What Does the Phrase CT Mean in Valorant?

What does "CT" mean in Valorant?
What does "CT" mean in Valorant? / Photo Courtesy of Riot Games

What does the phrase CT mean in Valorant? If you’ve played a decent amount of the game, you’ve probably heard the phrase “CT” being thrown around quite often in the game chat or on voice comms. Most veterans probably know what it refers to, but newer players might not.

The origin of the phrase CT actually comes from a different, but similar game, CS:GO. It refers to the “counter-terrorists," the team responsible for defending sites and defusing bombs. So when a player mentions that the enemy is coming from “CT," they mean that they’re approaching from the area where the defenders spawn.

The Defender Spawn Area in the Bind Map
The Defender Spawn Area in the Bind Map / Photo Courtesy of Riot Games

Normally, the most common time to call out “CT” is when the player is on the attacking team and has taken over a site and planted the spike. They then shift roles with the other team, as they are now responsible for defending the site they’ve claimed and the spike they’ve planted, while the defending team now has to attack a site and defuse a bomb. Thus, the guys guarding the bomb will communicate where the enemy is coming from, and will often say they’re coming from CT spawn.

A Player Watching "CT"  in the Split Map
A Player Watching "CT" in the Split Map / Photo Courtesy of Riot Games

Communication is key in a game like Valorant, so it’s important to be knowledgeable in the game’s terminology. Now that you’re aware of what CT means, you should know where to watch the next time someone calls it out.