Introduction to CS2 Weapons
Counter-Strike 2 features a diverse arsenal of weapons, each with unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Knowing when and how to use each weapon is crucial for success in competitive play. This comprehensive guide will break down every weapon category in CS2 and provide insights on how to maximize their effectiveness.
Understanding Weapon Economics
Before diving into specific weapons, it's important to understand the economic aspect of CS2. Every weapon has a price, and managing your team's economy is a crucial part of the game. Here's a quick overview of weapon categories by price range:
- Pistols: $200-$700
- SMGs: $1,050-$1,700
- Shotguns: $1,050-$1,800
- Rifles: $1,700-$3,100
- Sniper Rifles: $1,700-$4,750
- Machine Guns: $1,700-$5,200
Pistols
Pistols are your starting weapons and can be surprisingly effective, especially in pistol rounds or eco situations.
Glock-18 (T) - $200
Strengths: High rate of fire, large magazine (20 rounds), decent running accuracy
Weaknesses: Low damage, poor armor penetration
Best Use: Pistol rounds, rushing and overwhelming opponents with numbers
Tip: Use burst-fire mode for close-range headshots. The first bullet in a burst is very accurate.
USP-S (CT) - $200
Strengths: High accuracy, silenced, one-shot headshot potential against unarmored opponents
Weaknesses: Small magazine (12 rounds), slow rate of fire
Best Use: Holding angles in pistol rounds, precision shooting
Tip: Tap firing at medium range can be very effective. The silencer helps conceal your position.
P250 - $300
Strengths: Good armor penetration, one-shot headshot potential at close range
Weaknesses: Moderate recoil, less effective at long range
Best Use: Eco rounds, close-quarters combat
Tip: The P250 can kill with a single headshot against helmeted opponents at close range, making it excellent value for eco rounds.
Five-SeveN (CT) - $500
Strengths: Excellent armor penetration, high magazine capacity (20 rounds), good accuracy
Weaknesses: Moderate price for a pistol
Best Use: Force-buy rounds, anti-eco rounds
Tip: The Five-SeveN excels at medium range, where its accuracy and armor penetration allow for effective headshots.
Tec-9 (T) - $500
Strengths: High magazine capacity (18 rounds), good moving accuracy, high damage
Weaknesses: Inaccurate when spammed
Best Use: Force-buy rounds, rushing sites
Tip: Tap firing while moving can be surprisingly effective with the Tec-9.
CZ75-Auto - $500
Strengths: Fully automatic, high damage, good armor penetration
Weaknesses: Small magazine (12 rounds), long draw time, long reload time
Best Use: Close-quarters ambushes, getting a quick kill to take an enemy's weapon
Tip: Position yourself in tight angles where you can surprise opponents, as the CZ75 excels in very close combat.
Desert Eagle - $700
Strengths: One-shot headshot at any range, high damage
Weaknesses: High recoil, slow rate of fire, inaccurate when moving
Best Use: Eco rounds when you're confident in your aim, long-range engagements
Tip: The Deagle requires precise aiming and patient shooting. Wait for the recoil to fully reset between shots for maximum accuracy.
SMGs (Submachine Guns)
SMGs are excellent for anti-eco rounds and provide a good kill reward ($600).
MP9 (CT) - $1,250
Strengths: High rate of fire, good mobility, accurate while moving
Weaknesses: Low damage, poor armor penetration
Best Use: Anti-eco rounds, close to medium-range combat
Tip: Use your mobility advantage to strafe while shooting, making yourself a harder target.
MAC-10 (T) - $1,050
Strengths: Cheap, high rate of fire, excellent mobility
Weaknesses: Very inaccurate at range, poor armor penetration
Best Use: Anti-eco rounds, rushing close quarters
Tip: The MAC-10 has the best movement speed of any weapon, making it great for aggressive plays.
MP7 - $1,500
Strengths: Balanced performance, decent at all ranges for an SMG
Weaknesses: Jack of all trades, master of none
Best Use: Versatile choice for anti-eco or when economy is limited
Tip: The MP7 is the most versatile SMG, making it a safe choice when you're unsure of the engagement range.
UMP-45 - $1,200
Strengths: Good armor penetration for an SMG, effective at medium range
Weaknesses: Lower rate of fire than other SMGs
Best Use: Anti-eco rounds, force buys when expecting armored opponents
Tip: The UMP-45 has the best armor penetration of any SMG, making it effective even against armored opponents.
P90 - $2,350
Strengths: Large magazine (50 rounds), high rate of fire, good moving accuracy
Weaknesses: Expensive for an SMG, moderate damage
Best Use: Rushing, suppressive fire, close to medium range
Tip: The P90's large magazine allows for pre-firing corners and extended sprays, but be aware of its higher price.
Shotguns
Shotguns offer high damage at close range and provide an excellent kill reward ($900).
Nova - $1,050
Strengths: High damage at close range, cheapest shotgun
Weaknesses: Slow rate of fire, ineffective beyond close range
Best Use: Close angles, anti-eco rounds, economy management
Tip: The Nova's one-shot kill potential and high kill reward make it a great economic choice for specific positions.
XM1014 - $2,000
Strengths: Semi-automatic, high damage at close range
Weaknesses: Expensive for a situational weapon, ineffective at medium to long range
Best Use: Holding close angles, anti-rush
Tip: The XM1014's semi-automatic nature allows for quick follow-up shots if your first shot doesn't kill.
MAG-7 (CT) - $1,300
Strengths: High damage, good movement speed, consistent at close range
Weaknesses: Small magazine (5 rounds), ineffective beyond close range
Best Use: Holding tight angles, pop-flash plays
Tip: The MAG-7 excels at "pop and drop" play – peek, shoot, and fall back to reload.
Sawed-Off (T) - $1,100
Strengths: Very high damage at point-blank range
Weaknesses: Extremely limited effective range, small magazine (7 rounds)
Best Use: Very close quarters, ambush positions
Tip: The Sawed-Off has the shortest effective range of any shotgun, so position yourself where enemies will be within 5 meters.
Rifles
Rifles are the bread and butter of CS2, offering the best balance of damage, accuracy, and versatility.
AK-47 (T) - $2,700
Strengths: One-shot headshot at any range, high damage, good penetration
Weaknesses: High recoil, inaccurate when moving
Best Use: Standard rifle for full-buy rounds, effective at all ranges
Tip: Master the first 10 bullets of the AK-47 spray pattern, as most engagements are decided within this range.
M4A4 (CT) - $3,100
Strengths: Accurate, controllable recoil, 30-round magazine
Weaknesses: Cannot one-shot headshot against helmeted opponents
Best Use: Standard rifle for full-buy rounds, holding sites
Tip: The M4A4's controllable spray makes it excellent for spraying through smokes and holding rushes.
M4A1-S (CT) - $2,900
Strengths: Silenced, very accurate, easy recoil control
Weaknesses: Smaller magazine (20 rounds), lower rate of fire than M4A4
Best Use: Precision shooting, stealth positions
Tip: The silencer conceals your position and eliminates tracers, making it excellent for shooting through smokes undetected.
Galil AR (T) - $1,800
Strengths: Cheap, large magazine (35 rounds), decent damage
Weaknesses: Less accurate than AK-47, higher recoil
Best Use: Force-buy rounds, limited economy
Tip: The Galil is best used in short to medium-range bursts. Its large magazine allows for suppressive fire.
FAMAS (CT) - $2,050
Strengths: Cheap for CT side, burst-fire mode option
Weaknesses: Lower damage, less accurate than M4
Best Use: Force-buy rounds, limited economy
Tip: The burst-fire mode can be effective for long-range headshots as it increases first-shot accuracy.
AUG (CT) - $3,300
Strengths: Scope for precision, high accuracy, good damage
Weaknesses: Expensive, slower movement speed
Best Use: Holding long angles, precision shooting
Tip: The scope reduces your field of view, so only use it when holding specific angles.
SG 553 (T) - $3,000
Strengths: Scope for precision, one-shot headshot, good armor penetration
Weaknesses: Expensive, complex spray pattern
Best Use: Long-range engagements, precision shooting
Tip: The SG 553's spray pattern moves diagonally, which is different from most rifles. Practice this pattern specifically.
Sniper Rifles
Sniper rifles offer unmatched long-range precision and one-shot kill potential.
AWP - $4,750
Strengths: One-shot kill to the body (except legs), extreme accuracy
Weaknesses: Expensive, slow rate of fire, movement penalty
Best Use: Holding long angles, creating picks
Tip: Position yourself where you can fall back after taking a shot. Quick-scoping is less effective in CS2 compared to previous versions.
SSG 08 (Scout) - $1,700
Strengths: Cheap, accurate while jumping, fast movement speed
Weaknesses: Only one-shot kills with headshots
Best Use: Eco rounds, force buys, mobile sniping
Tip: The Scout maintains accuracy at the peak of a jump, allowing for "scout jumps" over obstacles to get information or shots.
SCAR-20 (CT) / G3SG1 (T) - $5,000
Strengths: Semi-automatic, high damage, one-shot headshot
Weaknesses: Very expensive, slow movement speed
Best Use: Holding long angles when economy is very strong
Tip: Auto-snipers are situational weapons that can be effective for holding specific positions but can also tilt the economy if lost.
Machine Guns
Machine guns offer high ammunition capacity but limited mobility.
M249 - $5,200
Strengths: Large magazine (100 rounds), high damage
Weaknesses: Extremely expensive, slow movement, inaccurate
Best Use: Suppressive fire, very specific situations
Tip: The M249 is rarely a good economic choice but can be effective for spraying through smokes and holding tight chokepoints.
Negev - $1,700
Strengths: Large magazine (150 rounds), becomes very accurate after initial bullets
Weaknesses: Initial bullet spread is extreme, slow movement
Best Use: Area denial, suppressive fire
Tip: Pre-fire the Negev before peeking to start the accuracy improvement, then peek and continue firing for a laser-like spray.
Weapon Choice Strategy
Economic Considerations
Always consider your team's economic situation when choosing weapons:
- Full Buy: Rifle + Armor + Utility (AK-47/M4 + Helmet + Grenades)
- Force Buy: Cheaper rifles or upgraded pistols + Armor (Galil/FAMAS/Deagle + Armor)
- Eco Round: Save money with minimal or no purchases (P250/Default Pistol)
- Anti-Eco: SMGs for the higher kill reward (MP9/MAC-10/UMP-45)
Map and Position Considerations
Adapt your weapon choice to your role and the map:
- Long angles: AWP, AUG, SG 553
- Close quarters: Shotguns, SMGs
- Entry fragger: AK-47, M4A4
- Support player: Utility-focused with rifles
- Lurker: Silenced weapons like M4A1-S
Conclusion
Mastering CS2's weapon arsenal requires understanding each gun's strengths, weaknesses, and optimal use cases. While personal preference plays a role in weapon selection, making economically sound choices that align with your team's strategy is crucial for competitive success. Practice with various weapons to develop versatility, but focus on mastering the core rifles (AK-47/M4) as they'll be your primary tools in most competitive scenarios.
