will travel over mid and land exactly in the connector doorway. Holding this smoke is useful both for opening picks and for a fast B split through apartments. Without it, pushing mid is a death sentence against a competent AWPer. Once the smoke pops, your team can freely walk into mid, watch underpass, and set up crossfires. You can also use this smoke to fake an A execute by following it with a flash and footsteps – the defenders will rotate expecting a hit, but your team can easily back off and regroup. The versatility and ease of this line-up make it one of the best investments for improving your Mirage gameplay.
