While most players that play CS2 are clustered around the middle ranks, a small percentage break through and reach the top Global Elite level. Reaching this pinnacle requires a mix of skills, a substantial time investment and a certain mental resilience. For some just being able to say they rank among the best is enough, while others might seek esports fame and success.
Like many other popular competitive games, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) divides its player base up based on ranking in order to provide as many players as possible with fair and enjoyable matches. This division also allows the ambitious and dedicated to hone their skills and climb the public ladder to be numbered amongst the best. Getting to those lofty heights is about more than just playing; getting to the top is a matter of strategy, skill, and a deep understanding of the game. This article will look into what exactly it takes to climb the CS2 ladder.
Understanding the CS2 ranking system
Before we get into exactly how you can climb, you should probably have a good idea of exactly what it is you’re climbing. The matchmaking system in CS2 is based on an Elo system, much like chess among other games, which means that your rank will change dynamically based on your performance in ranked matches. This Elo ranking will drive you up and down the different ranks on CS2, and if you are dedicated and skillful enough, it will eventually push you into Global Elite. There are 18 ranks in all, starting at Silver 1 and going up to Global Elite. A whopping 41% of the game’s player base sits at the 10th rank, Gold Nova Master, while only 0.75% make it to Global Elite.
What skills do I need to climb the ladder?
Pushing your way through the various esports ranks and climbing up the ladder is about more than just putting in time, although that is an important component that we will touch on later. Of the various skills that you will need to cultivate to climb the ladder, the most important is also the most obvious: you must be able to shoot and shoot quickly. Having good aim and good reflexes will take you pretty far, it doesn’t matter how good your opponent is, if you shoot first and shoot well, they don’t get a chance to respond. Spending time with aim trainer programs is a time-tested method of improving this skill.
The next most important skill that you need to have to climb the ladder is one that might be harder to train. Knowing what your opponents are likely to be doing at any given time gives you information and having information about what your opponents are doing is an edge you can use to take them out. Being able to predict enemy movement, knowing when you should be moving into different bits of the map and where you should be going, and knowing when and how you should spend your money in-game is all part of having good game sense and game sense wins games. Playing more games, watching other players play, and studying their movements are really the only ways to build this skill.
CS2 is a team game, and as such, building teamwork and communication skills are pretty crucial to getting into the high ranks. At lower ranks, it’s fairly likely that everyone will just sort of do their own thing, but as you climb, you will begin to face opposition that will move with some sort of coordination, which means that you have to coordinate as well. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how well you communicate if your team isn’t on board the communication train it won’t matter, so playing with randoms is unlikely to be as effective as forming a dedicated group of players who are all on the same page about wanting to climb the ladder.
How long until I hit Global Elite and can brag about it?
A while. Seriously, a pretty long time. Professional players often play more than 40 hours a week, which shouldn’t be surprising as it is their job. This means that if you want to get there quickly, you need to also be playing that amount of time or more because that’s how Elo ranking works. On top of this weekly investment, many pro players have well over 10,000 hours in-game. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to spend that long before you hit Global Elite, but it does mean that the higher you climb the ladder, the more hours your opponents are likely to have, and the better they will certainly be.
Why did I want to climb the ladder again?
In addition to being able to flex your skills, being counted amongst the top players is likely to bring you opportunities. It seems unlikely that you would spend so much time and effort if you weren’t at least a little curious about going pro and getting involved in local or global tournaments and being placed in the top percentages of players will certainly make your application to any teams look pretty appealing. There is money in being an esports pro, but it’s a hard bag to land.
Conclusion
We don’t know if we would say that anyone could do it, but pushing yourself into the top tiers of CS2 ranks is definitely possible for anyone with the time, dedication, and inclination. It requires lots of practice, a love of self-improvement, and the ability to work well with others. With enough time and by honing your skills, it’s entirely possible that you could rise through the ranks and become another member of that tiny percent of the player base we know as the Global Elite.
