How To Play Competitive Matches In CS2

The Counter-Strike ranking system allows players to accurately track their progression and strive for improvement. However, players can only get their ranks through playing on Counter-Strike 2’s ranked modes, also known as competitive mode. In this article, we’ll go over how to play competitive in CS2.

When someone says “let’s play competitive matches” in Counter-Strike 2, they could be referring to two things. Counter-Strike offers players with two different ranked modes, which are:

• Competitive Mode
• Premier Mode

Both of these modes have their own ranking system, and players can track their ranking progression either way. 

In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valve only provided players with Competitive Mode as its sole ranked mode. But in Counter-Strike 2, Premier Mode was introduced, and most players prefer it over the old Competitive Mode. 

Most players in the community take Counter-Strike’s ranked modes seriously, as the ranks become a visual representation of their skills. As a result, players do not like messing around and want to do everything in their power to win.

New players, griefers, or cheaters can ruin the competitive experience for players who want to win, which poses a big problem if games are ruined. That is why Valve has imposed two requirements players must meet before they can hop into competitive and ranked matches.

The first requirement of how to play comp in CS2 is to have a Counter-Strike level of at least 2. This means you must play unranked game modes such as Casual, Deathmatch, or Arms Race a few times. Valve wants to ensure that players know how the game works before they can join a ranked match.

Next, your account must have a Prime Status, which somewhat acts like a verification that your account is legitimate. If you previously purchased Counter-Strike: Global Offensive when it was a paid game, you will automatically have a Prime Status for CS2. If you don’t, you must pay $14.99 directly to Valve. 

If you have reached Level 2 and have your account protected by the Prime Status, then you’re good to go.

As mentioned earlier, there are two ways of playing competitive matches, through Competitive Mode or Premier Mode. We’ll go through a step-by-step procedure of how you can queue for a ranked match for both game modes. 

How To Play Competitive Mode In CS2

When playing CS2’s Competitive Mode, you can select which maps you’d like to play on. Additionally, you will have individual skill groups for each map. 

The system is similar to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s Competitive Mode, except for the updated ranking system.

Here is a guide on how to play comp in CS2: 

1. Launch Counter-Strike 2 and click on the “Play” button at the top of your screen.
2. Then, select “Matchmaking” as we are looking to play in an online game.
3. From the various game modes available, select “Competitive”.
4. Now, you can select which maps to queue for by checking or unchecking maps from the list provided.
5. Once you’re ready to go, click on the “Go” button at the bottom-right corner of your screen. 

How To Play Premier Mode In CS2

The newest ranked mode in Counter-Strike is called Premier Mode, and is the most popular game mode among CS2 players today. The ranks are based on a rating system, ensuring players can see their rank gains and losses transparently. 

However, teams will go into a veto phase where maps are banned and picked. There is a chance you might have to play a map you’re unfamiliar with. 

To play CS2’s Premier Mode, follow the steps below:

1. Boot up Counter-Strike 2 and hit the “Play” button at the top of your screen.
2. Next, select “Matchmaking” as Premier Mode is an online game mode. 
3. Since you can’t select specific maps, all you have to do is click the “Go” button at the bottom-right corner of your screen, and you’re good to go!