CS:GO 101 – Improve your gameplay with these 5 tips

Welcome to CS:GO 101, where the basic aspects of the game are explained down to the very intricate details so you can develop an understanding worthy of a professional player.

Today it is time to dive into some broad gameplay tips, for improving your general performance when you are playing CS:GO.

The right weaponry and usage

You should not immediately try to use every weapon possible. For starters, focus on just the main ones: the starting pistols (Glock and USP) and maybe a P250 or Tec-9. When it comes to heavier weaponry, just stick to the M4 and AK. You will want to perfect those most of all because ideally those should be the weapons that you are using most of the time.

In cases where you go for alternative weapons like SMGs, just go for the MP9 as a Counter-terrorist player or the Mac-10 as a Terrorist. Those will do just fine and also do not break the bank but provide high return on investment. And before you might start feeling really adventurous and want to use an AWP, take the time to learn how it works. Watch a video on it and see where you should use it best.

Regarding shooting itself, the most important tip is to keep your crosshair at head height. It happens so often that new players run around with their crosshair pointed to the ground. That is not where your enemies are unless you have already shot them.

Additionally, do not hit the reload button every five bullets. It is a habit you might have picked up from other shooter games, but your reloading should be well-timed so that you do not unnecessarily make yourself an easy target.

Positioning and movement

Always think about where you are. How many angles are you exposed to? Where can the enemies come from? What can you see? There are a lot of factors to keep in mind. Your positioning will make a massive difference in how long you stay alive due to the amount of enemies you are exposed to.

Also keep in mind that you should not constantly be holding the same angle, eventually the enemy will start noticing and can just use utility against you to get you out of your position. They can also try to attack the spot beforehand and get the drop on you instead.

Utility is everything

If you do not use utility, you are unnecessarily making your own life more difficult. It is relatively simple to use once you get the basics of it and can make a massive difference in defending but also attacking bombsites. It will also greatly help you out if you need to turn a situation around. Imagine that you are stuck because the enemy is holding an angle on you. If you use a smoke or flashbang you can safely cross and reposition to get an advantage.

It is also important to support the rest of your team using utility. You can only carry a limited amount so it is vital to time it well and use the right smokes for example at the right spots. That really goes for any type of utility.

You are playing in a team

It might sound terribly obvious, but people often play as if they are the only ones on the map. If you move as a unit and communicate you can achieve a lot more. You can combine your utility together and check several angles at once. Pushing onto a bombsite or defending it will suddenly seem a lot less effortless or daunting.

If you combine your efforts you will see your winning odds go up dramatically. This is not always the easiest case if you just play regular matchmaking, that is why it is also advised to team up with people you already know; that way you can commit to playing as one unit.

Learn from the best

Obviously you will not magically start aiming like s1mple by seeing him play, but if you regularly check in to tournaments and streams of professional players, there is a good chance you might pick up some interesting info and handy tips. You might notice a spot that is often utilised and that gives you a really good chance of getting the drop on your target. You could see where certain players throw their utility and learn how they line it up.

Naturally there are a million tips to give, and some will be more useful to you than others. At the end of the day, practice makes perfect. The more hours you put into the game, the better you will become.

Also read:

What should we cover next? Join the discussion on social media or our Discord!

You can also help improve our website by submitting direct feedback!

Image Credit: Valve
*The listed articles are provided through affiliate links. A purchase after clicking through them supports us at esports.com as we will receive a small commission without additional cost to you.