When I first started playing CS:GO, it was very easy to get ninja defuses because (other than the fact I was at a low level) people didn't really acknowledge it as a thing. However, nowadays, it is very hard to get a ninja or at least get one that you can be proud of. I don't recommend going for ninja every eco round though because it can easily lose your team rounds. There are a few main parts to ninja defuses:

*Locating the bomb (whether it be by site, A or B, or its location on the site. *Knowing when to smoke/flash/start defusing (timing) *Remaining calm

I wouldn't say I'm 'experienced' or 'really good' at getting ninjas but I don't find it too hard and, under the right circumstances, can sometimes feel very confident about getting one. At the DMG - GE level ninja defuses become very rare and there are only two ways of getting them: Smoking the site as they push and defusing the bomb just after it gets planted or waiting until there is not much time left on the bomb and defusing it when everyone has run away. It is very hard to defuse the bomb mid-round especially if the are decent at the game.

First things first, no matter when you're going for the defuse the first thing you have to do it locate the bomb. There are 3 ways to do this: sight, sound and hints. Sight involves, obviously, looking around and looking for that little block with the flashing red light (if it's green and not red then sorry bro but I think it's too late). The second is sound; if you don't have surround sound then this will be very hard. This is normally good for if you are in smoke however, if flashed, you will not be able to properly hear the bomb and if there's lots of firing and chaos around you it can be even harder. The third and easiest way is hints. The command is this (in the console): bind "x" "toggle gameinstructor_enable" - you don't have to use 'x' it could be 'h' or 'j' or any other key. Pressing 'x' will then show hints and, if you are close enough to the bomb, it will hint at where the bomb is. This is useful for maps like de_nuke where the bomb could be on either site and sound isn't enough. Pressing 'x' again will disable the hints. Sadly, I don't think this works on faceit and possibly not on ESEA; you also can't use the command whilst watching other players. These tools, especially the hints, will help you to locate the bomb and are essential in all ninja defuses.

Secondly, there is knowing when to throw a smoke/flash/start defusing. This is probably the most complicated stage of the ninja defuse. Locating the bomb is easy but defusing it successfully is harder. If you're in a position where, at the start of the round, you here the enemies pushing the site your best bet is to smoke a place near to where the enemies are pushing in hope that the bomb planter will plant there as soon as he enters the site. If you have 2 players you can get one to throw the smoke at the start and then after locating the bomb the other player can smoke it separately. It is best to smoke as late as possible because smokes don't last forever; be careful in the smoke, don't shoot or make any noise - stealth is key. Throwing flashes sounds simple but it really isn't. If you flash as soon as you smoke then the enemies will know you're there so that's a bad idea. A good idea is to try and flash as (or just before) you start defusing as this discombobulates the player(s) and also deafens them slightly - they might not hear you defusing. If you have 2 flashes it is always a good idea to use them both because as soon as one runs out the enemies could get you and that second flash can be the make or break of the defuse. If you're waiting until the bomb is about to explode and want to ninja whilst the enemies are running away then it is best to flash as you run out to defuse (only if you have two) and then throw the second when you're defusing - the smoke should be thrown when you are about to start defusing or after if necessary; smoking too early can make the smoke bounce like a bouncy ball (if in the air) or make it roll very far away (if you're running when you throw it). The most important thing is to know when to start defusing. It sounds obvious - 'defuse as soon as they plant' and, yes, if you're in smoke next to the planter that is the best thing to do. However, if you're waiting for the terrorists to run away then it can be different. If you have hardly any time then you should defuse straight away but if you have ~10 seconds (and have a kit) then it is sometimes a good idea to wait for a few seconds so that they get further away and can't hear the defuse.

The final part is remaining calm. Patience is key. Some of the best ninjas involve a lot if patience - the best ninja I have ever got (which can be seen here) involved a lot of patience; if you rush yourself you will make a mistake. Keeping calm is a huge factor of getting ninja defuses - don't shake when you get it as you might stop defusing! Another key thing is the mindset. Don't start defusing and think: 'I've got it! GG' - because if you fail it will be very upsetting. A ninja is a bonus - don't expect to get them.

I hope you all enjoyed my ninja guide. Be sure to comment what you think, if you liked it and tell me if it helped you.

~Brumafriend