The AWP is the most powerful weapon in Counter-Strike 2. With it, the outcome of any round can be decided in mere seconds. However, the downside is its cost—nearly $5000. Buying the rifle isn’t easy. The CS.MONEY Blog explains the fastest ways to earn money for an AWP.
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How much does the AWP Cost
Let’s start with the main question—its price. The rifle itself costs $4750, but a full buy costs even more:
- AWP + Kevlar = $5400
- AWP + Kevlar + a couple of grenades = $6200
- AWP + Kevlar + full grenades + a pistol = $6700
One of the key tasks of an AWPer is managing their expenses wisely. When buying an AWP, you must decide whether to get armor or a helmet, which grenades to buy, and whether you need a pistol as a backup.
Buying an AWP After Winning the Pistol Round
Let’s consider both ways to earn money for an AWP. In the best-case scenario, your team wins the pistol round, and you survive. If both conditions are met, you can get an AWP by the third round.
Here’s the strategy:
- In the second round, buy an MP9 or MAC-10, but don’t upgrade your armor.
- Get at least one kill or survive without losing armor.
- Win the second round.
- Buy the AWP in the third round.
The key is to win the second round and either get a frag or stay alive. If done right, you’ll have between $5500 and $6000, enough for an AWP and a couple of grenades.
However, if you spent extra money—like buying armor or grenades in round two—you might not have enough. The critical amount is $1500 at the start of the second round. If you have at least this much, you’ll be able to afford an AWP in round three if you win. Ideally, you should have $2200 left.
Buying an AWP After Losing the Pistol Round
Losing the pistol round makes getting an AWP by round three much harder, but it’s still possible. The approach differs depending on whether you’re on CT or T side.
CT-Side After Losing the Pistol Round:
- If you don’t get any kills, you won’t have enough money for an AWP in round three.
- If you get at least one kill, do a full eco in round two.
In round three, you’ll have exactly $4750, enough for an AWP, but you’ll have no armor, defuse kit, or grenades. Because of this, it might be smarter to delay the AWP purchase until the next round.
T-Side After Losing the Pistol Round:
- The key factor here is whether you planted the bomb in the first round.
- If the bomb was planted, you’ll have enough money for an AWP even without kills.
- If not, follow a similar plan as CTs—do a full eco in round two and hope for enough money in round three.
However, with the current meta, it’s often better to buy a Galil AR and armor in round two rather than fully eco. This way, you have a chance to win the round and shift the economy in your favor.
When to Buy an AWP and When Not To
Beyond the financial aspect, consider the game situation before purchasing an AWP.
Buy an AWP if:
- Your team is doing a full buy, and you have enough for an AWP and armor.
- A teammate has enough money to drop you an AWP.
- No one else on your team has an AWP.
You have the best spawn for an early pick—a quick kill can give your team a huge advantage.
Avoid Buying an AWP if:
- The enemy has a full buy, but you can’t afford armor.
- Your team has weak economy, and a full buy isn’t possible.
- The enemy is playing eco or rushing—a solo AWPer can be easily overwhelmed.
- Your team already has an AWP—a second sniper is rarely useful.
Additionally, consider the map and your position. AWPing is most effective on open maps with long sightlines. If another teammate is already holding key angles (like Mirage window), buying an AWP may not be the best choice.
In conclusion, it is not that hard to get an AWP in the third round if you win the pistol round. However, losing the first round makes getting the AWP in the third almost impossible. Even if you have money for this sniper rifle, it is better to think twice, assess economy of both sides and only then make a decision.
