Defusing

Defusing is how defenders neutralize a planted spike before it explodes, winning the round outright. Holding the use key for seven seconds disarms it, but the process has a checkpoint at the halfway mark: once three and a half seconds pass, you can stop and later resume from that point rather than restarting.

This checkpoint enables the fake defuse, where a player taps defuse to bait enemies into reacting, then finishes it after trading the fight. Because defusing leaves you stationary and exposed, teammates usually clear angles or use utility first. Mastering when to commit to a defuse versus saving is central to retake rounds.