Counter-Strike 2is a challenging first-person shooter to get into, thanks to its fast TTK, nuanced mechanics, high skill ceiling, and for being wildly popular among avid competitive players. Players have also had years to get accustomed to the game’s mechanics, further increasing the difficulty for newer players. However, becoming a goodCounter-Strike 2player is possible with thesebeginner tips.
Understanding Good Crosshair Placement
Priming Your Aim For Victory
Good crosshair placementis a valuable skill in almost any shooter, but it is important inCounter-Strike 2in particular – thanks to the game’s fast TTK. Havingthe best crosshairplacement can mean the difference between life and death, so be mindful of where you place your crosshair when moving through the environment.
Incorporating practices such aspre-aiming corners, holding angles, and centering your crosshairwhilst moving through the environment are all great considerations that will improve your gameplay. However, the biggest key takeaway is to always keep your crosshair high. CS2, like many other games, rewards headshots with an instant kill. With that in mind, be sure tokeep your crosshair at the level you expect the player’s head to be, and avoid having your crosshair fall below the torso. Be sure to head into a practice server to prime your crosshair placement for public matches.
To head into a Practice Server, hit Play from the main menu and select Practice. From here, you may pick and choose which maps and modes you would like to play on, as well as customize the server settings to your liking.
Earn & Spend Your Cash Wisely
Improve Your Loadout For Later Rounds
Counter-Strike 2incorporates a unique system that new players may not be used to, and that is the process ofpurchasing gear, weapons, and itemsto use with cash earned during the match. Cash is obtained through winning matches and gaining kills, with your weapon of choice dictating how much money you will receive after each elimination. Earning as much cash as possible is a surefire way to obtainthe best loadout, but you must understand the economy ofCounter-Strike 2beforehand.
For the first round, each player will start with $800, so it is advised that you choose a Pistol of your choice right off the bat – if you are not a fan of the default Pistol, that is. For subsequent rounds in which you need to garner cash, purchaseone of the various SMGsor Shotguns – as they offer some of the highest earning potential. Once you have enough cash,prioritize purchasing the absolute necessities first(that being your main weapon of choice beyond the earlier rounds) before considering Equipment. Managing your cash is an important thing players must consider early on in the game, as the economy inCS2will create a lasting domino effect for the rest of the game.
Learn How To Counter Strafe
Improving Accuracy With Better Movement
Newcomers toCounter-Strike 2might observe that their character’s movement doesn’t come to a full stop immediately after releasing any of the movement keys. Pair this with the fact that your accuracy is diminished whilst moving, and you may find yourself losing a lot of gunfights if you try to adopt the same movement from games likeCall Of DutyandApex Legends. EnterCounter Strafing, a well-known strategy that many players use withinCounter-Strike 2.
Counter Strafing essentially aims to allow you to maintain maximum accuracy in between movements, making it a must-use tactic. To Counter Strafe,move in any one direction, let go of the movement key, and then quickly tap the opposite key. For example, if you are moving right, let go of the D Key and quickly press the A Key to come to a halt much sooner. This tactic is great for being able to quickly engage opponents when you are already moving or can be applied to maintain your accuracy when peaking from behind cover.
Get Familiar With The Maps
Map Knowledge Is Essential For Success
Map knowledgeis one of the most important skills inCounter-Strike 2, as knowing each map will provide you with key intel on how to engage in certain situations. For beginners, learning about the spawns of bombsites/hostages and the surrounding areas can provide you with great knowledge on how to attack and defend them. For example, forDust II, bombsite B is typically a more forgiving target for Terrorists to attack thanks to the cover it provides. The site has 2 main points of entry, along with scaffolding that can be used as a third point of entry on the east side of the site.
Simply playing the game is the most straightforward way to understand the layout of each map. However, there are plenty of resources that provide an overview of each map, perfect for the more serious of players to study. TheCounter-StrikeWikiis a good place to go, providing interactive maps where you can learn bombsite/hostage spawns, key callouts for each map, and much more.
Learn How To Make Callouts
Clean & Concise Communication Will Aid The Team
Counter-Strike 2is a tactical shooter at heart,testing your communication skillsand requiring players to work together to come out victorious. While individual player skill is an important factor for playing as a team, communication takes the cake as the most important method for gaining consistent victories.Making callouts on enemy positionsor simply instructing other players on where to go will allow you and your team to better coordinate during your matches.
To make great verbal callouts, be sure to use thelocation description underneath your minimap. you’re able to alsoping certain locations with the player ping input action(scroll wheel by default), making it a great visual indicator to go alongside your callouts. As a member of the team, keep callouts clear and concise even during the heat of battle. It is also important to try and keep a cool head when playing, as a weak link in the team can spell disaster.
Learn How To Control Recoil
Getting Familiar With The Weapons Of Your Choice
Counter-Strike 2features a roster of different weapons that players can pick, each of which offers its strengths and weaknesses depending on the situation. While a lot of other shooters can allow you to swap seamlessly between different weapons with ease, this is not the case forCS2. All weapons withinCounter-Strike 2have aunique recoil pattern, making it rather difficult for new players to get into the game.
It is recommended to pick a few weapons and stick with them for a while when first getting into the game. Somegreat weapons forCounter-Strike 2include the AK-47, the M4A1, the M4A1-S, the Desert Eagle, the TEC-9, and the P90. Once you have settled on a select few weapons, try going into a Practice Server and getting a feel for the recoil pattern of each gun. For guns that have morevertical recoil, you will want to hold down on the mouse to counter it, whereas most weapons withhorizontal recoil require more attention to moving your mouse either to the left or the right.
Use Cover To Your Advantage
Cover Is A Great Tool To Avoiding An Early Death
CoverinCounter-Strike 2plays an imperative role in increasing your longevity during your matches, as getting caught out in the open will lead to a quick death thanks to the game’s fast TTK. Being mindful of your surroundings and using cover effectively is one of the best ways to get the jump on unsuspecting enemies, thus setting your team up for success.
During your games inCounter-Strike 2, verify to use cover to your advantage when navigating throughthe game’s various maps. When pushing objectives as a Terrorist, make sure tostay close to low-bearing walls, boxes, or any other kind of objectin case you run into an enemy. When defending an objective,pick vantage points that provide ample cover in all directions. For situations in which you want to peak behind cover, line up your crosshair at the height of the enemy and peak in the direction in which your weapon is situated to minimize losing the fight.
Understanding & Using Grenades
Grenades Are Great For Outplaying Opponents
While gunplay is an important aspect ofCounter-Strike 2,Grenadesare an important utility that should not be overlooked. There are a variety of Grenades available to buy, and each can be used for offensive and defensive capabilities. The most notable of Grenades includes the HE Grenade, which will detonate after a short fuse, making it pretty great at flushing out enemies from cover.
Other great Grenades to consider include the Flash Grenade, which is great for blinding opponents to create an opportunity to push, andthe Smoke Grenade, which can be treated as a portable cover. Nearlyall Grenades can be bounced off of surfacesinCounter-Strike 2,paving the way for some interesting plays if you are unable to throw items like Molotovs directly onto a player. Another important tip is to know how to manipulate your throwing distance. Players canperform a long throw with Mouse 1 or a short throw with Mouse 2.
