TL;DR
- s1mple argues Mirage offers perfect competitive balance with 50% win rates for both sides
- Mirage leads CSGO with 30% play rate despite professional criticism
- Ancient struggles with player adoption despite professional tournament usage
- Performance optimization differs significantly between Mirage and Ancient
- Valley’s map pool decisions face balancing casual and professional preferences

While Mirage consistently ranks as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s most selected battleground, it faces substantial criticism from elite competitors. Legendary AWPer Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev has entered the debate, presenting compelling arguments for Mirage’s competitive merits and addressing common misconceptions about its design.
Despite dominating official matchmaking statistics, numerous professional competitors advocate for Mirage’s removal from active duty. The discussion ignited when Abai “HObbit” Hasenov’s social media post questioning Mirage’s place sparked widespread professional dialogue. Multiple CSGO esports athletes contributed perspectives, with most professionals favoring removal while s1mple championed its continued inclusion.
The Ukrainian superstar made his position unequivocal, stating that opposition to Mirage’s competitive presence indicates fundamental misunderstandings of CSGO’s strategic depth.
s1mple explains why Mirage is a good map

Addressing Viktor “sdy” Orudzhev’s concerns, s1mple emphasized Mirage’s exceptional capacity for tactical outplays thanks to its symmetrical architecture. His bold perspective generated mixed reactions, with some critics challenging his stance while others supported his assessment.
All people who thinks mirage should be removed – know nothing about cs, @somedieyoungCS still has chance to understand that it’s best map for outplaying your opponent, winning eco rounds etc and that’s not that easy to win 2v5 like on inferno B site
— Sasha (@s1mpleO) August 9, 2022
Recent Leetify analytics confirm Mirage’s commanding position as CSGO’s premier selection, with approximately 30% of competitive matches occurring on the desert-themed arena. Inferno follows as distant second at 20% selection rate. Beyond Dust 2, no other maps approach the popularity of this established trio, though professional competitors increasingly seek fresh competitive environments. While these metrics reflect casual player preferences accurately, HObbit, sdy, and fellow professionals maintain differing viewpoints.
This is the best moment to remove boring mirage and add cobble @CSGO 🙏🙏🙏
— Abay Khassenov (@HObbitcsgo) August 9, 2022
According to s1mple’s assessment, Valve should prioritize removing underutilized maps from CSGO’s rotation, highlighting Vertigo, Ancient, and Overpass as prime candidates. The elite player detailed how Mirage’s symmetrical design creates equal opportunities for both terrorist and counter-terrorist sides to demonstrate superior mechanical skill and strategic execution.
Some might perceive s1mple’s position as self-serving given Mirage represents his statistically strongest performance arena, yet objective data supports his balance assertions.
HLTV competitive statistics demonstrate both factions maintain precisely 50% victory probability on Mirage, establishing it as mathematically balanced. s1mple’s stance garnered support from players who prioritize Mirage for various practical reasons. The map’s straightforward architectural flow and high visual clarity rank among top cited advantages, alongside its reliable performance on budget gaming systems. In contrast, Ancient’s dense vegetation and shadowy passageways often produce performance issues on entry-level hardware, even with graphical settings minimized.
For players seeking to optimize their competitive performance, understanding map-specific strategies becomes crucial. Common mistakes include over-rotating on defense and failing to establish mid control, which can be mitigated through disciplined communication and smoke execution. Advanced players should focus on mastering window control and connector timings to gain strategic advantages.
Regardless of ongoing debates, significant changes to CSGO’s competitive map selection appear unlikely in the immediate future. The development team recently replaced Train with Ancient in active duty, though the jungle environment remains the least selected option. Substantial time will likely pass before developers consider revamping additional legacy maps or introducing new competitive locations.
Do CSGO players like Ancient?
Statistical evidence indicates CSGO competitors continue experiencing difficulty embracing Ancient, the most recent addition to official competitive rotations. Nevertheless, Ancient has surpassed Train’s 2022 popularity metrics. The wilderness-themed battlefield has seen generous utilization in professional tournaments, yet the majority of regular players appear disinclined toward Ancient, preferring instead the established trio of Dust 2, Inferno, and Mirage.
When approaching new maps like Ancient, players should allocate 15-20 hours for fundamental familiarity and approximately 50 hours for competitive proficiency. Key learning phases include understanding rotation timings, mastering choke points, and developing site execution strategies. Similar to mastering complex BF6 Weapons Unlock systems, map mastery requires deliberate practice and strategic analysis.
For those transitioning between maps, understanding Ancient’s unique vertical gameplay and sound propagation differences from traditional CSGO maps proves essential. The map’s visual complexity can obscure enemy positions, making audio cues particularly valuable for situational awareness. Much like optimizing your approach in our Complete Guide to Battlefield 6, systematic learning approaches yield best results.
Professional teams have developed specific Ancient strategies focusing on mid control and A site executions, though these often require coordinated team play that casual matchmaking lacks. This highlights the importance of selecting appropriate roles as outlined in our comprehensive Class Guide, where understanding your position’s responsibilities maximizes team effectiveness.
Action Checklist
- Analyze your current map preferences and identify one underplayed map to practice weekly
- Study professional match VODs on both Mirage and Ancient to understand advanced strategies
- Practice essential utility lineups (smokes, flashes) for your least comfortable map
- Benchmark system performance across different maps to identify optimization opportunities
- Participate in community discussions about map balance to understand diverse perspectives
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » s1mple says that Mirage haters know nothing about CSGO CSGO pro s1mple defends Mirage's competitive value while analyzing Ancient's player reception
