CS:GO maps have relatively small sizes. For example, the T spawn on Mirage is as wide as a football pitch. But even at such small locations, the distance has a huge impact. In this article CS.MONEY Blog will tell you everything you need to know about distance in CS:GO and how you can use it to your advantage.
How to measure distance in CS:GO?
Let’s start with the basics. Everything in the game is measured either in units or in meters. One hundred units equal 2.54 m. So one unit equals one inch or 2.54 cm. But we don’t need to be this exact. Moreover, in the future, we will operate only in meters.
The fact is that in the game, the distance is displayed in meters. For example, if you use the “sv_showimpacts_penetration” command, you will receive information about the place hit by the bullet. There will be a distance that the bullet traveled, and it will be shown in meters.
It is worth noting that knowing the exact distance doesn’t make sense, but what makes sense is the ability to estimate one. Why? Because of how accuracy and damage work. Let’s dive into them.
Accuracy
Every single CS:GO weapon shoots with some deflection from the crosshair. You can test that yourself. Go into the pit on Dust 2 and shoot a couple of bullets towards A plant. You will see AK-47 is not that accurate. Every single gun has a parameter called “accuracy range”.
This parameter shows you the distance from which your shots will hit the target with the diameter of 30 cm. Or the range from which you can guarantee a headshot when aimed perfectly. AK-47 has an accuracy range of slightly less than 22m while standing and 28m while crouching.
What does that mean in practice? In the example above, with AK-47 and Dust 2 long, that means that with the perfect aim, you will hit only one headshot out of five. That’s because of the roughly 70m distance. And we know that there are lengthier straights. For example, the distance between T spawn and Ivy on Train is almost 100m. From such a distance, you will miss shots aimed at the body!
You can see the accuracy range in the buy menu. Pistols are accurate up to 20 m, SMGs — up to 15 m. Assault rifles are fine with shooting at the 30 m distance, and sniper rifles are accurate at 50 m. The accuracy range of shotguns does not exceed 5 m. Take this information into account when you play with different guns. Trying to shoot from outside the accuracy range is like spinning a roulette — AK-47 will miss every tenth shot aimed in the head from the 25 m distance. To lose a duel because of random will be a shame.
Damage
In addition to losing accuracy, the weapon may get a damage penalty depending on the distance. It may be barely noticeable in some cases, but it also may be catastrophic in others. You can divide all the weapons into two groups.
The first one is guns that have a noticeable damage drop. Basically, everything except assault rifles, sniper rifles and revolver can be attributed to this group. You can see that in the MP9 example. It is the most popular SMG in defense. In a close fight, you need to hit seven bullets in the body to send an armored opponent to respawn. At the 10 m distance, you need one more hit, and 10 m further, another hit is required.
The second group includes assault rifles, sniper rifles and revolver. Their damage loss is less significant. There is no such distance on CS:GO maps where one hit in the body from AWP is not enough to kill. For assault rifles, the damage penalty is not critical, especially compared to accuracy loss. The only exception is AUG which is much more effective in close combat than in 10 m distance because of damage amount, armor penetration and damage loss combination.
Combine accuracy and damage loss to understand where each gun is better suited. If you choose the correct position, you can significantly increase the effectiveness of your weapon.
Distance and sound
Finally, we will talk about two cases when sounds can be heard from a distance: footsteps and shots from a weapon with a silencer. You can hear footsteps from a distance of up to 28 m. Walls do not block this sound so you can hear it from far away. To know the exact moment where you need to switch to walking, you should study the most popular positions on each map. Mark the distance from where enemies can hear your footsteps.
If you shoot from MP5SD, your shots can be heard from a distance of 25 meters. For M4A1-S and USP-S, the distance is lower — 20 m. Beyond that point, shots are not heard. That’s why if you flank your opponent and shoot them in the back, you can earn a couple of frags without revealing your position.
Finally, we will talk about two cases when sounds can be heard from a distance: footsteps and shots from a weapon with a silencer. You can hear footsteps from a distance of up to 28 m. Walls do not block this sound so you can hear it from far away. To know the exact moment where you need to switch to walking, you should study the most popular positions on each map. Mark the distance from where enemies can hear your footsteps.
If you shoot from MP5SD, your shots can be heard from a distance of 25 meters. For M4A1-S and USP-S, the distance is lower — 20 m. Beyond that point, shots are not heard. That’s why if you flank your opponent and shoot them in the back, you can earn a couple of frags without revealing your position.
To sum up. Distance plays a massive role in CS:GO. The further you are from an enemy, the better if you will use an assault rifle. Moreover, long distances allow you to conceal shots from M4A1-S, USP-S and MP5SD. Try to learn the exact distances between different positions on a map, so you will know whether your footsteps are heard or not. Finally, consider your position and expected distance to the opponent when you choose a weapon. In close fights, UMP-45 is not worse than FAMAS, but it costs much cheaper!
