IEM Masters: FaZe Clan vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas (Nuke Upper A Execute)

# IEM Masters: FaZe Clan vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas (Nuke Upper A Execute) ## Match Context * **Match Date/Event:** IEM Masters * **Teams:** FaZe Clan (CT) vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas [NiP] (T) * **Map:** Nuke * **Round Phase:** Round 5 (Early first half) * **Score State:** FaZe leads 3-1. * **Economic Situation:** Both teams are on a full buy. FaZe has four M4A4s, one AWP, and full utility. NiP is equipped with five AK-47s, armor, and full utility. This is NiP's "second gun round in a row" [01:28] after losing the pistol round. * **Stakes:** This is a massive economic swing round. Winning this round is critical for NiP to establish their T-side; successfully executing breaks FaZe's bank, forcing them into a subsequent eco round [01:31]. ## Players & Roles ### Ninjas in Pyjamas (T-Side) * **GeT_RiGhT [01:00, 09:56]:** Support / Utility Executioner. Equipped with an AK-47 and full utility. Throws the early Ramp fake molotov, then moves to the roof for window flashes before pushing Hut. * **f0rest [11:09]:** Support / Utility Executioner. Equipped with an AK-47 (Redline) and full utility. Throws the middle Outside smoke, breaks roof glass [11:19], and throws the Top Hut molotov. * **Xizt [12:51]:** Support / Lurker / Bomb Carrier. Equipped with an AK-47 (Black Laminate), M9 Bayonet Tiger Tooth, C4, and full utility. Throws the close lurk Outside smoke, Mustang molotov, and double flashes. Acts as a post-plant "turtle" [17:26] on the roof. * **REZ [14:29]:** Primary Entry Fragger. Equipped with an AK-47 (Case Hardened) and full utility. Deploys the T-Vent molotov from Squeaky and bursts through the door to hard-clear the right side. * **draken [15:38]:** Secondary Entry / Trader. Usually the primary AWPer, but carries an AK-47 (Case Hardened) for this execute to conserve economy. Throws zero utility to trail directly behind REZ out of Hut. ### FaZe Clan (CT-Side) * **rain [02:08]:** Outside/Garage Anchor. Equipped with an M4A4. Holds the left side of Garage, dictating the team's rotational response to Outside presence. * **GuardiaN [02:41]:** Primary AWPer. Initially holds Outside/Garage but aggressively rotates into Secret to lock down the lower choke points in response to the T-side smokes. * **NiKo [02:49]:** Rotator/Support. Equipped with an M4A4 (Radiation Hazard). Plays Vents and immediately drops down to support GuardiaN in Secret when the Outside smokes deploy. * **olofmeister [03:18]:** Site Anchor. Equipped with an M4A4. Left isolated as the solo defender on the Upper A-site, positioned near vents to watch Hut/Squeaky. * **karrigan [03:21]:** Ramp Anchor. Equipped with an M4A4 (Asiimov), M9 Bayonet Fade [04:10], and a smoke grenade. Deploys a defensive Ramp smoke and holds passively, delaying his A-site rotation. ## Utility & Resources ### Grenade Usage & Trajectories * **Outside Wall of Smokes [00:51]:** NiP deploys an instant smoke wall and a close lurk smoke (Xizt lines this up bouncing hard off the chain-link fence at [12:55]) to deny CT vision Outside. * **Environment Prep [11:17]:** f0rest intentionally uses his knife to break the roof windows to ensure molotov and flash trajectories are not altered. * **Upper A Execute [06:23]:** A highly synchronized sequence. f0rest throws a roof molotov to Top Hut [12:11]; Xizt uses a railing lineup [13:18] to molotov Mustang; REZ lines up a shadow [14:37] to smoke Outside before throwing a molotov from Squeaky to burn out the T-Vent [15:00]. This is followed by double flashes through the skylight. * **Backward Pop-Flash [06:50]:** GeT_RiGhT drops a deep flash out of Hut, turns 180 degrees to avoid blinding himself, and runs backward onto the site to clear Platform/Anti-Mustang. * **Post-Plant [08:56]:** GeT_RiGhT looks straight up to deploy a smoke onto Heaven, blocking retake vision. ### Economy & Weapon Impact * **AWP Positioning [02:41]:** GuardiaN's AWP investment dictates FaZe's heavy lower commitment, as he seeks early angles in Secret to find impact against the suspected rush. * **Utility Conservation [15:38]:** draken throws zero utility during the hit. This strategic choice saves money (potentially for a future AWP) and guarantees his AK-47 is ready instantly for trade frags. ## Strategy & Tactics * **Decoy/Pull Strategy:** NiP's entire overarching strategy relies on space manipulation. The "Outside wall of smokes" [00:51] and GeT_RiGhT's Ramp pre-molotov [01:02] act as a massive decoy to freeze CT rotations and physically pull FaZe players down into Secret. * **Heavy Upper Execute:** With the CT defense stretched thin, NiP runs a split-formation hit. Support players (f0rest, Xizt) position on the roof, while the entry pack (REZ, draken, GeT_RiGhT) bursts through Squeaky and Hut [14:29, 15:38] to overwhelm the solo Upper anchor. * **Post-Plant Lockdown:** After the C4 is planted [14:20], Xizt transitions into a "turtle" lurk on the roof [13:48], baiting and punishing any CTs attempting to flank via Ramp or Outside. GeT_RiGhT's Heaven smoke cuts off the primary direct retake path. ## Decisions & Critical Moments ### Key Choices & Turning Points * **FaZe's Heavy Lower Commitment [02:49]:** Reacting to the map control Outside, FaZe commits their AWP (GuardiaN) and a rotating rifle (NiKo) deep into Secret. This critical over-rotation isolates olofmeister on Upper A. * **Synchronized Utility Execute [06:23]:** NiP launches three perfectly timed molotovs paired with flashes. The solo defender (olofmeister) is caught on fire and fully blind, making the site untenable and guaranteeing initial map control for NiP. * **draken's Trade Kill [15:38]:** draken trails REZ out of Hut. Because REZ pushes to clear the right side (Squeaky/Mini), draken intentionally utilizes "tunnel vision," locking his crosshair solely on Heaven drop. This perfect spacing allows him to instantly trade kill the rotating karrigan. ### Mistakes & Alternatives * **FaZe's Simultaneous Defensive Smokes [05:32]:** As NiP's early pressure molotovs fade, olofmeister and NiKo drop defensive smokes on Hut and Squeaky at the exact same time. * *Alternative:* Staggering these smokes sequentially would have bought FaZe an additional 20 seconds. This buffer would have allowed GuardiaN time to clear Secret and for NiKo to rotate back to Upper A before the hit materialized. ## Practical Takeaways ### Lessons * **Space Manipulation via Decoys:** Use heavy, coordinated utility (like a smoke wall) in one map area to manipulate the enemy's defensive formation and isolate the true target site. * **Backward Pop-Flashing:** Utilize GeT_RiGhT's technique of throwing a deep flash and entering backward. It allows the flash to fully blind defenders while you remain sighted upon snapping your crosshair back. * **Pre-emptive Environment Prep:** Always break glass, vents, or doors (like f0rest at [11:17]) prior to an execute to guarantee reliable utility trajectories. ### Anti-Patterns * **Simultaneous Defensive Utility:** Do not drop multiple defensive smokes on adjacent choke points at the same time. Stagger them to maximize your stalling potential. * **Over-Rotating on Unconfirmed Fakes:** Do not completely abandon a bombsite or commit 3+ players to an area without hard information (bomb spotted, entry frags, mass footsteps). * **Over-Committing Utility as an Entry:** Secondary entry players should avoid throwing utility during the burst phase. Keep your rifle up to guarantee the trade (like draken at [15:38]). ### Improvement Areas & Drills * **Backward Flash Entry Drill:** In an empty server, throw a deep flash into A-site Nuke, turn 180 degrees, run out of Hut backward, and snap your crosshair back to Vent exactly as the flash detonates. * **Utility Staggering Drill (CT-Side):** With a partner, practice holding a site while continuously calling out smoke deployments (e.g., "Smoking Hut," "Smoking Squeaky in 10"). Maximize the continuous duration choke points are blocked without overlap. * **The "Tunnel Vision" Trade Drill:** Pair up for entries. Player 1 hard-clears close ground angles. Player 2 trails 2-3 steps behind with crosshair locked *only* on elevated or secondary rotations (e.g., Heaven) and is forbidden from shooting ground-floor targets. ## Conclusion This sequence is a masterclass in T-side space manipulation, utility synchronization, and trading discipline. By utilizing an intricate decoy setup to exploit CT rotational tendencies, Ninjas in Pyjamas successfully isolate an anchor, flush him out with impeccable roof utility, and utilize strict role assignment to effortlessly secure the site and swing the economy in their favor.