The Counter-Strike series will soon be over 25 years old. During this whole time, it has gone through many changes but fundamentally remains the same as it was at the beginning of the 21st century. And its main aspect is that it’s easy to start and difficult to master. But even if it looks straightforward, beginners could use some guidance. That’s exactly what CS.MONEY Blog has prepared for you today: a Complete Beginner’s Guide to Counter-Strike 2!
Of course, one of the most important things in Counter-Strike 2 are skins, as they help to colorize the gameplay and give your weapon a personality. Skins can be purchased on Steam but also on CS.MONEY, which has a much more convenient filter system and lower prices!
How to start playing CS2?
Since it’s a fundamental guide to CS2, let’s divide it into several sections. Here they are:
- CS2 installation, system requirements
- Basic mechanics
- Game modes and Agents
- Weapons and meta
- How to customise CS2 to your liking
- Three most important tips for beginners
Download and Install Counter-Strike 2
To start playing Counter-Strike 2 you need a PC, an internet connection and a Steam account. You can also use Steam Deck for casual play, but the relatively low frame rate is a definite disadvantage for competitive matches. You can download CS2 here.
Counter-Strike 2 has relatively low system requirements. Its page on Steam says it need:
- 4-core processor
- 8 gigabytes of RAM
- 1GB Memory Graphics Card that supports Shader Model 5.0
- 85 gigabytes of free disc space
Counter-Strike 2 will run on such a configuration easily but even with low settings you can see lags and stutters here and there. To fully feel the game and play comfortably, you’ll need to have a more productive PC with 16Gb of RAM, a GPU of new series, or better and a modern CPU.
Internet connection is also important. CS2 won’t transfer a gigantic amount of data, but it is demanding in terms of connection stability. The best option is, of course, a wired connection. Finally, you’ll have to create a Steam account if you haven’t got one. It’s free and takes a few minutes. We recommend spending more time, installing the mobile app and activating Steam Guard for additional account protection.
Main Game Mechanics of CS2
CS2’s gameplay is based on just a few mechanics. We can distinguish four aspects that are important in the game:
- Movement
- Shooting
- Utility
- Economics
Movement
You can move in CS2 by running or jumping. You can also switch from running to walking or crouching. Here, the main thing is that your speed is not instantaneous. In CS2, player models accelerate, which also affects the gameplay. We talked more about moving in our guide below:
Shooting
Shooting in CS2 is complex and simple at the same time. Simple because weapons work like this: it’s a hitscan, so each shot is a beam and if it crosses an obstacle, the game counts it as a hit. This is the reason why there’s no ballistics in CS2 and you won’t succeed with pre-fires.
Still, there’s a whole number of factors that add to the complexity of shooting. Firstly, dozens of weapons and each has its own characteristics and recoil patterns. Secondly, getting hit can slow down the enemy and can affect the camera’s behaviour. In addition, some weapons have additional abilities. For example, AWP has an activatable sniper sight, while FAMAS can fire in bursts of three rounds to your choice.
Utility
Utility, in addition to weapons, includes grenades, armour and special gear. Grenades are divided into:
- Smoke
- Incendiary
- Flashbangs
- HE Grenades
- Decoys
Each type of grenade has a different effect. Importantly, the grenades work on everyone: allies and enemies. A poorly thrown flash grenade will blind allies just as much as it will blind enemies. In competitive mode, specialised equipment includes Zeus x27 Taser and a defuse kit. Zeus is capable of one-shotting an enemy at close range, while defuse kits half the time required to disarm a C4.
Economics
Economy is the main feature of the CS series. Every action that has an impact on the game affects the player’s stock of virtual money. Killing an enemy, fulfilling the objective and completing the round brings money while killing teammates takes away money. At the beginning of each round, players are given a small window to purchase weapons and equipment. Due to the fact that the best guns are expensive, being able to build and maintain an economy is an important skill. Read more about in a separate guide below.
Game Modes and Agents
CS2 at the moment has six official game modes available. You can also play custom maps on community servers, but we don’t recommend it for beginners. The list of official modes is as follows:
- Premier Mode. Two teams, five players each, play until 13 won rounds. Considered better than basic Competitive Mode, has improved Matchmaking Rating System.
- Competitive Mode. Two teams, five players each, play until 13 won rounds.
- Duos. Two teams, but two players each fight on special maps.
- Regular Mode. Two teams, ten players each.
- Deathmatch. Ten minutes of ultimate mayhem with respawns and no rounds, the winner is determined by points.
- Arms Race. Team Deathmatch, get improved weapons after kills. Winners are determined by points, ultimate kill has to be made by a knife.
The main CS2 game mode is considered to be Premier Mode. Here, the result of the match is influenced by the player’s rating. The game selects players with similar rating for the match.
CS2 has no Operators, Champions, Heroes or whatever. All players use simple models with the same characteristics. Still, it is possible to change their looks. Special cosmetic items for player models are called Agents. Each Agent replaces your defence or attack models. In addition to appearance, voice lines are changed as well.
CS2 Weapons and Meta
Players in the Counter-Strike 2 have access to a wide arsenal of weapons, which includes:
- 34 firearms
- Taser
- 5 types of grenades
- Knife
- C4
Everyone has a knife by default. Also at the beginning of the round everyone is given a starter pistol, USP-S for defence and Glock-18 for attack. C4 is a special equipment that only one attack player has if you’re playing Premier Mode or Competitive Mode. Basically, planting a C4 is the main objective in CS2.
How to Customise Your CS2
One of the main features of Counter-Strike 2 is the customisation and cosmetics system, which allows you to set the game to suit you and emphasise your personality. This is achieved through skins, stickers, patches, agents, graffiti, nametags and more.
Unlike other games, in Counter-Strike 2 players own items and can not only use them, but also exchange and transfer them. Therefore, to get a skin or an agent, you don’t have to open cases or wait for the next operation. You can always replenish your inventory by buying the necessary cosmetics, for example, on CS.MONEY. Our Trade Mode has thousands of skins: from weapon cosmetics to knives, gloves and agents. Quick deals, low prices, tons of options, handy filters and maximum security. Join now!
Tips for Beginners in CS2
Playing Counter-Strike 2 is easy, but a couple of tips would be nice. CS.MONEY Blog recommends to get used to the regular game mode first, if you’re new to the game. Although this mode doesn’t offer the same experience as the competitive mode, it uses the same movement and shooting mechanics and you can learn without ruining your or other players’ matches. A few hours in normal mode will help you get used to the basics of CS2 gameplay.
It is also a good idea to play with friends, especially if they have experience. CS2 is a team game. Therefore, working together will make matches easier and speed up your understanding of the game. If you don’t have friends who play CS2, you should go to our Discord server and search for a group to play there.
Another good tip is to study CS2 guides on our Blog or search for them on Youtube. There are a lot of content creators working with CS2, recording numerous videos about the game and how to get better at it, showing tips and tricks, map features and much more. It’s very useful theoretical knowledge.
Last but not least, the most important piece of advice is to practice. Knowledge without skill will not bring you wins. So if you want to get better, play more and keep a positive attitude.
Conclusion
Counter-Strike is rightly considered one of the premier shooter series in history. The influence and status of the game allows you to put it on the same shelf with such titans as Doom or Call of Duty. It’s all about the simple formula of the game: run, shoot, complete objectives, interact with your teammates and win. But behind this simplicity lies a deep gameplay with seemingly endless prospects for growth. Counter-Strike is also a canvas for self-expression. This game allows you to create a truly unique image with cool skin combinations, funny sticker crafts, flashy nametags and graffities.
