- For the law enforcement team, speed is the key to entering the Bank before the enemy team can get set up. Entering the Bank is the easy part; reaching the hostages on the second floor is tricky. For best results, use the stairwell on the north side of the Bank. Avoid using the central stairways as they are completely exposed. Or get on top of the Bank and utilize the northeastern or southeastern stairwells to sneak up on the hostages. But keep an eye on the clock. Whichever path you take, you need to keep moving.
- While the criminal team starts relatively close to each hostage, they must act quickly to secure them. With so many possible entry points, it’s a good idea to establish your defenses around the hostages on the east side of the Bank. Be ready to cover the rooftop too. This is a popular escape route, particularly for law enforcement teams equipped with a zipline.
- When it’s your team’s turn to defend the hostages, be careful not to spread your team too thin. The vaulted layout of this map makes it really easy to become separated from your teammates, allowing you to be easily overpowered by the incoming SWAT team. Instead, use two-man teams to guard each hostage while sending your fifth player to the rooftop to spot the opposing team. If you’re not having success guarding the hostages directly, consider camping the rooftop and extraction point in an effort to stop the police from escaping with a hostage.
- The hostages are located on the second floor of the Bank’s east side. Hostage one is kneeling in the corner of a conference room on the east side while hostage two is held in an office along the southern side, only a few meters away. The green wall directly south of hostage one can be destroyed with explosives, ideal for catching SWAT in an ambush or for moving the hostage through the adjacent stairwell on the way to the rooftop. The office hostage two is held in is adjoined by several other offices to the west, providing the law enforcement team some much appreciated cover. It definitely beats moving through the exposed walkway outside the office.
- Before the round begins make sure you’re equipped with some beneficial gadgets. Criminals should deploy cameras and laser tripmines inside the two eastern stairwells, as these are often frequented by the opposing team either during entry or escape. Gas grenades are also effective when deployed inside the offices where the hostages are being held. The law enforcement team can benefit from ballistic shields, gas masks, flashbangs, and ziplines. After securing a hostage, get to the rooftop and zipline down to the extraction point for a quick escape.
Bring a ballistic shield to use on the top floor. Advancing down the hall with the shield up while crouched can be very effective when you’re protecting a teammatewho is a good shot. —Thad Sasser, Lead Multiplayer Designer