Counter-Strike 2 is a game that has long held the bar as one of the most popular projects in the CIS, and over the past two years, the number of active players has increased a lot compared to 2018-2019. Quite a good result for a game that was released back in the distant 2012.So, while both new and experienced players launch Steam to play a couple of matches in their favorite tactical shooter, we thought it was worth asking an expert to share his thoughts on how newcomers can quickly increase their level of play in CS2. Nemanja ‘huNter-‘ Kovacs, a real heavyweight on the professional CS2 scene and vice-champion of the last Major in Stockholm, will help us with this.So, huNter- is ready to give newcomers some important tips.
To learn more about this fascinating topic, you can continue reading here.
Contents ⤵️
1. Put in the time
It’s impossible to become a cybersport star overnight, and mastering the skills needed to go from beginner to advanced player takes a lot more effort than just playing a few matches with friends. According to huNter-, in CS2, your results are directly affected by how much time you put into the game: “First, if you’re aiming for a pro/semi-pro career, you have to work hard from the beginning. Play a lot of CS, do useful things every day, such as improving your aim, watching matches of Tier-1 teams and players, and getting as much useful information out of them as possible.
2. Know your role
Most online shooters are aimed at simplifying gameplay: destroy opponents, increase the number of kills, and you will be on top. CS2, in turn, has achieved its success in part because of the depth of gameplay and the importance of teamwork in the process of achieving the goal. In CS2 each person in the team plays his role, and there are exactly 5 of them: open fragger (the player who runs first on the exchange), sniper, lurker, captain and rifler (player on rifles).Even if it sounds too complicated, do not be scared – CS2 is still a very exciting game, although it requires a lot of attention. If you want to get the basics down quickly, huNter- is ready to help: “When you’re on the offensive side, your main task is to place a bomb on A or B, or destroy all five opponents before or after the bomb is placed. If you’re playing on the defense side, your goal is to protect both sides – you must not let the attack set the bomb. Therefore, you are required to either destroy the enemies before setting or defuse the bomb. At the professional level, the coach plays a big role in the team and is the heart of team strategy.”
3. Deal with guns
Weapons in CS2 are almost a character in their own right, and new players quickly discover that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for all maps. And it’s not just basic shooter level rules of “shotguns are only good for close combat and snipers for long range”. According to huNter-, players must take the time to learn the entire arsenal and identify the best gans for each scenario. “There are no unimportant details,” he explains. – You have to play a lot and have a good understanding of all the maps and weapons and how aiming and recoil works. So if you want to learn quickly, you have to play a lot. “You have to try all the weapons to understand how they work: the spray, the vantap, the jump shot. And, of course, you have to watch strong teams and players play, analyze how they use weapons, when they buy them and things like that. If your team needs grenades but doesn’t have enough money for them, you have to buy the cheapest weapon.”
4. Learn how to allocate your finances
AK-47 is one of the best guns in the game.© ValveIt’s important to know how to use your equipment, but you also need to be able to spend your money wisely. Especially if you’ve just started learning to play, you shouldn’t spend all your hard earned currency on the wrong gun. So, what strategy should you follow? huNter- tells us: “M4A4 (defense) and AK47 (attack) are the most popular gans in the game, so buying them will be a plus. Besides, since we have a sniper role in the game, we should always have one AWP player on both sides, and even two on defense. Also, a lot of players are choosing SG 553 and AUG lately because they are quite easy to use. “If the opponents are not very good at economics and only buy weapons (no helmets or armor), then it is always better to buy cheaper ganas to get out of the rounds with the most money.”
It’s always better to buy ganas cheaper to come out of rounds with the most money.Nemanja ‘huNter-‘ Kovacs
5. Combine workouts
In CS, as with anything, practice leads to perfection. To truly excel in CS2 and feel like something more than free food for snipers, you have to spend time practicing and building your routine. The training regimen is unique for each player, but variety is an important aspect of becoming a skilled player. huNter- gives an example of his schedule: “Our team trains 5-6 days a week, depending on the schedule of official matches or tournaments. In general we train about 8 hours a day. First we do 1-2 hours of theory on the maps we practice during the day, so we discuss and form a plan we want to stick to that day. Then we identify 4-5 maps that we need to prepare against other teams.””My personal practices are different. Some days I play a lot of dematches and practice games to improve my mechanics, and other days I watch game footage, go solo on the server and look for good spots for my positions. It depends on what I need to work on. Mechanically and strategically practicing are inseparable for those who want to get better at CS.”
6. If you’re ready, go to the paid servers
When you’re just starting out playing CS2, the thought of paying and getting beaten doesn’t sound too appealing. However, paid and subscription servers like FACEIT exist for a reason: they offer more serious players the chance to compete by a different standard. huNter- explains the importance of these servers and why they are a necessary step from beginner to professional: “The advantage of FACEIT over regular matches is first and foremost the quality of the servers themselves. 128 ticks on FACEIT versus 64 ticks in matchmaking. I feel much better on 128 ticks, the game feels smoother. Also, the players on FACEIT are better, mostly regular players who fight at a competitive level. There are more beginners in regular matchmaking, we all started there. However, when you start to understand the game better and feel that you are ready for more serious competition, FACEIT is the way to go.”.Study the maps© Valve
7. Prepare the basics
Sometimes the best advice is to go back to basics. When you’re just starting out, it’s important to remember the basic ingredients for turning cannon fodder into a ruthless winning machine: hard work, the right attitude, and teamwork. huNter- lists the basics: “First of all, you must have a comfortable environment (computer, monitor, peripherals). Secondly, you must have the will and desire to succeed, train every day, learn as much as you can from other players and teams. Finally, you need to find a team and work with them over a period of time.”
8. Never give up
It’s understandable that newcomers might have doubts. You keep getting destroyed in a couple of seconds, and you can’t respond with anything, and the difference in skill can seem insurmountable. However, CS2 has become a phenomenon for a reason – the rewards far exceed the initial difficulties, because CS is a high-level game, it has depth and is a real pleasure.For those who have just started their journey, huNter- is ready to give advice: “If you are ready to work hard and really want to succeed, just be patient. Labor and willpower are the most important things in CS2. If you’re ready for it, don’t give up, and maybe one day we’ll be playing together or against each other in big tournaments.” “We’ve all had hard times when we wanted to quit, but we didn’t give up, and that’s why we’re here now.