Cave Molotov from Mid

Steps

1. In mid, push forward and position yourself at the left wall near the opening that looks toward the A side of the map. Stand with your left shoulder pressed against the wall for a consistent reference point.
2. Look up toward the A side and find the stone archway that frames the cave entrance. Identify the top-right corner of the arch where the curved stone meets the straight wall above.
3. Place your crosshair on the right edge of the archway, about two-thirds of the way up. Aim at the point where the stone curves and transitions into the flat wall surface.
4. Use your jump throw bind (hold left click, then press your jump throw key). The jump is needed to loft the molotov high enough to clear the mid structures and arc into the cave entrance.
5. The molotov arcs over and bounces into the cave, spreading fire throughout the narrow passage and forcing any CT holding inside to either push out toward you or retreat back toward A site.

Tips

• Cave is a critical chokepoint on Ancient. A CT hiding in cave can hold the angle on mid and deny your team any forward progress. This molotov forces them to reposition without you taking any risk.
• This is a jump throw, so use your bind. The distance from mid to cave requires a specific arc that manual timing cannot replicate reliably.
• If the molotov lands outside the cave entrance and burns on the open ground, your crosshair was too low. Raise your aim higher on the archway so the molotov lofts deeper into the cave.
• If the molotov overshoots the cave and lands inside the A site area behind it, your aim was too high. Lower your crosshair slightly on the archway.
• This molotov is most effective when paired with a teammate pushing from the other side. The fire forces the cave player in one direction, and your teammate catches them off guard.
• Practice command: sv_cheats 1; sv_infinite_ammo 1; sv_grenade_trajectory 1; sv_grenade_trajectory_time 10; mp_roundtime_defuse 60

When to Use

This molotov clears cave, one of the most important connectors on Ancient. Throw it for:

• A site executes where your mid team needs cave cleared before pushing toward the site through the A side of mid
• Mid control takes to deny the cave player their angle and let your team safely establish a forward position in mid
• Split executes where your team is pushing A from both main and mid - the cave molly prevents a CT from catching the mid team in a crossfire
• Post-plant situations to re-molly cave and stop CTs from using it as a rotation path during the retake
• Default rounds where taking mid control safely is the priority and clearing cave is the first step in that process