Control Point (game mode)

This article is about the game mode. For the physical objective, see Control point (objective).

Dustbowl

“

This point ain't gonna cap itself! Get over here! Click to listen — The Engineer

”

Control Point (CP) is a core game mode, featured in four of the original six maps released with the game's launch. The game mode includes various formats which revolve around capturing and/or defending various control points.

Gameplay

Offense

Control points are captured by standing on top of them. The speed at which a control point is captured depends on how many players from the capturing team are present on the point: two BLU players capturing a RED point capture that point faster than only one BLU player would. Scouts count as two players, as do Soldiers and Demomen wielding the Pain Train. There is a limit on how fast a control Point can be captured (see Control point timing).

Defense

If players from both teams are on the same, unlocked control point, that point is said to be contested, which means no progress is made toward the point changing team control. When players from the offensive team are removed from the point, all of their progress is lost gradually over time, not immediately.

Reverting capture

When both teams are trying to capture a neutral point, captures can be reverted. If a team begins to capture a neutral point and then is driven off before capture is completed, the other team must first "revert" the progress that the first team had made before they can begin to make progress of their own.

Limitations

• Disguised Spies can only capture control points while disguised as their own team.
• Cloaked Spies cannot defend or capture a control point.
• ÜberCharged players cannot capture points but can block enemy captures.
• Scouts under the effects of the Bonk! Atomic Punch can neither block enemy captures nor capture points themselves.

Game modes

Main article: List of game modes

Yukon

Symmetric

Symmetric Control Point maps play symmetrically. Both teams start with an equal number of controlled points and must capture all the points on the map to win. Due to its wide range of action, Symmetric Control Point maps place an emphasis on team movement and may be difficult for inexperienced players and those not used to playing in a coordinated group.

Symmetric maps come in two styles:

Style	Description	Examples
Linear	Both teams start with an equal number of two controlled points and a central point that starts out controlled by neither team. At the beginning of the round, each team's control points are locked while the center point is unlocked and can be taken. Once a team takes the center point, the opponent's nearest point unlocks and can now be taken as well. From then on, no more than two points can be unlocked at a time; taking a point locks the point behind it and unlocks the one in front of it if it exists. Control points close to a team's spawn point are captured more quickly by the enemy team. Symmetric control point maps go into Sudden Death (or Stalemate) if no team captures all the points before time runs out, but if time runs out with a capture in progress, Overtime occurs, allowing play to extend should a capture be completed.	Badlands, Granary, Process, Foundry
Domination	Both teams start with no controlled points; all points are neutral and unlocked for capture. Once a point is taken by a team, the other team can attempt to take it back; all points are available for capture at any time and have equivalent capture times. Domination maps enter Sudden Death or Stalemate if time runs out before a team has taken all the points. They do not enter Overtime; once a team has all three points, they win regardless of how much capture progress the other team has.	Standin

Attack/Defend

Attack/Defend maps, also known as Asymmetric Control Point maps, play asymmetrically, with BLU attacking and RED defending. RED begins with control of all of the points. BLU wins if they capture all of RED's points; RED wins if they prevent BLU from capturing all of the points before the timer expires. Control points may only be captured in a set order (with the exception of some maps, such as Gravel Pit and Steel). Points captured by BLU are locked and cannot be taken back by RED, and time is added after each capture. Because of its simpler format that concentrates on one point at a time, Attack/Defend is easier for newcomers to play.

Attack/Defend maps can come in various styles:

Style	Description	Examples
Linear single-stage	BLU must capture all control points in a set order.	Gorge, Mountain Lab, Mann Manor
Linear multi-stage	BLU must capture a group of control points in a set order to move to the next stage. Reaching the final stage and succeeding is required to ultimately win the map. If BLU fails to win a stage, then the map is reset to stage 1 and the teams switch.	Dustbowl, Egypt, Snowplow
Pyramid-style	BLU must capture three points. The first two points may be captured in either order. Once both points are captured, the final point is unlocked.	Gravel Pit, Junction, DeGroot Keep
Centralized-style	BLU's objective is to capture the central control point, which can be done at any time. There is another set of control points available, one of which is open for capture at a time in a set order. Capturing these auxiliary points makes it easier to capture the final point.	Steel, Sulfur, Hadal
Flag-style	BLU must capture all control points in a set order. BLU also possesses a flag similar to Capture the Flag. Only a player on BLU can pick up and carry this flag, and must be carrying it in order to capture a control point. Players not carrying the flag cannot capture, but can assist during a capture.	Haarp

Strategy

Main article: Community Control Point strategy

Maps

Main article: List of maps

Control Point maps carry the cp_ prefix; community maps are identified with an italic font.

Symmetric

Name	Picture	File name
5Gorge		cp_5gorge
Badlands		cp_badlands
Canaveral		cp_canaveral_5cp
Coldfront		cp_coldfront
Fastlane		cp_fastlane
Foundry		cp_foundry
Freaky Fair		cp_freaky_fair
Freight		cp_freight_final1
Granary		cp_granary
Gullywash		cp_gullywash_final1
Metalworks		cp_metalworks
Powerhouse		cp_powerhouse
Process		cp_process_final
Reckoner		cp_reckoner
Sinshine		cp_sunshine_event
Sunshine		cp_sunshine
Snakewater		cp_snakewater_final1
Standin		cp_standin_final
Vanguard		cp_vanguard
Well		cp_well
Yukon		cp_yukon_final

Attack/Defend

Name	Picture	File name	Type
Altitude		cp_altitude	Linear single-stage
Brew		cp_brew	Linear single-stage
Burghausen		cp_burghausen	Linear multi-stage
Carrier		cp_carrier	Flag
Coal Pit		cp_gravelpit_snowy	Pyramid
Darkmarsh		cp_darkmarsh	Linear single-stage
DeGroot Keep		cp_degrootkeep	Pyramid
Dustbowl		cp_dustbowl	Linear multi-stage
Egypt		cp_egypt_final	Linear multi-stage
Erebus		cp_ambush_event	Linear multi-stage
Frostwatch		cp_frostwatch	Linear multi-stage
Gorge		cp_gorge	Linear single-stage
Gorge Event		cp_gorge_event	Linear single-stage
Gravel Pit		cp_gravelpit	Pyramid
Haarp		ctf_haarp	Flag
Hadal		cp_hadal	Centralized
Hardwood		cp_hardwood_final	Linear single-stage
Junction		cp_junction_final	Pyramid
Lava Pit		cp_lavapit_final	Pyramid
Mann Manor		cp_manor_event	Linear single-stage
Mercenary Park		cp_mercenarypark	Linear single-stage
Mossrock		cp_mossrock	Linear single-stage
Mountain Lab		cp_mountainlab	Linear single-stage
Sandcastle		cp_degrootkeep_rats	Medieval
Snowplow		cp_snowplow	Linear multi-stage
Spookeyridge		cp_spookeyridge	Linear single-stage
Steel		cp_steel	Centralized
Sulfur		cp_sulfur	Centralized
Overgrown		cp_overgrown	Linear single-stage

Update history

October 10, 2007 (Initial Game Release)

• Added Control Point mode.
• Added maps: Granary, Well, Dustbowl, and Gravel Pit.

February 14, 2008 Patch

• Added map: Badlands.

April 29, 2008 Patch (Gold Rush Update)

• Added Stopwatch Mode to Tournament Mode which is automatically used on Attack/Defense maps.
• Fixed rare client crash on level change during control point capturing.

June 19, 2008 Patch (Pyro Update)

• Added map: Fastlane.

August 19, 2008 Patch (Heavy Update)

• Added map: Steel.

February 24, 2009 Patch (Scout Update)

• Added map: Egypt and Junction.

August 13, 2009 Patch (Classless Update)

• Added map: Yukon.

December 17, 2009 Patch (WAR! Update)

• Added map: Gorge.

April 28, 2010 Patch

• Added map: Freight.

July 8, 2010 Patch (Engineer Update)

• Added map: Coldfront.

October 27, 2010 Patch (Scream Fortress Update)

• Added maps: Mann Manor and Mountain Lab.

December 17, 2010 Patch (Australian Christmas)

• Added map: DeGroot Keep.

January 19, 2011 Patch

• Added map: 5Gorge.

October 13, 2011 Patch (Manniversary Update & Sale)

• Added map: Gullywash.

December 15, 2011 Patch (Australian Christmas 2011)

• Added map: Foundry.

November 29, 2012 Patch

• Fixed missing materials in the control point HUD on attack/defend maps.

February 14, 2013 Patch

• Fixed a client crash related to the HUD control point maps.

July 10, 2013 Patch

• Added maps: Standin and Process.

July 2, 2015 Patch (Gun Mettle Update)

• Added maps: Powerhouse and Snowplow.

October 28, 2015 Patch (Scream Fortress 2015)

• Added maps: Gorge Event and Sinshine.

December 17, 2015 Patch (Tough Break Update)

• Added map: Vanguard.

July 7, 2016 Patch (Meet Your Match Update)

• Added maps: Sunshine and Metalworks.

October 20, 2017 Patch (Jungle Inferno Update)

• Added maps: Mercenary Park and Mossrock.

October 5, 2021 Patch (Scream Fortress 2021)

• Added map: Erebus.

December 2, 2021 Patch (Smissmas 2021)

• Added map: Altitude.

October 5, 2022 Patch (Scream Fortress 2022)

• Added map: Spookeyridge.

December 5, 2022 Patch (Smissmas 2022)

• Added maps: Coal Pit and Frostwatch.

July 12, 2023 Patch (Summer 2023 Update)

• Added maps: Hardwood, Reckoner, and Sulfur.

October 9, 2023 Patch #1 (Scream Fortress 2023)

• Added maps: Lava Pit and Sandcastle

December 7, 2023 Patch (Smissmas 2023)

• Added maps: Brew and Carrier.

July 18, 2024 Patch #1 (Summer 2024 Update)

• Added maps: Burghausen, Canaveral, Hadal, and Overgrown.

July 18, 2024 Patch #2

• Moved ctf_haarp out of the CTF matchmaking category and into Attack/Defend.

October 10, 2024 Patch #1 (Scream Fortress 2024)

• Added maps: Darkmarsh and Freaky Fair.

Gallery

• 

  The HUD on Attack/Defend.

• 

  The main menu illustration used for Control Point prior to the Meet Your Match Update.

• 

  The main menu illustration used for Attack/Defend prior to the Meet Your Match Update.

See also

• Capping (competitive)