As mentioned every map plays differently, has different loot tables, and some have nightmares and nightmare inserts. A lot of it is just learning where to go first, what to grab, and coordinating with the other survivors to go find a spot to hold.
Survivor composition can dramatically increase (or decrease) your chance of survival. Engineer survs are almost required on certain maps/pop to have even a shred of hope.
Marine deployment time heavily effects how likely you are to survive. 21min holds are pretty simple given proper setup, 31min holds are not.
Maps:
LV - multiple hold locations (engi, corp, NW jungle, etc) that are all decently viable, good loot table with scattered loot locations and nightmares to vary up loot and expectation. CLF insert is arguably the hardest surv insert/gameplay in CM currently. The most nightmare variation of any map in CM currently as well as the only map to feature multiple inserts.
Shivas - limited loot, only a few viable holds but said holds are fairly strong (funny cave). No Nightmare (I do not count the âeveryone is the exact same but spawn in the same spotâ as a nightmare). One of the better âroamingâ surv maps because snow slowdown hits benos too.
Solaris - CMâs arguably most balanced map. Only really two âviableâ hold locations; garage and north marshal caves. Loot table is decent, but getting the good stuff is a challenge/rush. Survival here can heavily depend on which LZ marines end up choosing as its not uncommon for you to die to T3s in the final push. Molotovs are almost required to surv here. Nightmares are here and some are nice small changes that give you extra access or mobility. PMC insert is one of the strongest survivor inserts, but your limited ammo and central location can make looting the map assets a bit harder.
Fiorina - Has some of the most fun surv loot in the game (Mar-50 LMG my beloved) with decent difficulty in retrieving some of it (sentries), prior to LZ gas removal had only a handful of viable holds now has some of the most disgustingly survivor oriented holds in the game outside of NV. Really the challenge here is leading people to the new (better) hold spots rather than them trying to stay at wardens. No nightmares or inserts on this map. EDIT: I forgot about the security team insert. Its minor, but everyone starting as combat or combat adjacent and together is a minor nightmare.
Trijent Dam is a large sprawling map that will also feel very small and cramped given as survivor most of your time will be spent in 1/3rd to 1/4th of it. Loot table is relatively poor but getting a security lock powered with sentries can make or break your surv chances. Elevator holds are still viable. Another map where marine LZ will heavily impact your survival chance. UPP Insert has strong but limited gear. Akin to PMC insert but with more challenge both in retrieving gear and what they come with (PMC has armor not all UPP do).
Soro - Very strong surv loot table, decent hold locations if somewhat limited by LZ gas removal ironically, Thermals exist on this map, no nightmares no inserts. Standard survivor play, learn the routes, grab the metal and guns, hold up with friends.
Kutjevo - Handful of holds depending on pop, outside of the Mar-40s scattered literally everywhere and the extended mags loot is pretty much just 2 teslas, 1 mk221, and thermals. There is the loot crates near the north LZ which are arguably the only fun part of Kutjevo surv, but they donât really make up for the rest. Imo the most boring surv map. No challenge to loot, no real challenge in the holds. Survival depends mostly on how badly the xeno players want you dead. No nightmares or Inserts on this map.
Chanceâs - Arguably the gold standard for what survivor gameplay âshouldâ look like (with some minor complaints). Every survivor has mini-âobjectivesâ to accomplish. SG wants to grab their gun/armor/ammo. Scout (probably) wants to hive dive to grab their gear. SL(and co) needs to grab the loot from the western dropship, Eastern dropship is debatably important and is the most contention youâll get on this map. Only downside is routing and map knowledge is the most extreme and required of any survivor map and without it you will die and that you arenât really given much time to accomplish everything. Each surv death here hurts the most. Surv preferences donât matter for this map. No Nightmare or Inserts present.
NV - decent loot table, extremely strong holds to the point of near invulnerability (Queen can still rock you). Getting molotovs to island will make you survive 99/100 times on this map. Cargo hold is soulful and with an engineer can be equally strong as island using r-walls. No nightmares or inserts on this map.
Hybrisa - strong loot table, strong holds, soulful best surv drip in the game. Map knowledge is key, but generally its not too hard to loot here. There are some challenge routes if the map feels too easy, but to me it feels like its in a good spot for surv gameplay. No nightmares or inserts (yet) on this map.