Insurgency: Sandstorm Game Mode Reference
Every official game mode explained — win conditions, respawn mechanics, Commander availability, and who each mode is best for. Use the quick-pick section at the bottom if you're not sure where to start.
Push
PvPAttackers capture objectives in sequence to reach the final cache and destroy it. Defenders hold each objective and deny access.
Respawn
Wave
Commander
Yes
Cache
Yes
Best For
Tactical squads
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Frontline
PvPTwo teams fight over a dynamic frontline. Capture the contested objective to push the front toward the enemy. Win by pushing to the final cache.
Respawn
Wave
Commander
Yes
Cache
Yes
Best For
Large team battles
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Firefight
PvPTeams fight over three objectives. Win all three or eliminate the entire enemy team. Capturing an objective brings back dead teammates.
Respawn
Objective-linked
Commander
No
Cache
No
Best For
Competitive, high stakes
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Defusal
PvPAttackers must plant and detonate explosives at one of two designated bomb sites, or eliminate defenders. Defenders must defuse the bomb or eliminate all attackers.
Respawn
No respawn
Commander
No
Cache
No
Best For
Tactical bomb defusal
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Domination
PvPFast-paced battle over three neutral control points. Teams earn points over time for held objectives. Instant respawns let you get right back into action.
Respawn
Instant / Fast
Commander
No
Cache
No
Best For
Fast-paced respawn PvP
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Ambush
PvPOne team escorts a designated VIP player to one of two extraction points. The opposing ambush team hunts and eliminates the VIP before extraction.
Respawn
No respawn
Commander
No
Cache
No
Best For
Escort / asymmetric gameplay
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Team Deathmatch
PvPReach the target kill limit before the opposing team. No capture zones or cache objectives — purely gunplay scoring.
Respawn
Wave
Commander
No
Cache
No
Best For
New PvP players
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Skirmish
PvPFight over three capture points while protecting your team's weapon cache. Destroying the enemy cache stops their wave respawns.
Respawn
Wave (until cache destroyed)
Commander
Yes
Cache
Yes
Best For
Strategic objective play
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Checkpoint
Co-opCo-op squad vs AI bots. Capture all objectives sequentially across the map and destroy weapon caches along the route.
Respawn
Objective-linked
Commander
Yes
Cache
Yes
Best For
All skill levels
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Hardcore Checkpoint
Co-opHigh-lethality Checkpoint variant: slower movement, realistic weapon sway, limited HUD, and lost equipment on death.
Respawn
Objective-linked
Commander
Yes
Cache
Yes
Best For
Experienced co-op players
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Outpost
Co-opDefend a single supply cache against progressively larger and more difficult waves of attacking AI bots. Earn supply points per surviving wave.
Respawn
Wave-linked
Commander
Yes
Cache
Yes
Best For
Wave defense squads
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Survival
Co-opScavenge and extract: spawn with a basic handgun, secure randomized weapon crates across hostile territory, and fight through to the extract chopper.
Respawn
Crate-linked
Commander
No
Cache
No
Best For
Scavenging and high-tension co-op
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