The Krieg is not dead yet – How you can use the SG 553 in the current meta

Is a comeback of the SG 553 imminent? Not necessarily, but G2’s Nikola „NiKo“ Kovač has recently shown that the Krieg still has its place in the current meta, even at the highest level of play.

Expensive weapon with strengths and weaknesses

$3000 is not a cheap price to pay for the SG 553. Little wonder that players have been thinking twice ever since the price got increased again. Since then most players have went back to the AK as the SG is not only harder to purchase, but also has a lower rate of fire and movement speed.

These attributes make the weapon significantly weaker in close quarters, but it further stresses the strengths of the SG 553 over medium and long distances. The SG 553 can easily dominate those ranges with one taps in the hands of a skilled player.

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High damage and precision

The SG 553 is one of the few weapons that can instantly take out opponents on headshots, regardless of armor. Its damage values are significant over the entire hitbox, ranging from 120 on headshots to 30 on chest and arms. Stomach hits will deal 37 damage and legshots 22.

Accuracy is also one of the strengths of the SG 553, turning it into a more mobile alternative to the AWP. High penetration of the weapon means you can also easily spam through walls to force opponents out of cover.

Mastering the spray pattern

If you are under pressure and have to just spam your entire magazine out, the SG 553 is a bit on the weaker side. The spray pattern needs practice before players are consistent with it. Recoil will first go up with a slight drift to the right. Around the 15th shot the pattern moves to the right before traveling horizontally to the left.

When scoped in the pattern remains the same, but players only need to adjust around half of the distance from the usual recoil.

Strong spots and weak maps

On maps with long corridors like Inferno, the SG is strongest. Especially Inferno’s Banana is the prime spot for the SG 553.

Other strong spots for the Krieg are on Dust 2’s B tunnels and A long. For Mirage the SG 553 is great on A as you can control Catwalk through the Connector, cover Jungle or challenge rotating players around CT spawn. On B it is ideal to cover Appartments or kitchen.

Vertigo or Nuke’s inner bombsite are less ideal for the SG 553. These maps and spots are too narrow and labyrinthine to take advantage of long distances.

Useful tricks

While moving the SG is extremely inaccurate and one of the worst weapons in the game. Make sure to always stand or crouch before shooting. Over long distances you can easily challenge the other more common rifles.

Once you have established your economy on maps like Inferno or Mirage, you can bust out the SG 553 to put your opponents under pressure. As long as you clear your corners and keep the CTs at a distance you can dominate the map with One-Taps.

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Image Credits: Valve