A Main Pop Flash from Elbow

Steps

1. From Elbow, walk to the corner where the corridor turns toward A site. Stand at the right edge of the turn, with your right shoulder pressed against the wall that separates you from the site.
2. Look toward the opening into A site at roughly head height. Find the edge of the stone wall on the right side where the corridor opens up into the site area.
3. Place your crosshair on the mid-height of the stone wall edge - approximately where a standing player’s head would be if they were holding the angle.
4. Start running forward around the corner toward A site and perform a right-click throw (underhand) as you begin to clear the wall. The flash should leave your hand just before your body becomes visible to site defenders.
5. The flash bounces off the ground and pops almost instantly in front of A site, blinding any CT holding angles toward Elbow. Your team can immediately swing out and take gunfights against blinded defenders.

Tips

• The timing on this pop flash is tighter than the B Main version because the Elbow corridor is narrower and the angle into site is sharper. Practice the run timing extensively before using it in competitive matches.
• The right-click underhand throw ensures the flash pops almost immediately after clearing the wall, giving CTs virtually no time to turn away. A left-click throw would fly too far and pop late.
• If the flash pops too early (before clearing the wall, blinding only yourself), you are releasing too soon. Wait a fraction of a second longer before right-clicking.
• If the flash pops too late (giving CTs time to turn), you are throwing too late in your run. Release slightly earlier.
• Practice this lineup offline with sv_cheats 1; sv_infinite_ammo 1; sv_grenade_trajectory 1; sv_grenade_trajectory_time 10; mp_roundtime_defuse 60 to perfect the timing rhythm.
• Coordinate with your A Main players - they should push onto site from A Main at the same time you swing from Elbow, creating a crossfire that overwhelms the defenders.

When to Use

This pop flash is a critical T-side entry tool for A site on Ancient. Use it for:

• Elbow pushes where your team needs to swing out of Elbow and take site without getting picked by the A site anchor
• Coordinated A executes where the Elbow entry player flashes while the A Main players push simultaneously for a multi-angle attack
• Default round aggression where you want to take Elbow control and flash into site for a quick pick on the A defender
• Anti-AWP plays when you suspect an AWPer is holding the Elbow angle and you need the flash to force them off the scope
• Second-contact flashes after your initial execute utility has been used and you need a follow-up flash to re-blind defenders who turned back