In our series of Video Playbooks, we'll make an analysis of the world's premier talent and break down their game play.  From Counter-Terrorist setups and bombsite retakes, to extensively detailed Terrorist tactics and mid-round game changing decisions.  In this video playbook, we take a look at Natus Vincere (Na`Vi) and their diverse play on de_train at the ESL IEM IV World Championships.

Na'Vi starts out on a CT pistol round Fnatic on de_train by having Zeus push up to the lower ramp and spot feet from the pop dog ladder.  This is a great place to spot from, because it is very easy to fall back without taking any damage, as well as nading any terrorists in the box hall, giving you an immediate health advantage.  Two other CT's play in Z hall (Starix & Markeloff), while the remaining members of Na`Vi (ceh9 & Edward) play near the 6 lane spotting alley and middle.  This allows for a quick rotation of 3 inner or 4 outside depending on where the Terrorists attack.  In this case, Fnatic comes strong down the lower ramp after being spotted, and runs into markeloff and starix at the back of inner.  The quick rotation means 3 CT's are there to stop the rush, with two quickly following up.Later in the game, Na`Vi shows us a very methodical way to playing defensively on CT when you have a bad spawn.  Three players with bad spawns stick together near the 5 lane, with one going near Z hall.  The three in the back of 5 lane prevent anyone from pushing tower using flashes and a sneeky peak under the 5/6 train.  While they do this, markeloff holds with an awp for any quick rushing terrorists to the back of the 5 train.  In this case, Fnatic did a quick rush alley, allowing Na`Vi to immediately stop it with 3 guys in place.  Ceh9 and Markeloff go to work with a simple crossfire in the 5 lane/bomb train area, and rip Fnatic's rush apart.

Heading into the Terrorist half, we see Na`Vi demonstrate a beautifully executed outside rush.  Their best spawn hops out of the terrorist middle onto the back of the 5 train, flashing alley and in front of Z.  While Markeloff smokes off Z hall and picks the tower & top of 5 lane, Edward smokes infront of the bomb train and pushes up for a quick plant.  All the while, Zeus creeps up to the alley with cover from Starix on the top of the 5 train.  With bomb planted, Na`Vi sees an instant change of momentum in the round, and controls the game.  This forces fnatic to push up to attempt a bombsite retake.  They are immediately killed as they enter the bombsite.  At the end of the round we see Starix run across the outside bombsite to save markeloffs awp.  This is crucial to their money for the half.

Finally, we see Na`Vi with a slow inner strat.  While 4 Ak players take over the box hall quickly, markeloff holds the flank with an awp.  Once cleared, he enters the box hall to pick the upper ramp.  With no luck on a pick, they execute upper with smokes and have 3 triple peek the lower ramp.  With ease, they take apart the defense and push aggressively on the bombsite.  Ceh9 shows a beautiful spam into the Z hall from the flatbed train.  Overall, Na`Vi shows us some very effective, yet simple techniques to getting easy kills and easy rounds versus the worlds best.

Stay tuned for more video playbooks of the world's best counter-strike teams!

Related: (Will open in a new window)
Na`Vi Video Playbook: de_inferno