Default Plants & Post-Plant Line-ups for Every Map
Post-plant rounds separate good teams from great ones. While enemies scramble for defuses, you'll have predetermined utility lineups ready to secure rounds from safe positions. This guide covers optimal plant positions and corresponding post-plant setups that win rounds even when you're not on site.
TL;DR - Secure Those Rounds
Plant default positions for maximum post-plant utility coverage, learn 2-3 key lineups per map for your main agents, and coordinate team positioning before planting. Default plants + proper lineups = free round wins against uncoordinated enemies.
The Default Plant Philosophy
Default plants aren't random—they're calculated positions that maximize your team's post-plant advantage while limiting defender options. Every plant position either enables your utility or restricts enemy movement.
Tip #1: The "Safe Plant" Principle
What to do: Always plant for your team's post-plant positioning, not for defuse difficulty.
Why it works: A spike that takes 1 extra second to defuse means nothing if you can't use utility to delay or kill defusers. Default plants prioritize your team's ability to control the post-plant situation from advantageous positions.
Plant priority order:
- Team utility coverage (Can your controllers/initiators hit the spike?)
- Escape routes (Can planters safely reposition after planting?)
- Defuse difficulty (Awkward angles, exposed positions for defusers)
Pro insight: Watch your team's positioning during plant attempts. If they're rotating away from site, plant for lineups. If they're staying close, plant for direct fights.
Tip #2: Map-Specific Default Positions
What to do: Learn the optimal default plant for each site on every map you play.
Ascent Defaults:
- A Site: Plant close to default, behind boxes for Sage wall/Viper molly lineups
- B Site: Plant close to market entrance for Sova dart/Killjoy molly access
Bind Defaults:
- A Site: Default position enables bathroom lineups and truck control
- B Site: Plant for elbow/garden lineups, away from hookah angles
Haven Defaults:
- A Site: Close to default position for long/short control
- B Site: Default plant enables window room lineups
- C Site: Plant for long C lineups and connector control
Icebox Defaults:
- A Site: Belt/default plant for screens lineups
- B Site: Site/yellow plant position for tube lineups
Split Defaults:
- A Site: Default plant enables ramp/stairs lineups
- B Site: Back of site for heaven/market lineups
Why these specific positions: Each default enables at least 2 different agents' post-plant utility while providing safe plant execution and escape routes.
Essential Post-Plant Lineups by Agent
Master lineups for your main agents across the maps you play most. Quality over quantity—perfect execution of 3 lineups beats sloppy knowledge of 10.
Tip #3: Controller Lineups (Viper, Omen, Brimstone)
Viper - Universal Molly Spots:
Ascent A: From A main, lineup molly with default plant covers entire defuse area
- Position: A main entrance
- Crosshair: Aim at specific roof corner (practice range required)
- Timing: Release immediately when defuse sound starts
Bind A: Bathroom molly covers both default and safe plant positions
- Position: Bathroom doorway
- Timing: 1.5 seconds after defuse sound
- Coverage: Entire site except truck corner
Omen - Smoke Delays:
- Use post-plant smokes to delay defuses, not block vision completely
- Smoke the spike itself when defuser is 50% complete
- Combine with teammate flashes for maximum delay
Why controller lineups dominate: Controllers can delay defuses from complete safety while dealing damage. One perfectly timed molly forces enemies into impossible decisions.
Tip #4: Initiator Intel and Damage
Sova - Dart and Shock Combinations:
Haven C - Long Lineup:
- Dart position: C long corner for maximum site coverage
- Shock dart: Default plant position, coordinate with teammate timing
- Execution: Dart first, call enemy positions, shock on defuse sound
Icebox A - Belt Lineup:
- Position: Kitchen/yellow stairs for safety
- Dart reveals belt and site positions
- Follow up with teammate utility based on intel
Breach - Aftershock Precision:
- Most effective on Fracture and Bind where site access is limited
- Time aftershocks for 1.5 seconds after defuse begins
- Coordinate with entry fraggers for follow-up trades
Why initiator lineups work: Information wins post-plant rounds. Know exactly where enemies are before they can coordinate defuses.
Tip #5: Sentinel Lock-Down Strategy
Killjoy - Turret and Molly Combos:
Ascent A Setup:
- Turret placement: A main/catwalk angle for rotation detection
- Molly lineup: Default plant position from A main
- Positioning: Play retake angles after utility usage
Cypher - Information Gathering:
- Place trip wires on common rotate paths, not on site
- Use camera for real-time defuse intel
- Cage the spike area when enemies commit to defuse
Sage - Wall Delays and Slows:
- Wall common entrance points 2 seconds into defuse attempts
- Use slows to delay rotations, not direct damage
- Resurrect teammates for post-plant advantages
Why sentinel post-plant: Sentinels turn post-plant into information wars where your team has superior intel and positioning.
Team Coordination Protocols
Post-plant success requires seamless team communication and predetermined roles. Establish these protocols before rounds begin.
Tip #6: The Post-Plant Hierarchy
What to do: Assign post-plant roles based on agent capabilities and positioning.
Role assignments:
- Primary Lineup Player: Controllers/initiators with site lineups
- Information Gatherer: Agents with revealing abilities (Sova, Cypher)
- Trade Support: Duelists positioned for retake fights
- Backup Lineup: Secondary utility for extended post-plant scenarios
Communication protocol:
- Call spike plant completion immediately
- Primary lineup player calls "going for lineup"
- Information gatherer provides enemy count and positions
- Trade support holds aggressive angles until utility resolves
Why structure matters: Random post-plant positioning loses rounds. Coordinated utility usage from predetermined positions wins them.
Advanced Post-Plant Concepts
Utility timing sequences: Stack multiple agents' post-plant utility with 0.5-second delays for maximum pressure.
Fake defuse baiting: Use sound cues to trigger enemy utility, then repeat defuse attempts after abilities are used.
Multi-stage lineups: Plan sequences of 3+ utilities that extend post-plant pressure across 15+ seconds.
Common Post-Plant Mistakes
Mistake #1: Using utility immediately after plant instead of waiting for defuse attempts.
Mistake #2: All teammates staying on site instead of taking lineup positions.
Mistake #3: Using damaging utility when delay utility would be more effective.
Mistake #4: Not having backup plans when primary lineups are blocked or missed.
The biggest error: Playing post-plant like retakes instead of controlled utility warfare.
Execution Training Protocol
Week 1: Master default plants on your 3 most-played maps. Practice plant execution in custom games until it's automatic.
Week 2: Learn 1 post-plant lineup per main agent on each map. Focus on perfect execution over learning multiple lineups.
Week 3: Practice team coordination in 5-stacks or scrimmages. Establish role assignments and communication protocols.
Week 4: Add advanced concepts like utility sequencing and fake defuse techniques.
Practice frequency: 15 minutes daily in Range mode for lineup muscle memory. Apply in competitive matches immediately—practice without application doesn't transfer.
Results and Rank Impact
Teams with coordinated post-plant strategies win 40% more rounds after successful site takes. This directly translates to higher attack-side win rates and faster rank progression.
Immediate benefits:
- Increased confidence during site executions
- Higher round win rate after spike plants
- Better team coordination and utility usage
Long-term impact: Post-plant mastery is a high-ELO skill that immediately separates you from players who rely purely on mechanical aim.
Master default plants and your main agent's lineups before expanding to other agents. Consistency with fundamentals beats flashy techniques every time.
Next level: Combine this post-plant knowledge with our Solo Queue Clutching Guide to dominate late-round scenarios when coordination breaks down.