PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 Grand Final: NAVI vs. FaZe Clan Tactical Analysis

# PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 Grand Final: NAVI vs. FaZe Clan Tactical Analysis ## Match Context **Match/Event:** PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 Grand Final **Teams:** Natus Vincere (NAVI) vs. FaZe Clan **Map 1: Ancient (00:10 - 14:55)** The opening map sets a highly tactical tone. FaZe begins on the CT side utilizing proactive, aggressive plays (like pushing smokes and early rushes) to disrupt NAVI. NAVI (T) leans heavily into controlled defaults, information gathering, and punishing defensive gaps. * **Early Game:** NAVI executes fast A-rushes (01:10) and standard 1-2-2 Mid defaults (02:00) against FaZe's full buys. * **Mid Half:** FaZe shifts their macro strategy at 04:46 to double-molotov Mid, denying NAVI space. FaZe exploits NAVI's defensive patterns, utilizing creative AWP boosts to secure B-site advantage (07:11). * **Second Half:** NAVI mounts a strong defense, utilizing targeted smokes to take Mid (10:19) and forcing FaZe into chaotic, utility-starved engagements (08:40). The game pushes into high-stakes, slow, information-gathering defaults by round 20 (12:15). **Map 2: Inferno (14:55 - End)** The decider map features intense utility wars, particularly over Banana and Mid control. * **Early Game:** NAVI (T) sets an anti-B-rush default on the pistol round (14:55). The half is marked by raw aggression, including synchronized Halls pushes and Mid explosions (15:56). * **Mid to Late Game:** NAVI executes highly creative utility strategies, including a zero-smoke B-site hit (17:31). Moving to the CT side, NAVI shifts to aggressively holding Halls (19:07) and systematically starving FaZe of Banana control (21:51), culminating in a desperate, high-stakes final round at 23:26. ## Players & Roles ### Natus Vincere (NAVI) *Team Dynamic: Controlled, information-heavy style. Excels at passive setups, crossfires, and coordinated utility to deny space.* * **Aleksib (IGL / Support / Rifler):** Strategic leader anchoring sites. Demonstrates elite movement, surviving isolated on a box in **Cave** via rapid crouch-strafing to waste attacker time (04:26). Heavily utilizes chained utility to starve enemies of map control on **Banana** (21:51). * **b1t (Rifler / Site Anchor):** Reliable anchor holding tight angles. Armed with a **FAMAS** to hold **Donut/House** (01:34) and anchors **A-site/Pit** on Inferno with a **USP-S** (15:26). * **jL (Rifler / Support):** Rotational support player. Anchors **B site** (00:52) and pivots top **Mid/Arch** with an **M4A4** (16:54). * **iM (Entry / Rifler):** Aggressive playmaker. Buys **Dual Berettas** on pistol rounds (00:10). Executes synchronized double-pushes in **Halls** (15:31) and takes calculated risks swinging **Mid** with an **M4A1-S** (07:05). * **w0nderful (AWPer):** Highly passive, observational primary sniper. Drops early incendiaries at **A-Main** and concedes space to hold deep, late-round rotational sightlines (01:27). ### FaZe Clan *Team Dynamic: Aggressive, proactive playstyle. Relies on fake rushes, double-molotov setups, and disruptive aggression to shatter CT defaults.* * **karrigan (IGL / Entry):** Vocal leader who sacrifices himself for space. Leads **Dual Beretta** pistol rushes (00:10) and makes highly unexpected pushes completely through blooming smokes (03:23). * **ropz (Lurker / Rifler):** Methodical lurker cutting off rotations. Deploys deep lurk smokes outside **A-Main** (06:28). Purchases an **SG 553 (Krieg)** on an eco round for scoped entry duels through **Boiler** (15:59). * **broky (AWPer):** Mobile sniper utilizing creative angles. Uses the **AWP** on a pre-planned boost over the boxes outside **B site** on Ancient to peer deep into **B-Main** (07:36). * **rain (Entry Fragger / Rifler):** Tip-of-the-spear entry. Throws specialized vision-denial smokes top **Mid** (06:08) and coordinates synchronized crossfire pushes from **Underhouse** (00:37). * **frozen (Rifler):** Versatile clean-up rifler. Secures critical pre-fire kills with the **AK-47** to shut down retakes (02:47) and executes fast jump-peek plays in **Mid** (10:52). ## Utility & Resources * **Pistol Round High-Volume Fire (00:10):** karrigan and iM invest in **Dual Berettas** on Ancient to overwhelm the **A-Main** choke point, though the lack of body armor allows NAVI to deal heavy early damage. * **Macro Utility Shifts (04:46):** FaZe transitions from single grenades to an expensive **double-molotov** setup in **Mid** (Ancient) to force NAVI out of space without risking early entry duels. * **Specific Trajectory Smokes (10:28):** NAVI utilizes a shallow **Cave** smoke that blocks deep vision but intentionally leaves a physical edge for Ts to wrap around toward **Triple**. * **Weaponized Economy & Utility Deficits (08:54):** NAVI buys close-range **MAC-10s** on a force-buy. FaZe attempts to take **Mid** with only a single **HE grenade**. The lack of flashbang/molotov investment allows NAVI's SMGs to completely overrun the rifle push. * **The "Zero-Smoke" Execute (17:45):** NAVI executes a highly unconventional B-site take on Inferno using *zero* smoke grenades, relying exclusively on **flashbangs** and **molotovs**. This completely tricks FaZe into reading it as a 4-man A-hit. * **Utility Starvation (22:24):** Aleksib chains utility on **Banana**, throwing a deep smoke and immediately re-smoking bottom B as the first fades (22:35). FaZe expends all their flashes and grenades fighting the smokes, leaving them with nothing for their final A-take against an AWP (23:05). ## Strategy & Tactics * **Synchronized Pinching (00:41):** FaZe uses a vocal "3, 2, 1" countdown to synchronize rain pushing from **Underhouse** with broky in **A-Main**, trapping the defender in an inescapable crossfire. * **Vision-Denial & Lurk Smoke Combos (06:08):** FaZe isolates **Mid** by throwing a vision-denial smoke top Mid to blind Aleksib in **Cave**, simultaneously throwing a lurk smoke outside **A-Main** (06:28) to freeze CT rotations. * **Exploiting Defensive Patterns (07:11):** Recognizing w0nderful's AWP has been entirely absent from **B site** all half, FaZe calls a targeted AWP boost on the **B site** boxes to exploit the lack of sniper presence. * **Aggressive 3-Man CT Control (19:07):** On Inferno, NAVI shifts their defensive macro by aggressively stacking three players into **Halls** with an early smoke and molotov, heavily denying FaZe staging space. * **Utility Sequencing & Pop-Flashes (24:40):** NAVI neutralizes FaZe's final match execution by combining a deep **Banana** molotov with a perfectly timed pop-flash that blinds the entry fragger precisely as they try to push. ## Decisions & Critical Moments * **03:23 — Karrigan's Smoke Push (Turning Point):** Karrigan decides to push *through* a blooming defensive smoke at **Cave**. By exploiting the defender's false sense of security, he catches jL completely off guard and breaks the B-site hold. * **07:05 — iM's Micro-Timing (Masterstroke):** iM swings into **Mid** the exact millisecond a FaZe molotov fades, finding a critical gap in FaZe's holding pressure to secure an isolated kill on frozen. * **08:44 — Disrespecting the Eco (Mistake):** FaZe decides to push **Mid** against a NAVI force-buy using just one HE grenade. *Alternative:* FaZe needed to invest flashbangs and molotovs to clear close angles before walking rifles into MAC-10 crosshairs. * **09:44 — The Utility Fake (Key Decision):** NAVI throws a massive wall of smokes at **A-Main** as a pure fake. The decision draws FaZe's crosshairs toward A, enabling iM to find an isolated 1v1 opening kill in **Mid**. * **16:15 — Retreating After a Smoke Kill (Mistake):** Aleksib secures a multi-kill through a **Mid** smoke but immediately retreats into deep cover to preserve his life, ceding valuable map space. *Alternative:* Anchoring close to the edge of the smoke would have forced pushing Terrorists to walk into a single-file crosshair for efficient trades. * **18:58 — Smokeless Site Cap (Critical Moment):** w0nderful throws a perfect pop-flash over the **B site** roof to cap off NAVI's smokeless execute, blinding remaining anchors reacting to the chaotic barrage. ## Practical Takeaways ### Lessons & Concepts * **Synchronized Peeking:** When engaging an isolated defender, communicate a precise countdown (e.g., "3, 2, 1, swing") to peek simultaneously from different angles, creating instant crossfires. * **Exploiting Blooming Smokes:** Smokes are treated as solid walls by defenders while blooming. Pushing through the moment it detonates catches anchors before their crosshairs are placed. * **Movement as Survival:** When trapped in a dead-end position, stop trying to win the aim duel. Use rapid crouch-strafing and erratic movement to survive as long as possible, delaying the execute and buying rotation time. * **The Zero-Smoke Fake:** Weaponize the enemy's game sense. Executing a site using *only* flashes and molotovs tricks high-level defenders into assuming it is a fake, prompting over-rotations. ### Anti-Patterns * **Disrespecting the Eco Buy:** Pushing narrow choke points against known SMG force-buys without heavily layering flashes and molotovs. You cannot dry-peek into close-range weapons. * **Retreating After a Smoke Kill:** Securing a kill through a choke-point smoke and falling back into deep cover. This cedes map control and lets the attackers reset. ### Situational Rules * **The Lurk Smoke Rule:** When executing a central area (like Mid), throw a deep lurk smoke toward a map extremity (like A-Main) at the same time to freeze site anchors and isolate your engagements. * **The Late-Round Attrition Rule:** If you successfully drain the enemy's utility reserves (like NAVI chaining smokes on Banana), immediately transition to a passive, static hold. Force them to dry-peek into your AWPs and crosshairs. * **The Utility Fake Rule:** To execute a convincing fake, commit heavy, visible utility to one side of the map, but time your actual isolated push on the complete opposite side *exactly* as the fake utility blooms. ### Drill Ideas * **"3-2-1" Crossfire Drill:** In a private server, pick common hold positions with a duo and practice silently counting down to swing simultaneously from two different entry points. * **Evasion & Delay Routine:** In a retake server, put yourself in a trapped position. Practice purely surviving via crouch-strafing, jumping, and hugging cover. Time how long you can stay alive while under fire. * **Smoke-Edge Anchoring:** Practice holding angles precisely on the edge of deployed smokes, working on the micro-adjustment spray transfer as multiple targets emerge single-file. * **Zero-Smoke Execute Practice:** Choreograph a dry-run site take with your team where traditional smokes are banned, relying entirely on coordinating pop-flashes and molotovs to clear common angles. ## Conclusion This grand final matchup serves as a masterclass in contrasting playstyles at the pinnacle of competitive CS2. It highlights FaZe Clan's elite ability to disrupt standard setups using proactive aggression, vision denial, and creative spacing (such as pushing blooming smokes and executing AWP boosts). Conversely, NAVI demonstrates the incredible power of utility chaining, map-control starvation, and macro-level mind games—proving that weaponizing the enemy's game sense (via zero-smoke executes and utility attrition) is just as lethal as raw mechanical aim.