Introduction: The Unsung Heroes of the Battlegrounds
A player with a rifle can get kills, but a player who has mastered throwables can win championships. Utility items—Smoke Grenades, Frag Grenades, and Stun Grenades—are tactical tools that shape the battlefield, create opportunities, and mitigate disasters. This guide will teach you how to turn these simple items into match-winning assets.
Smoke Grenades: The Ultimate Repositioning Tool
Smoke grenades are arguably the most important utility item in PUBG. They don't deal damage, but they provide visual cover, allowing you to move, revive teammates, and control sightlines.
- Creating a Wall: The most common use. When you need to cross an open area, don't just throw one smoke at your feet. Throw multiple smokes in a line between you and the enemy to create a solid "wall" of cover. This makes it much harder for them to track your movement.
- Faking a Push: Throw a smoke grenade to your left, but rotate to your right. Enemies will often focus their attention on the smoke, giving you a window to make a move in the opposite direction.
- Cover for Revives: When a teammate is knocked in the open, immediately throw a smoke grenade directly on their body. This provides crucial seconds of cover to get the revive off. Always carry smokes for this purpose.
Frag Grenades: The Offense Powerhouse
The frag grenade is your primary tool for dislodging enemies from strong positions. A well-placed "nade" can end a fight before it even begins.
- Cooking the Grenade: This is a mandatory skill. After pulling the pin (by pressing R), a five-second timer starts. You need to "cook" the grenade by holding it for 3-4 seconds before throwing. This gives the enemy no time to react and run away. Master this timing in the training mode.
- Clearing Buildings: Before pushing into a room where you suspect an enemy is hiding, bounce a cooked frag off a wall. Even if it doesn't get the kill, it will force the enemy to move, making them an easy target.
- Arc and Trajectory: You can switch between a high-arc and a low-arc throw (right-click by default). Use the low-arc throw to roll grenades under windows or into tight spaces.
Stun Grenades (Flashbangs): The Entry Frag Tool
Stun grenades are situational but incredibly powerful for aggressive pushes. They blind and deafen anyone looking in their direction.
- The Perfect Push: When you know an enemy is in a room, throw a stun grenade in first. As soon as it detonates, push in immediately. The enemy will be completely disoriented, giving you an easy kill.
- Look Away: Remember that a stun grenade will blind you too! Throw it and immediately turn your character away from the detonation point to avoid its effects. - Countering Campers: Stuns are the best tool for dealing with a player holding a tight angle behind a door. They can't shoot what they can't see.
Conclusion: Think Tactically
Start thinking of utility not as a backup plan, but as a primary part of your strategy. Constantly ask yourself how a smoke could improve your position or how a frag could initiate a fight. A player who consistently uses their throwables effectively is a player who consistently wins. Loot them, carry them, and use them.