Getting Started
Everything you need to know to begin your Counter-Strike 2 journey. Browse 19 detailed answers below.
What is Counter-Strike 2?
Quick answer: CS2 is a free-to-play tactical FPS where two teams compete in objective-based matches with an economy system.
Free-to-play tactical first-person shooterBuilt on Valve's Source 2 engineAvailable on Windows (Linux support planned)
How to Download and Install CS2
Quick answer: Download CS2 from Steam by searching for it and clicking Install. The game is about 130 GB and requires Windows.
Available exclusively on SteamApproximately 130 GB download sizeWindows-only at launch
What Are the System Requirements for CS2?
Quick answer: CS2 requires modest specs: minimum i5 CPU and GTX 1060 GPU are fine for competitive play.
Minimum: Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, GeForce 8600 GTRecommended: i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, GTX 1060SSD storage recommended for faster loading
How to Create a Steam Account
Quick answer: Visit steampowered.com, click Join Steam, enter email and password, and confirm via email.
Visit steampowered.com to create accountEmail confirmation requiredPassword should be strong and secure
How to Play Your First Match
Quick answer: Start with Deathmatch, then Casual to practice. Learn map layouts and objectives before competitive.
Choose Deathmatch to warm up firstPlay Casual to learn maps and objectivesTerrorists: plant bomb, Counter-Terrorists: defuse
Understanding CS2 Game Modes
Quick answer: CS2 has Deathmatch (respawn), Casual (learning), Ranked (competitive), Wingman (2v2), and Premier modes.
Deathmatch: instant respawn, no economyCasual/Unranked: competitive rules, no ranksCompetitive: ranked, best-of-30
Basic Keyboard and Mouse Settings for Beginners
Quick answer: Disable mouse acceleration, set 1.0 sensitivity at 400 DPI, enable raw input, and use a wired mouse.
Disable mouse acceleration in WindowsEnable raw input in game settingsStart with 1.0 sens at 400 DPI
Recommended Video Settings for Beginners
Quick answer: Disable motion blur, V-Sync, and shadows. Target 120+ FPS. Set resolution to native or lower for high refresh.
Motion Blur: OFFShadows: LOW or OFFV-Sync: OFF
Overview of CS2 Competitive Maps
Quick answer: Learn Mirage or Dust2 first. Each map has unique layouts and callouts essential for team play.
Current maps: Mirage, Inferno, Dust2, Nuke, Anubis, Vertigo, AncientMirage and Dust2 recommended for beginnersEach map has unique layout and callouts
Understanding the Economy System Basics
Quick answer: Start with $2400 per round. Buy weapons and armor strategically, coordinating with your team.
Starting money: $2400 per roundWin bonus: $3250Loss bonus: $1900
Basic Grenades and Utility Items
Quick answer: Smokes block vision, flashes blind, molotovs create fire, HE grenades deal damage. Coordinate usage with teammates.
Smoke: blocks vision for 18 secondsFlash: blinds for 1-2 secondsMolotov: creates fire, denies areas
Communication and Team Play Basics
Quick answer: Use clear, brief voice calls with proper map callouts. Establish roles and mute toxic players.
Use voice chat for real-time communicationKeep calls brief and specificLearn map callouts for each location
Optimizing Your Crosshair
Quick answer: Use a static, bright-colored crosshair with small gap and moderate size. Customize in Settings > Crosshair.
Smaller gap with moderate size preferredStatic crosshair better than dynamicUse colors that contrast with maps
Best Resources for Learning CS2
Quick answer: Learn from YouTube educational channels, aim trainers like AimLab, pro streams, and community Discord servers.
YouTube has dedicated CS2 educational channelsAim trainers like AimLab improve gunplayWatch professional streams and tournaments
Why Competitive Rank Matters
Quick answer: Ranks indicate skill level and provide competitive progression. Higher ranks require stronger mechanics and game sense.
Ranks from Silver 1 to Global EliteRank reflects skill relative to player baseProgression motivates improvement
Efficient Map Learning Routine for Beginners
Quick answer: Learn maps: offline > casual > pro demos > deathmatch > ranked. 20-40 hours per map.
Offline bot practiceCasual mode for objectivesPro match watching
Choosing Your Main Map to Master
Quick answer: Choose balanced map (Mirage/Dust2) for beginners. Commit 200+ hours to mastery. Master one before expanding.
Balanced maps beginner-friendlyVertical maps challenging200+ hours to mastery
Learning from Professional Streams on Twitch
Quick answer: Watch pro streams focusing on specific players. Tournament matches best. Analyze their decisions.
Real-time gameplay observationTournament matches highest qualityVODs with commentary valuable
Key Differences Between CS2 and CS:GO
Quick answer: CS2: better hitreg, Source 2 engine, improved responsiveness. Similar gameplay to CS:GO.
Hitreg improvedEngine upgradeResponsiveness better