Inferno is one of Counter-Strike’s oldest and most revered maps. Set in a peaceful Italian village, it turns the *paesino* into a war zone. The map has a three-lane design, a bit different from other classic maps like Mirage and Dust II. The only way to get to B other than Banana is via CT-Spawn, meaning you have to slip past the A defense to perform a split. This, along with the apartments on A, makes the map strategically deeper than its other two classic counterparts. This CS2 Inferno guide will help you navigate these intricacies, though! We'll go over each site and Mid, and how they should be played on both sides—but before that, some general tips.

## General Tips

Learning utility usage on Inferno is absolutely crucial on both sides. While you can get away with knowing only a few smokes on Mirage or Dust II, on Inferno, you have to know everything your opponents can throw at you. From simple smokes to molotov timings, you should definitely watch some YouTube tutorials on the map. We recommend NadeKing.

Beyond that, Inferno is perhaps the best map for CT aggression, so beware if you’re a terrorist. With a lot of variants and the spawn-to-bottom-mid smoke, you can end up with a nasty surprise waiting in Banana, Apartments, and Mid. If you’re on CT, give different looks every time, but coordinate. If you rush down Banana without help from Mid, you’ll lose the site. A good setup may lock your opponents in a pincer.

Finally, this is perhaps the worst map to go for solo plays. They rarely work. Play with your team, and you will be rewarded.

## A-Site

### CT Side

Being a CT on A is perhaps the most diverse CT experience you’ll get. You can AWP Middle, you can play passive, and you have many different positions, including a boost on Short to look forward to. This site is a labyrinth of sorts, and you can get away with doing a lot. The most important positions are Balcony, Under Balcony, Pit, Graveyard, Library, Porch, Apartments, Boiler… as you can see, there’s a bunch of places you can set up in. Equally, however, there are a bunch of angles to defend, as your opponents can come from Apartments, Long, and Short. The deeper you go, the more potential angles you have to defend, making teamwork paramount. If you have only two people on A for some reason, we’d stick to a pretty passive defense from Library and Pit, for example. If you are playing 3A, you can go a bit wild, setting up crossfires in Mid or going aggressive into Apartments.

### T Side

As you can see, the CTs have various choices when defending, making the job of a T extremely unpredictable. This isn’t B, where you can run in with a simple execute, and most of the time, it’ll be a question of out-aiming your opponent. On A, you have to be really methodical and careful.

The most important thing you should do is save your mollies for Pit, Under Balcony, and the site itself. Smoking off Long will also help if you haven’t managed a split, ensuring that the only position you really have to worry about is Graveyard.

It seems simple, right? Well, the approach to A is the real issue. You’re likely to face duels when you come out of Mid or Apartments, so you might want to use your utility on Long or Short, depending on where you want to approach from. This puts you at a disadvantage when entering the site. Going into Mid without the utility may result in a quick sweep against your team. So what’s the solution?

**B Presence.** If the other team thinks you’re going B, you’re going to face fewer players, particularly on Short and in Apps, meaning you’ll be able to take more risks. To do so, you need to take Banana early… and keep it. Banana presence will also be useful in stifling rotations. Keep reading to learn the most important aspects of taking Banana and faking B in order to free up A.

## B-Site

### CT Side

Playing CT on B is all about one choice—taking Banana, or playing passive. Playing passive is safe and will put you in a good position to counter any potential simple B-hits, but playing aggressively can be round-winning, quickly limiting the space your opponents have to execute their strats.

The main flashpoint of all this is Car. The timing is such that teams have each other in their sights by the time the CTs reach the position or the half-wall nearby. Holding that position will allow you a sightline down Banana and to make a choice whether to continue onto Logs and take full control, or simply set up safely on Sandbags and listen out for any executes. Throwing down a bunch of utility down Banana, particularly molotovs, will secure you against any mad rushes but will leave you open for late-round aggression. A good idea is to have one extra player from A come over to drop utility before securing the site.

In the site itself, there are a few nooks and crannies to hide in, most notably Coffins, Quad Box, Dark, and the 1st and 2nd boxes. Coming from CT-Spawn, you also have a position near Church and a sneaky boost onto Flower Pot… Just use it sparingly, because it’s a bit of a one-hit wonder otherwise.

Whatever happens, you don’t want to be stuck with a B retake, given that it’s perhaps the hardest site to retake in all of Counter-Strike. Playing a single B anchor is risky, but might be great if you see that the T-Side is struggling with taking the site from Banana.

### T Side

B is a tough nut to crack; however, with a good plan and utility, you might just be able to take it. The crucial part is taking Banana, and you can do so patiently, waiting for the CT aggression, or impatiently, extinguishing mollies and going for it. The former is usually what we would go for, but if you notice that the B defense is lazy or smaller than usual, this might be a great idea to force a reaction.

Once you have control of Car, you have one question to answer: whether you should keep going or hit the pause button. Oftentimes at lower levels, taking Banana will result in an over-rotation, so keeping one lurk while running into A with your full force may be a great counter. However, if you have some smokes and mollies left over, a full-on execute may be a great way to surprise your opponents.

A rare way to take B is the CT wrap. This is usually hard, as the CTs are defending A, meaning they’re more than likely to see and hear you coming and relay the info to the B defenders. However, with a bit of luck and good timing, you might get away with it, especially if you throw in a sneaky lurker to do the thing, particularly if your opponents have the tendency to avoid defending Long altogether. A pincer maneuver towards B is much harder to defend but still doesn’t guarantee a round win unless the B defense is caught totally unaware.

Whatever strategy you choose, observe your opponents, count the utility, and react based on that.

## Mid & Second Mid

### CT Side

The battle for Mid is a bit different than most maps, since the lane here is actually… two lanes, with a labyrinthine system of apartments connecting them on different levels. This means that CT aggression is limited by the risk of exposure to many different angles, focusing the main battle on two positions: Top-Mid, and Apartments.

If you want to play Top-Mid aggressively, you better go for an AWP at the start of the round. Hell, this position is one where some people actually double-scope their Big Green.

Otherwise, you have a few ways to play Apartments. If your teammate has Bottom-Mid covered, you can play aggressively from Window and hope that nobody manages to get through the T-Apps to your left. However, more typically, you’ll be playing defense from Boiler Room, or the A-Site Balcony, or you’ll leave the position to the terrorists altogether, going for a passive A defense instead.

### T Side

This is the rare map where the Ts have a distinct advantage on Mid, given that they are usually pretty safe there unless a YOLO AWPer comes along to try and snipe them down. This means that you’re most likely to battle it out when you enter Apartments. You can do so through the door on the right side of the map, or via a skill-jump to Window. The former is definitely the quicker option; however, Window room is sometimes left uncovered in some passive setups, allowing you to sneak through to Boiler. Essentially, it all depends on your read as to what the defense is doing and how they’re set up.

There’s also a great [wallbang spot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkyCaDCBskM) when on the 2nd Mid Bridge, allowing you to take some health off of a player defending from the site-side hallway. If you know somebody’s standing in that corner or rushing Apps round after round, it’s worth it to try for a wallbang, though plenty of players know to look out for that particular maneuver.

## Conclusion

Your main takeaway from this guide should be that Inferno, more than any other map, is based primarily on communication and coordination. We know many great aimers who struggle there, as duels are hard to find, and a puggy style fails more often than on Mirage and Dust. That’s why you should talk to your teammates, use utility wisely, and don’t go looking for duels without the proper setup. And hey, if you haven't already, check out our [CS2 Mirage guide](https://pirateswap.com/blog/article/cs2-mirage-guide) next!

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CS2 Inferno Guide and Tactics for Both Sides

CS is an unusual game in that teams are really… fluid. Brands change, rosters stay. For example, the Brazilian championship core of the days of yore played under three different brands: Luminosity, SK, and MIBR. That’s why we want to take a look at the best rosters of all time. None of that “Virtus Pro with Jame and Snax are the same thing.”

In this article, we’ll look at the 10 best 5-man rosters in Counter-Strike history. Ready? 

## 10. EnvyUs

Made up of Vincent "Happy" Schopenhauer, Nathan "NBK-" Schmitt, Fabien "kioShiMa" Fiey, Kenny "kennyS" Schrub, and Dan "apEX" Madesclaire, this roster had an extremely strong run in 2015 as they won the [DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015](https://liquipedia.net/counterstrike/DreamHack/2015/Cluj-Napoca), and numerous other top-tier tournaments, before breaking up in the 2017 French Shuffle.

## 9. Vitality

Another French(ish) team is Vitality, where apEX appears again along with Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen, Emil “Magisk” Reif, and Lotan “Spinx” Giladi. The team had a great run in the spring of 2023, winning the BLAST.tv Paris Major and IEM Rio in the span of a month. The summer brought the unfortunate departure of dupreeh, but nevertheless, when on their game, this roster was absolutely unstoppable, courtesy of ZywOo’s heroics.

## 8. 2019 Liquid

The best team to never win a Major, the 2019 Liquid squad consisting of Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, Nicholas “nitr0” Canella, Jonathan “Elige” Jablonowski, Keith “NAF” Markovic, and Jake “Stewie2k” Yip absolutely dominated the scene, winning 9 tournaments in 9 months, including an IEM Grand Slam. Unfortunately, the big one got away from them, and the team eventually fell apart during the 2020 pandemic.

## 7. Luminosity/SK Gaming

Consisting of Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, Marcelo “coldzera” David, Epitacio “TACO” Melo, Lincoln “fnx” Lau, and Fernando “fer” Alvarenga, the Brazilian roster dominated Counter-Strike in 2016, winning both Majors that year. After some conflicts, fnx left, and the mantra of “No fnx, no Major” came to be. Their dominant run didn’t last the longest, but it left a big mark on Counter-Strike.

## 6. Major-Winning FaZe

FaZe has been a team that for the longest time would be the bridesmaid and not the bride, but in 2022, they managed to break their curse in Antwerp with a roster consisting of Finn “karrigan” Andersen, Robin “ropz” Kool, Twistzz, Havard “rain” Nygard, and Helvijs “broky” Sauntas. Continuing the run, they managed to win the Intel Grand Slam, along with a few other tournaments. This core’s run ended when Twistzz left the team to rejoin Liquid.

## 5. s1mple’s Na’Vi

Led by Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, the Major-winning roster also featured Denis “electronic” Sharipov, Kiril “Boombl4” Mikhaylov, and Valerij “b1t” Vakhovskjyj. The team was on an absolute tear in 2021, winning not only the Stockholm Major, but also multiple IEM titles, resulting in them winning the Intel Grand Slam. The roster eventually fizzled out as the team transitioned to an international roster… that also won the Major and is now in the process of potentially cementing themselves in the Top 10.

## 4. Early CS:GO NiP

The famed early CS:GO Ninjas in Pyjamas, featuring Christopher “GeT_RighT” Alesund, Adam “friberg” Friberg, Patrick “f0rest” Lindberg, Richard “Xizt” Landstrom, and Robin “Fifflaren” Johansson, are best known for starting CS:GO esports with a banging 87-0 map-winning streak. Despite the Swedes’ dominance in the early days, they were cursed with losing Major finals for two years before winning their first and only Major in 2012. The roster eventually fell apart in late 2014 when Fifflaren left the team.

## 3. 2015 fnatic

Another Swedish team on our list, the 2015 fnatic roster featured Robin “flusha” Ronnquist, Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer, Jesper “JW” Wecksell, Markus “pronax” Wallsten, and Freddy “KRIMZ” Johansson. Winning both 2015 Majors, they became the first roster to repeat a Major title in Counter-Strike history, and the first team to win three titles as three of the five players also won a Major in 2013, with olofmeister and KRIMZ being the new additions. The team was also very close to winning a Major earlier, as DreamHack Winter 2014 ended in controversy surrounding the Olofpass incident, which eliminated the heavily favored hometown team from Major contention.

## 2. Golden Five

The Polish Five of Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski, Wiktor “TaZ” Wojtas, Jarosław “pashaBiceps” Jarząbkowski, Filip “NEO” Kubski, and Paweł “byali” Bieliński were the longest-running Counter-Strike roster of all time, playing together. Their biggest success has to be their Katowice Major 2014 win, but also plenty of other tournaments and high finishes in the Major. They may not have the most wins, but their sheer longevity has them placed second on our list, as they played together for over five years, spanning back to their days as Universal Soldiers in 2013 until their slow death that started in 2018 with the benching of TaZ.

## 1. Astralis

Who else but the team of dupreeh, Magisk, Nikolai “dev1ce” Reedtz, Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander, and Andreas “Xyp9x” Hojsleth. They won three Majors (London 2018, Katowice 2019, and Berlin 2019), the first IEM Grand Slam, countless tournaments, and dominated the Counter-Strike scene for years. Four of them (with Magisk being replaced by Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjærbye) also won the 2017 Atlanta Major. The Astralis era was beyond insane, and while the placement of the teams below it can easily be argued, these damn Danes can’t be argued with. They’re the GOATs.

There they are: the top 10 best Counter-Strike rosters of all time. For more like this, check out our list of the [best Counter-Strike players in history](https://pirateswap.com/blog/article/top-10-counter-strike-players) and, if you’re into sniping, the [best AWPers in CS](https://pirateswap.com/blog/article/best-awp-skins-cs2). GLHF!

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The Best Counter-Strike Rosters of All Time

The Best Counter-Strike Rosters of All-Time

Mirage is one of the most popular and most played maps in all of Counter-Strike, along with Dust II. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about this classic map, including the basic layout, tactics, and plays needed to master Mirage. No matter whether you're playing on the CT or T side, this CS2 Mirage guide has you covered!

## Layout
Mirage has a simple layout based on the classic three-lane setup that most older Counter-Strike maps use. A-Site has a total of five entrances (from Ramp, Palace, Connector, Jungle, and CT), while B only has three (Apartments, Short, Kitchen/Market), making A the harder site to defend. 

This makes Mirage a map where you can try a variety of CT setups: the classic 2-1-2, with two players on each site and an anchor holding Mid; a 3-1-1 with three players on A; or a 2-2-1 with two players each on A and Mid. All of this depends on your opponents’ strategy when it comes to their attacking focus. In PUGs, A-Site will often be the focus for most of the game, with B Rushes and Splits occurring rarely. Pro play is much more complicated—too complicated for a straightforward guide like this one!

## A-Site
Let’s go over A-Site in more detail. We’ll look at CT tactics first and then move on to T gameplay. Let’s go!

### CT Side
On CT, your main job will be holding Ramp and Palace while hoping your Mid teammate will hold Connector for you. There are many ways to play the position: an AWP from CT holding the Ramp exit, a rifle holding Palace from Stairs, playing Ramp from Firebox, and Palace from up close on the Balcony. You can also hold Palace from Jungle. The list goes on. What you need to know is that almost everyone in Counter-Strike can throw the three A Mirage smokes—Jungle, Stairs, and CT—in their sleep. This means that unless you want to play retake, you’re going to have to play ahead of the smokes. You can also use smokes and mollies to delay any Ramp and Palace rushes. Using HE grenades on the positions may also yield big damage if thrown deep enough.

Defending A on Mirage is all about trust. You must trust that the other angles are being observed by your teammate. Otherwise, you’ll quickly get taken down by somebody from behind.

Aggression is possible with a good spawn; you can rush Ramp or Palace. However, we’d advise against rushing the former unless it’s an eco round with a load of nades heading ahead of you. Palace has better timing, but we’d reserve it for force buys and really insane spawns. To rush into Palace, be sure to learn how to jump up to Balcony from the boxes.

Handling the retake is pretty intuitive. Use smokes to block off the important post-plant positions, come in pairs to trade, and don’t panic.

### T Side
As terrorists, you’ll have to learn a lot of utility to get to A. Going in without nades will probably result in you getting absolutely slaughtered, so it’s a good idea to learn the main T-side Mirage smokes: Stairs, CT, and Jungle. We suggest [this guide on YouTube](https://youtu.be/AKuqMLnB07U?feature=shared) to learn them. Once you have that setup, remember that it’s such a standard, you will need more than that. Good pop-flashes, having a rhythm, and Mid penetration will help you set up the perfect A-take.

If you’re an AWPer with a spawn for A, you can rush down Ramp to take a potshot at anyone crossing to Stairs or Connector. But remember, you’ll probably have to run right away after taking the shot because the CT utility will come your way, and come fast.

Overall, taking A is possible with a Ramp-Palace split, but we’d advise controlling at least Top-Mid to make your opponent’s rotations harder. What’s more, be sure to watch out for players looking to take you out from Short, as that B rotation can catch a Firebox player unaware.

## Mid
Let’s move on to Mid tactics for both sides:

### CT Side
When playing Mid on CT, you have basically one focus: holding on to Top Mid. You can do that from the Window, but that’s often smoked off, with Connector having a similar issue. This means that in the end, you have to rely on defending from Short, which is a tough ask and makes you really passive.

Window is relatively safe as long as you have someone covering Underpass. In that case, you have to focus on one angle only. In others, you might need to use utility to secure your position in Window from someone popping up from underneath. Window is best held with an AWP, but a skilled M4 user might win some duels.

If you’re playing Connector, you’ll have to be very careful. If you allow anyone to cross the angle from T-Spawn, you’ll be exposed to a lot of different plays through Underpass. You’re also very likely to be mollied out, so you might have to play this passively, simply securing Short and avoiding powerful peeks from Mid.

Finally, if you play Short, you have a few options. You’ll be late for the cross in most spawns, so you should really look out for players popping out of the boxes. We suggest simply holding Connector from the Ladder Room area.

Rushing Mid from Window is an option, but it’s risky. We advise doing it with backup or during an eco round. Otherwise, your rush might be short-lived. You can also rush Underpass, which is a risky strategy that may pay off, cutting off oxygen to the Ts if you manage to catch a player down low.

When it comes to utility, a Molotov towards the back of boxes is your best friend, flushing out the Terrorists and allowing you to take some potshots. Otherwise, it’s just securing Underpass.

### T Side
With only two entrances into Mid, the T-Side has their work cut out for them. Once again, the focus here has to be utility. The Window smoke isn’t easy to master, but once you get it going, you’ll be able to avoid the nasty sniper’s nest. Another, simpler option is smoking the cross to boxes, creating a new angle to take the fight to Window and Short, or an opportunity to throw another smoke to explode onto B.

Underpass might help you flush out a pesky CT in Connector or Window, but is also risky to take without presence on Mid, as you may have a surprise waiting for you.

Eventually, you’ll have to win a duel somewhere. The best way to do that is to set up trade kills. Baiting the AWPer to shoot a rifler might be a great way to win the battle on Mid, but otherwise, simply checking your corners, using utility, and hitting headshots will be the way to go.

## B-Site
Last but not least, here’s what to do on the B-Site of Mirage:

### CT Side
B is a site where you can leave a single anchor player watching the Apartments and call it a day. As long as you have that, you can just not think about B until you hear a call. Now, the Anchor here has to be smart with calling for rotations. Don’t get baited by one or two players; hold on to the site for as long as possible before calling for help. Don’t play aggressively without backup, simply observe and force the Ts to make a decision.

If there are two of you playing, one should keep Apartments clear, while the other should be holding from Short. If you’re sure Mid is secure, you can use Short to keep any CTs from spilling out from the Window. The Anchor, meanwhile, can play a bit more aggressively (even with an AWP!) from Car, or keep a safe angle and try to bait the Ts into a crossfire.

Another option if you’re anchoring is getting boosted onto the “Ninja Box” by your teammate and remaining there for a surprise. Do note that this is a one-and-done, and higher-level players will check the box if they feel the bombsite’s a bit too quiet.

So yeah, we know this isn’t too attractive, but your goal is simple: SURVIVE. If you survive, you’ll be a boon to your team… even if it’s not the most flashy. And if you’re bored… wallbang the wood in Apartments. You may just catch someone sleeping.

### T Side
B is a notoriously hard site to take, given that it only has one entrance available without taking Mid. This means you’ll have to rely on aggressive rushes or long setups to get into the bombsite. A B hit is great on an anti-eco since it’s hard to stop with bad weaponry, but extremely hard against a full-buy.

First thing’s first: If you’re going B… hold on to a smoke. Getting hit with a molly right as you’re leaving Apartments isn’t something you want to happen. That’s why one of the players coming into Apartments should have a smoke in hand to extinguish the fire. The next thing you need to keep in mind is that when you’re rushing with others, you want to get out of Apartments ASAP. Don’t stop, even if you’re getting shot at. If you’re going alone and you’re not spotted, staying in Aps may help you get a good read on the defense and surprise your opponents with a lurk.

If you’re splitting B, it’s important to take control of Ladder Room ASAP. Controlling Ladder Room will help you with countering CT rotations and with setting up the next phase of your B-take. If you control Apartments and Short, you will only need to have your eyes on Kitchen/Market. If you loosen up on Short, you may be surprised with a quick rotation through Underpass.

Mirage may be one of the simplest maps in the [CS2 map pool](https://pirateswap.com/blog/article/cs-2-map-pool-explained), hence its popularity. However, it’s also one of the more nuanced. We hope these tips and tricks will help you perform better during PUGs you play on the map. Have fun and see you on the battlefield, Pirate!

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CS2 Mirage Guide and Tactics for Both Sides

Out of all the different roles and weapons, the super-deadly AWP became a symbol of Counter-Strike proficiency. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best players to ever use the most powerful sniper rifle in Counter-Strike. Ready to meet the best AWPers in CS2?

## 10. Tomáš "oskar" Štastný
A bit of a throwback, oskar isn’t the most known but ends up on our list as a classic player with amazing talent that just didn’t quite put it all together. He was still one of the superstar players that defined Mousesports for years, including an epic win at ESL One: New York in 2018. A highlight machine, and the best Czech player ever, he just about sneaks in into our Top 10.

## 9. Tyler “Skadoodle” Latham
The best North American AWPer of all time, Skadoodle won the ELEAGUE Boston Major in 2018 with Cloud9. Ska had a major impact on his team and on the NA scene as a whole: at his best, he’s a formidable AWPer deserving of a Top 10 mention and the title of the best North American sniper ever to grace the Counter-Strike servers.

## 8. Dzhami “Jame” Ali
The winner and MVP of IEM Rio 2022, Jame has been around the scene for a long time. You may say, a Jame time. Jame is a mastermind of Virtus.Pro (and AVANGAR earlier), responsible for one of the most interesting (and infuriating) tactical styles in all of Counter-Strike, hinged on the presence of his AWP which he protects at all costs. He’s not the most exciting AWPer, but surely, one of the best.

## 7. Gabriel “FalleN”
One of two IGLs on our list, in his prime, FalleN was a fearsome duel for absolutely everyone. A two-time Major champion, FalleN was sometimes overshadowed by Luminosity/SK’s secondary AWPer Marcelo “coldzera” David. Still, his performances are some of the best in history, providing the Brazilian squad with the one-two punch that made them the kingpins of Counter-Strike for a while. 

## 6. Jesper “JW” Wecksell
Similarly to KennyS, JW saw his heyday in the run-and-gun AWP era, and couldn’t quite adjust to the post-nerf style. That is not to say that he’s not a great AWPer. His career saw him win 3 Majors, including an MVP at [DreamHack Winter 2013](https://www.hltv.org/events/1270/dreamhack-winter-2013). Playing with a bit of a wild style, enjoying off-angles and weird secondary weapons (he unironically used the revolver!), JW is one to remember.

## 5. Kenny “KennyS” Shrub
KennyS is the OG epic AWPer, with highlights of his mastery sometimes being the first interaction people had with pro Counter-Strike. The French superstar was a wizard using his famed “Magic Stick” to blast people into oblivion. The AWP nerf ten years ago did limit his impact, but he can’t be denied the status of absolute legend, and a spot on this list. KennyS is a one-time Major Winner and MVP at Cluj-Napoca in 2015.

## 4. Ladislav “GuardiaN” Kovacs
One of the best to ever do it without winning a Major, GuardiaN was around for many years and reached several Major finals. Unfortunately for him, he ended up always being the bridesmaid and never the bride, with his most notable loss coming at the ELEAGUE Boston Major in 2018 where FaZe was one round short of the championship. An unfortunate end for a Counter-Strike legend.

## 3. Nikolai “device” Reedtz
This Danish AWPer definitely deserves a spot on the Mount Rushmore of Counter-Strike AWPing. A four-time Major Champion and two-time Major MVP, “devve” has been beyond incredible in his career. While his style may not be the most dynamic, especially compared to the other stars on this list, the methodical, slow-and steady approach has made him one of the most decorated Counter-Strike players of all-time. And it gave him a well-deserved spot on our list.

## 2. Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
The second-best Counter-Strike player of all time is also the second-best AWPer of all-time. ZywOo won his hometown Major in Paris, winning MVP at the same time. He’s incredibly consistent and has taken over the reigns as the best Counter-Strike player in the world ever since s1mple went on sabbatical.

## 1. Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev
The number one on our [best Counter-Strike player](https://pirateswap.com/blog/article/top-10-counter-strike-players) list is also the winner of our AWP ranking. s1mple’s AWPing has left us with some of the absolute best moments in Counter-Strike, including his no-scope 1v2 on Cache. While he’s more of a hybrid rifler than a pure AWPer, he’s definitely the best there is, the best player of all time with the Counter-Strike cannon in hand. 

And that’s all for this one. Have we missed anyone? Let us know on our social media, and if you happen to be an AWPer, too, check out our list of the [best AWP skins in CS2](https://pirateswap.com/blog/article/best-awp-skins-cs2)!

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The Best AWPers in CS2: Top Players of All Time

CS2 esports have been around for a long time, and with them, we’ve seen the rise of CS2 casting—also known as commentating. Counter-Strike has introduced the world to some of the most epic esports voices, and in this article, we’ll go over our subjective Top 10.

*Honorable mentions: launders, semmler*

## James “Bardolph” Bardolph

James Bardolph sneaks onto our list after a few years of lesser activity. He’s a controversial figure given his connections to FACEIT and the whole FACEIT Major controversy, but in the end, he’s one of the voices of the greatest Major final in history—the ELEAGUE Major in Boston—and the voice of a moment etched in history in s1mple’s 2v1 clutch, which is our best call.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj-3kUXmRoc)

## Daniel “DDK” Kapadia

Joining Bardolph is his partner in crime. DDK was always the more knowledgeable of the two, being a former CS pro himself, but he was also a great hype man and the voice of that ELEAGUE Final. However, we believe that his best call came when he commentated the iconic jumping double from cold.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjOVXdarUTs)

## Hugo Byron

The voice of the next generation, Hugo, along with our next entry, JustHarry, has taken over the casting scene in recent years, culminating in a deserved casting spot for the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 final. While Hugo is a bit more understated than his partner, he’s an absolute beast, and their spot on this list is motivated purely by their relatively short tenure. They’re definitely coming for number one.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](https://youtu.be/XohXcrp6CA4?t=120)

## Harry “JustHarry” Russell

The other part of the H&H duo, Harry is an absolute beast on the mic, bringing fierceness and hype to every single big moment while being entertaining in the small ones. He’s humble yet awesome, and we believe that in 3-4 years' time, he’ll be undeniably at the top of this list.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](#)

## Jason “Moses” O’Toole

A long-time CS pro, map designer, and analyst, Moses has done it all in the Counter-Strike world, and eventually, he replaced Semmler as Anders’ color commentator. Moses brings hype but also a ton of knowledge, explaining the complicated tactics of Counter-Strike in simple terms and delivering some epic calls. A powerhouse of constructive Counter-Strike.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](https://youtu.be/qlrP7kJ0Fr0?t=79)

## Chad “SpunJ” Burchill

The Aussie former pro first ingratiated himself to the Counter-Strike scene as a desk analyst before transitioning to the casting desk, where he further showcased his skills. SpunJ isn’t the most serious of folks and adds a lot of much-needed levity to the games, making every game he casts a must-watch (or rather, must-listen).

**Best Call (this isn’t really the best… but it’s the most SpunJ):** [Watch Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHT_BfwPKDo)

## Alex “Machine” Richardson

From host to caster, Machine fits perfectly with a lot of folks, but most of all with SpunJ. He has a great vocabulary, voice control, and a penchant for epic calls where he absolutely loses that control in the hype. He also learned plenty of lessons about tactics running analyst desks for years, which he uses to give people some context to the proceedings.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](https://youtu.be/RxFml_0gYvs?t=127)

## Henry “HenryG” Greer

HenryG and Sadokist have been THE casting pair for years of Counter-Strike. Henry’s experience as an ex-pro along with his characteristic voice and delivery made him the absolute cream of the crop, and his chemistry with our #2 was beyond magical. He took a break from CS, returning recently in different pairings, and still does a great job.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](https://youtu.be/1goT51aJwNQ?t=85)

## Matthew “Sadokist” Trivett

If we were going off skill alone, Sadokist would be the undisputed #1. But Sadokist hasn’t been around much for a while, so sadly, we’re going to have to dock him for leaving us without his epic talents. Sado’s list of epic calls is basically never-ending, but in the end, the battle was between the two New York calls (“The Wolf of Wall Street” and “It’s the Big Apple, and Snax is Hungry”), and we went with the latter, as it’s still ringing in our ears.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLVIgyrRk28)

## Anders Blume

The only non-native English speaker on our list, Anders has been the longest-standing caster on our list. The powerful Dane has overseen some of Counter-Strike’s most iconic moments, and his voice accompanies them. He’s been a bit less prominent of late, but still… His staying power, his sense of occasion, his wry humor, and the ability to cast with absolutely anyone make him our number one. The hard part was picking his best moment, but here we are.

**Best Call:** [Watch Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLXQMMJmt-w)

---

And that’s all. Did we miss anyone? Who do you think will make it in the end? Let us know!


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Top 10 Best CS2 Casters: Iconic Voices in Esports

Looking to upgrade your AWP game in CS2? Whether you want something flashy or just a clean, cool design, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a rundown of the best AWP skins that’ll make your sniper stand out in style. Let’s dive in!

## 1. AWP | Medusa
![AWP | Medusa CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Medusa_0d85a17e8f.webp)

**Rarity:** Covert ⚓ **Versions:** Standard only

Medusa is the first of several rare and coveted AWP skins on our list. As mythical as the creature it depicts, this skin is definitely not a common sight both in game and on skin markets—few players have ever seen one in a match. Which is a shame because it’s a truly beautiful skin!

If you’re wondering about the origin behind this design, it’s inspired by Greek mythology, where the Medusa was a woman with snakes for hair. As if that wasn’t enough to make her hard to like, her stare would also turn people into stone. 
## 2. AWP | Hyper Beast
![AWP | Hyper Beast CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Hyper_Beast_ac5bfa83f0.webp)

**Rarity:** Covert ⚓ **Versions:** Standard, StatTrak

For those who prefer a more vibrant and chaotic design, the AWP Hyper Beast is the perfect choice. This skin is an explosion of color, featuring a monstrous creature rendered in a dizzying mix of neon hues. This AWP design, along with the other Hyper Beast skins in the game, owe their unique style to [Brock Hofer](https://brockhoferart.com/projects), a Canadian artist whose work tends to feature monsters and beasts in psychedelic colors. 

## 3. AWP | Asiimov
![AWP | Asiimov CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Asiimov_Skin_ea34c26a40.webp)

**Rarity:** Covert ⚓ **Versions:** Standard, StatTrak

The sci-fi style of the Asiimov is instantly recognizable, be it on the AK or the AWP. Asiimov mixes white with black and orange accents for a futuristic look. Unlike some of the other Asiimovs, the AWP edition will never be 100% pristine: the float for this skin starts at 0.18 (Field-Tested), meaning that it'll always show at least a little wear. 

In Battle-Scarred condition, some parts of the rifle turn completely black, including the scope. The so-called "Blackiimov" can net slightly higher prices than its "newer" counterparts. To find out more about wear conditions, read our post on [float in CS2](https://pirateswap.com/blog/article/cs2-float), by the way! 

## 4. AWP | Oni Taiji
![AWP | Oni Taiji CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Oni_Taiji_475eb02914.webp)

**Rarity:** Covert ⚓ **Versions:** Standard, StatTrak

If you've played Ghost of Tsushima, oni will be a familiar sight to you. If you haven't, here's the low-down: oni are fearsome demonic creatures from Japanese folklore, taking an ogre-like appearance of huge, powerful, often red giants. 

Oni Taiji depicts a samurai fighting one such fiery creature, in a traditional comic book art style. The purple of the scope and barrel, adorned with a gentle pattern, balances out the detailed design on the body of the rifle. Perfect choice if you're into colorful designs that tell a story. 

## 5. AWP | Dragon Lore
![AWP | Dragon Lore CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Dragon_Lore_f86abb6c7d.webp)

**Rarity:** Covert ⚓ **Versions:** Standard, Souvenir

Next up, a skin that is as legendary as it looks. Dragon Lore is an incredibly rare sight on both the Steam Market and other sites, with very few “Dlores” in circulation. You can always [get a Dragon Lore on PirateSwap](https://pirateswap.com/exchanger), though! 

This Cobblestone Collection skin features a dragon intertwined with mystical runes, set against a background of rich, earthy tones. The checkered pattern on the scope and barrel adds another layer of details, making this truly one of the most eye-catching skins in the game. 

## 6. AWP | Gungnir
![AWP | Gungnir CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Gungnir_Skin_3659f67e49.webp)

**Rarity:** Covert ⚓ **Versions:** Standard only

We're staying in the realm of mythology, but moving North, to the frozen lands of mythical Norway. This skin is inspired, and named after, the magical spear wielded by Odin, the Norse god of war and death who rules over Valhalla, the afterlife for the bravest fallen warriors. His spear, Gungnir, would never miss its mark. 

The CS2 version of Gungnir is unlikely to have the same magical ability, but it's legendary for other reasons. Like a couple of the other skins on this list, Gungnir is extremely rare. Between its value and the intricacy of its design, it's sure to be the crowning jewel in any skin collection. 

## 7. AWP | Neo-Noir
![AWP | Neo-Noir CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Neo_Noir_1fd2b08859.webp)

**Rarity:** Covert ⚓ **Versions:** Standard, StatTrak

Style is the name of the game with this one. Neo-Noir draws inspiration from the film genre of the same name and from graphic novels, combining both into a captivating, intriguing design. The bold lines and vibrant colors create a dramatic vibe, and the details of the illustration make you wonder about the story it's trying to tell. Like Oni Taiji, this is a great (and relatively affordable) pick if you're into story-rich, illustration-style skins. 

## 8. AWP | Graphite
![AWP | Graphite CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Graphite_2a2225cd3e.webp)

**Rarity:** Classified ⚓ **Versions:** Standard, StatTrak

For players who prefer sleek simplicity and understated elegance, the AWP | Graphite will be the ideal choice. This skin features a monochromatic design with a subtle, reflective finish over a chrome base coat. It comes only in Factory New and Minimal Wear conditions, so you can always be sure that your Graphite will look its best, no matter its exact float. 

## 9. AWP | Man-o’-war
![AWP | Man-o’-war CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/AWP_Man_o_war_skin_83973ef8e1.webp)

**Rarity:** Classified ⚓ **Versions:** Standard, StatTrak

We've already been to Japan, Norway, ancient Greece with the best AWP skins, and now it's time to explore... the depths of the ocean! The deep blues and golds, along with intricate patterns, give this skin an elegant and somehow majestic look. The name of this skin is a reference to a type of warship from the golden age of piracy, so it holds a truly special place on PirateSwap. 

## 10. AWP | Chrome Cannon
![AWP | Chrome Cannon CS2 skin](https://fearless-surprise-ac87093411.media.strapiapp.com/awp_chrome_cannon_5d26af01eb.webp)

**Rarity:** Covert ⚓ **Versions:** Standard, StatTrak

Released in early 2024 with the first case specifically for CS2 (as opposed to CS:GO), Chrome Cannon is a fairly recent addition to the game. It's also genuinely unique in appearance: it's the only skin that uses the mirror effect on the entire surface of the weapon. With this skin, your AWP will look like it's made of mercury (or like it's about to reassemble into the T-1000 from Terminator 2). 

And with that, our list of the top ten best AWP skins in CS2 is complete. Enjoy your time sniping away at enemies with your new skin, and be sure to check out our post with the best [tips for playing as an AWPer](https://pirateswap.com/blog/article/cs2-awp-guide) next!

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10 Best AWP Skins in CS2

Counter-Strike isn’t the most realistic game in the world (and not the least realistic game in the world either, cough cough Call of Duty), but nevertheless, it draws inspiration from real-life weaponry. In this article, we’ll tell you all about every weapon’s real-life counterpart, starting with…

### CZ75-Auto
The CZ75-Auto is a modified version of the Czech CZ75 coming from Ceska Zbrojovka, the former national arms manufacturer of Czechia.

In real life, the weapon shoots pretty similarly to its CS2 equivalent, firing off a quick fully automatic burst whenever the trigger is held.

### Desert Eagle
Designed by Magnum Research and Israel Military Industries, the real-life Desert Eagle has been around since 1983, having undergone some small changes since. It’s a very adaptable weapon taking many cartridges, and Counter-Strike gives a pretty realistic representation of the weapon all in all.

### Dual Berettas
The Dual Berettas are inspired by the Beretta 92 manufactured in Italy. The idea to make them dual wielded stems from their use as dual-wielded pistols in John Woo’s classic Hong Kong action movies like *Hard Boiled*.

The game itself isn’t quite sure as to which version is actually used, between the 9mm Parabellum and .40 S&W, as the buy menu and interface differ on that account. We’re going to assume the former is correct, though.

### Five-seveN
Produced by FN Herstal in Belgium, the real-life version of this weapon has actually been developed in conjunction with another CS2 gun in the P90. The weapon was launched in 2000 and has been used by law enforcement from Poland to Nepal. We wonder if it’s as destructive as it is in CS2, but surely, it must be reliable.

### Glock-18
One of the most popular pistols in the world, the Glock-18 is manufactured in Austria and has been used by militaries and law enforcement (as well as gangs) all over the world ever since 1982. This particular model of the Glock allows users to select a full-auto mode, which is also present in Counter-Strike in the burst fire mode that is rarely used in Counter-Strike. 

### P2000
Designed by German Heckler & Koch, the P2000 was created in the early 2000s for the German Customs Organization, fittingly enough, as a successor to the USP, as the agency needed a more compact pistol. Ever since then, however, it was dropped by the German Customs, but used by law enforcement in Germany, Canada, and Japan, as well as ironically enough, Customs officers in the US.

### R8
Actually The Smith & Wesson 327 R8, this model is a modernized version of a classic revolver. The original model has been in production since 1935; however, the refreshed versions appeared in the early 2000s. The Counter-Strike version is definitely a bit of a fictional invention, but hey… At least the look’s there.

### Tec-9
Developed by Swedish-American Intratec, the Tec-9 is a weapon that’s mostly associated with American gangs because of its relatively low price and high fire rate. It has been made illegal in some states, but fortunately for us, it’s legal in Counter-Strike.

### USP-S
Designed by Heckler & Koch, the USP has been in service since 1993 as a weapon to be used by law enforcement. The most interesting thing about this gun in real-life is that it has 9 different “trigger styles” allowing users to swap the trigger for one that fits them best.

## Mid-Tier

### MAC-10
While it may look like it’s a pretty modern gun, this one is actually one of the oldest guns in Counter-Strike when it comes to real-life, having been made since 1970 by the Military Armament Corporation, and has even seen action in the Vietnam War. Not bad for an SMG.

The civilian version of this weapon has actually been banned in the United States between 1994 and 2004 under the Assault Weapons Ban.

### MP5-SD
Another Heckler & Koch invention, the MP5-SD is a silenced (and very much real) version of the MP5, a submachine gun even older than the Mac-10, having been around since 1966. The suppressed version was introduced in 1973, with the letter standing for Schalldämpfer, which literally means “sound suppressor”, with the suppressor actually being built-in to the gun. Eventually this design was replaced by another CS2 weapon - the UMP-45.

### MP7
As you could’ve guessed by the name, the MP7 is another Heckler & Koch weapon, designed to compete against the FN P90. While being designed in 1989 to meet NATO requirements, the weapon only went into production in 2001. The reason for this development was the fact that more and more combatants used soft-body armor, making the likes of the MP5 inefficient. The MP7 uses 4.6x30mm cartridges that are designed to penetrate that armor, making the CS2 equivalent very much a realistic one.

### MP9
Surprise, this one isn’t designed by Heckler & Koch! Instead, it’s another German partnership in Brügger & Thomet. This selective-fire submachine gun was created for the German military in 2001 (hence the name Maschinenpistole 9), and been in use ever since.

The MP9 is actually an evolution of the Steyr TMP, after B&T bought the design from Steyr and added some safety and quality-of-life features to the gun, and fittingly enough, has replaced the TMP in Counter-Strike as the game evolved.

### PP-Bizon
Actually the PP-19 Bizon, this is a nepo-baby baby, as it has been created by Victor Kalashnikov (son of Mikhail Kalashnikov of AK-47 fame) and Alexei Dragunov (son of Yevgeni Dragunov of SVD fame). Created for the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1993, the design features a unique helical magazine, allowing it to hold 64 rounds. It’s used mainly in Russia, however it also has seen use by the Vietnamese forces.

### P90
Created by the Belgian FN Herstal along with the Five-seveN, it actually uses the same ammunition as the pistol. The name derives from its project codename - Project 90. With its compact bullpup design, it’s been popular with law enforcement agencies all over the world, and also seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

### UMP-45
Back to Heckler & Koch we go with the UMP, a 2000 successor to the MP5. The U stands for Universal, making this the Universal Machine Pistol to highlight its new design. Yet, despite their best efforts, the UMP still hasn’t become as popular as the MP5, however, it’s been a hit among military personnel, being deployed in Iraq, as well as in the US, where .45 ACP cartridges are very popular.

### MAG-7
Created by South African Techno Arms, the MAG-7 is a pump action shotgun in production since 1995. It was designed for close quarters combat, with a civilian version also being made, featuring a non-detachable wooden stock. Despite not being too popular with law enforcement at first due to early development pains, the weapon has become widespread ever since the manufacturer fixed said issues.

### Nova
Developed by Italian Benelli, this Italian shotgun has been in production since the 1990s, with its primary use being hunting and self-defense, with hunting, tactical and “supernova” variants being introduced for the various users. The version we see in Counter-Strike is the Tactical variant.

### Sawed-Off
The Sawed-Off is the first weapon on this list not to have an obvious real-life inspiration, however, we know it’s been inspired by the Remington 870 (or, as the engraving says, the Relphington 808). That’s because Sawed-off shotguns are what the name says. Shotguns with a barrel shortened with a saw. The model the Sawed-Off is based on has been around since 1951, created by the defunct American Remington Arms Company and now produced by Remington Firearms.

### XM1014
Another Benelli creation, the XM1014 was actually originally named the Benelli M4, however, the US military designated it as an experimental weapon (hence the X), before eventually dropping the letter, meaning that in real-life the XM1014 is actually the M1014. The weapon uses a proprietary auto-regulating gas-operated system (ARGO), allowing it to become the semi-automatic shotgun it is. Ever since its introduction in 1999, it has been used in many conflicts around the world, including the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.

### M249 
This weapon introduced in 1984 is an adaptation of the FN Herstal’s LMG, the FN Minimi (what a name!) created for the US Armed Forces. Produced by their American subsidiary, FN Manufacturing, the weapon is also known as the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) and aims to combine the portability of an assault rifle with the rate of fire of the machine gun. In 2022, it was replaced by the SIG Sauer XM250. We wonder, will Counter-Strike do the same in the future?

### Negev
Designed by Israel Weapon Industries and named after the Negev desert, the Negev is in production since 1995, and we must say this clearly, IS NOT ACTUALLY A SUPER-PRECISE LASER GUN. In real-life, it’s an LMG closer to the M249 and is used by the Israeli military, along with its 2012 update, the Negev NG-7 (NG standing for Next Generation).

## Rifles

### AK-47
Perhaps the most iconic rifle in both Counter-Strike and real-life, the AK (Avtomat Kalashnikova, Kalashnikov’s Automatic) has been in production since 1949, making it Counter-Strike’s oldest weapon. This is an example of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” In 2004, research indicated that out of 500 million firearms in the world, 75 million were AK-47’s. 

Designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and produced by his concern among others, this weapon is reliable, cheap, and available, making it popular among armies and terrorists alike. Simply said, it’s iconic. For the wrong reasons, but it’s iconic.

### AUG
The AUG might look futuristic, but it’s actually not much younger than the Kalashnikov. Designed in the 1960s and launched in 1978 by Steyr-Daimler-Puch, the AUG is the weapon of choice for the Austrian Armed Forces, owing to its bullpup design. It was one of the weapons banned in the US between 1994 and 2004 due to the assault weapons ban, but it is now available legally throughout.

### AWP
The British Accuracy International Arctic Warfare sniper rifle has been in production since 1982, with one of the variants being the Arctic Warfare Police, or AWP. However, many gun aficionados have argued that this variant is actually the Arctic Warfare Military, or AWM, given its cartridge and appearance. Whatever the case, they’re the variant of the same gun, and AWMing just doesn’t have the same ring that AWPing has.

### FAMAS
Another futuristic-looking rifle that has been around since the bullpup revolution in 1978, the FAMAS stands for Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne, meaning  'Assault rifle from the Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory’, which is quite literal, we must say. Developed in Saint-Étienne, France, it has also come to be called “The Bugle” (that’s a brass instrument in case you have to google it) by French troops. It’s been the primary rifle of the French army for years, but is now being phased out in favor of the HK416F (aka the weapon that killed Osama Bin Laden) and will only remain in use until 2028. We wonder… when that happens, will it also be replaced in Counter-Strike?

### G3SG1
Another Heckler & Koch creation (in collaboration with the Spanish CETME), this rifle has been around since 1959, and its design contributed to a lot of other weapons, including the MP5. The SG is its sharpshooting variant. The rifles for this variant were actually selected from the production line if they performed well in the shooting tests, before being adapted to snipers’ needs.

### Galil AR
Another Israel Military Industries creation, named after designer Yisrael Galili, the weapon has been in use since 1972 and is still in use by the Israel Defence Force. The weapon actually traces its lineage to the AK-47, as it’s inspired by the Finnish RK 62, which in turn was designed based on the Kalashnikov. That’s because soldiers who captured AK-47’s during the Yom Kippur war notably said that it’s better than anything that the Israeli Army was currently using. Thus, the Galil was born as the Kalashnikov of the desert, making its placement beside it on the T-Side somehow fitting.

### M4A4/M4A1-S
Developed by Colt since 1987, the M4 is as iconic as the AK-47, not just in Counter-Strike, having been the primary weapon of the US Military for the past 30+ years, with only the previously used M16 being comparable. 

However, in Counter-Strike, only one of the weapons is actually real. The M4A1 is a real variant, and the S stands for the suppressor, however the actual weapon it’s modeled on is the older M16A1, not the variant named. The A4 is entirely a Counter-Strike invention to create an alternate version that is suggested to be a future development, even though it looks like a realistically modified version of the A1.

In real life, we’re not getting an A4, as the US military has decided to go with the SIG XM7 instead. Will Counter-Strike follow suit? We will see.

### SCAR-20
FN Herstal is really chasing Heckler & Koch for the “best manufacturer” title here, as the other autosniper is a sharpshooting variant of the FN SCAR. The weapon was originally created for the US SOCOM special forces in 2004, making it one of the newest weapons on the list, and the Mk 20 is a sharpshooting variant of the gun. Even though SOCOM backed out of purchasing more, it’s still been in use in many conflicts around the world.

### SG 553
Designed by the Swiss Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) in the 90s, the SG 553 (standing for Sturmgewehr - assault rifle) is a variant of the SG 550 that was released in 2008, making the exact version the newest weapon in Counter-Strike (along with our next entry). The weapon itself is based on an earlier SIG, the 540. The particular variant in Counter-Strike features a rail for scope mounting (used in CS), and is used by the Swiss military and a few law enforcement agencies.

### SSG 08
Produced by Austrian Steyr (of AUG fame, in case you forgot), this bolt-action rifle is the newest weapon on our list, with its launch coming in 2008. It has a folding stock and uses .308 Winchester rounds. Used mostly by law enforcement, this cool sniper rifle might be (relatively) new to the world but sure packs a punch.

And that’s all for this one! These real-life variants of the gun are fun… but they don’t have amazing skins, which you can buy on PirateSwap. What are you waiting for? Get yer skin treasure today!


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CS2 Weapons in Real-Life: Discover the Real Counterparts

Cheaters are an annoying part of Counter-Strike, and have been that for a long time. In this article we'll give you the best tips and tricks to avoid these nasty hackers and play a fair game of Counter-Strike!

### Increase Your Trust Factor
Valve uses a very specific algorithm to divide players into good guys and bad guys, called the Trust Factor. If you argue, grief, or troll, your likelihood of getting reported increases, and thus, your Trust Factor decreases.

Another thing you’ll want to avoid so as not to lower your Trust Factor is smurfing. Hey, we know it’s fun to play with your noob friend and destroy their noob opponents, but in the end, you might end up in a lobby with other smurfs, or worse, cheaters.

Valve doesn’t disclose exactly how Trust Factor works, but in our experience, avoiding these behaviors will ensure that you’ll avoid most cheaters.

However, some cheaters aren’t as obvious, or may not yet be caught by the Trust Factor system, so a high trust factor isn’t a guarantee you’ll avoid cheaters. As of late, you can help limit the cheating problem on your own as well.

### Use Overwatch - When It’s Available
Overwatch is back in Counter-Strike 2, allowing you to do your part when it comes to reviewing player reports and seeing whether a player in question is cheating, becoming the CS2 Jury.

To be eligible for Overwatch you must have:
- At least 300 hrs in Counter-Strike 2
- At least 150 wins in competitive modes
- No VAC bans on record
- High trust factor

If you’re selected, you’ll see a shield symbol in the top menu, and you’ll be able to review demos of a given player. These demos will give you the POV of a player, and you’ll be tasked with deciding whether they’re a cheater or a clean player who’s simply better than their opponents.

While telling a spinbotter apart from a legit player is easy, finding a “legit cheater” might be harder. What you should look out for is:

- **Weird crosshair placement**, especially if it correlates to another player’s position through a wall.
- **Sudden crosshair locking** right to a player’s head.
- **Suspicious changes in positioning** depending on the enemy’s movement without any prompt.

Note that these aren’t surefire ways to say if someone’s cheating. Every flusha fan knows that every pro can have a bunch of suspicious clips. That’s why it’s also important to analyze other aspects of a player’s behavior. Is their movement good, is their crosshair placement usually at a high level? If they look good, one suspicious moment shouldn’t be enough to ban somebody. Somebody getting insane headshots after constantly aiming at someone’s crotch? Yeah, that’s sus.

So once Overwatch is available, put your detective cap on and find the wrongdoers while saving the legit bosses. It’s not much, but it’s honest work that will help reduce the number of cheaters, and in the end, benefit you as well.

### Play FACEIT
If you’re absolutely tired of cheaters in CS2, there’s always an alternative in the FACEIT ladder. FACEIT is an external service that offers its own anti-cheat and allows you to play against players who treat the game a bit more seriously. However, this comes at a price. As of writing, FACEIT subscriptions...


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How to Avoid Cheaters in CS2: Tips to Improve Your Gameplay

IEM Cologne 2024 once again reminded us why this tournament is considered one of the crown jewels of the Counter-Strike circuit. From shocking eliminations to dramatic comebacks and a grand final that will go down in history, Cologne delivered unforgettable moments that will be talked about for years. Here’s an in-depth look at how the tournament unfolded.

### Play-In Stage: The Unexpected Shifts Begin

The road to glory in Cologne began with the Play-In stage, where several established teams faced an early exit, setting the stage for new contenders to emerge. Among the surprises, Heroic, BIG, and Eternal Fire—the teams that many expected to perform well—found themselves eliminated, a testament to the unpredictable nature of competitive Counter-Strike.

Their early departures allowed teams like 9z, Complexity, and SAW to rise to the occasion. These teams not only secured their spots in the group stage but also began to shape the narrative of underdogs fighting against the odds, setting the tone for what would be a tournament full of surprises.

### Group Stage: Powerhouses Hold Steady Amid Surprising Contenders

**Group A: Na’Vi’s Dominance and the Rise of SAW**

Na’Vi entered Group A as heavy favorites, and they lived up to expectations by dominating their opponents. They cruised through paiN and Astralis with clinical 2-0 victories, showcasing a blend of sharp tactical play and raw individual skill. Na’Vi’s seamless performance secured them an early playoff berth, reaffirming their status as one of the world’s top teams.

However, the most captivating storyline in Group A was the emergence of SAW, the Portuguese underdogs who defied expectations at every turn. After advancing from the Play-In stage, SAW shocked the Counter-Strike community by dismantling G2 in a stunning 2-0 victory. This upset sent G2 into the lower bracket and elevated SAW to the upper echelons of the tournament. SAW continued to impress by defeating TheMongolZ 2-1 in a hard-fought series, securing a showdown with Na’Vi for a spot in the semi-finals. Although SAW eventually fell to Na’Vi, their remarkable run and tenacity established them as a team to watch.

The MongolZ, meanwhile, delivered one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by upsetting Team Spirit. Spirit, a team known for their solid performances, was expected to easily handle the Mongolian squad. However, TheMongolZ took Spirit to overtime on Ancient and then dominated them on Anubis, sending Spirit to the lower bracket and signaling the volatility of the competition.

In the lower bracket, G2 managed to recover from their initial shock. They swiftly eliminated Spirit, who failed to win a single map in the tournament, and then overcame Astralis and paiN to secure the final playoff spot from Group A. Despite their rocky path, G2’s resilience kept their tournament hopes alive.

**Group B: Vitality’s Poise and FaZe’s Struggles**

Group B saw reigning Major champions Vitality solidify their place as one of the top teams in the world. They started their campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Liquid and followed it up with a tense overtime win against FaZe. Vitality’s consistency and ability to perform under pressure earned them a direct spot in the semi-finals, setting them up as a strong contender for the title.

MOUZ, another standout in Group B, demonstrated their potential by securing a playoff spot through victories over Complexity and FaZe. Their performances were marked by solid team play and strategic depth, proving that they could compete with the best. 

FaZe, however, experienced a more challenging group stage. After an initial victory over FURIA, they faced a tough defeat against Vitality. In the lower bracket, FaZe had to battle their way through Liquid and Falcons to keep their tournament hopes alive. Their hard-fought victory over Liquid in a North American derby highlighted their resilience, but it also exposed vulnerabilities that would later be exploited in the playoffs.

### Quarter-Finals: New Narratives and Rising Stars

**MOUZ vs G2: A Battle of Redemption**

The quarter-final between MOUZ and G2 was more than just a match—it was a test of resilience and strategy. MOUZ, led by their rising stars, displayed a level of maturity and composure that belied their youth. Their 2-0 victory on Dust2 and Mirage was not just a tactical win but also a psychological one, as they outmaneuvered G2 in key moments, sending the veteran team packing.

For G2, this result marked a disappointing end to their Cologne journey. Despite flashes of brilliance, their inconsistency proved to be their downfall. MOUZ’s victory, on the other hand, signaled a changing of the guard, as younger teams began to assert themselves against more established rosters.

**FaZe vs SAW: The Underdog Story Continues**

SAW’s incredible run through the tournament was nothing short of a Cinderella story. Facing FaZe, one of the tournament’s most storied teams, SAW were seen as the underdogs. However, they defied expectations by taking FaZe’s map pick, Inferno, with a decisive 13-6 win. FaZe managed to pull one back on Anubis, but the decider on Nuke turned into a classic.

In a match that saw back-and-forth action and tense moments, SAW held their nerve to secure a 16-14 victory, knocking FaZe out of the tournament. SAW’s victory wasn’t just a fluke—it was a testament to their preparation, teamwork, and the belief that they could compete at the highest level. Their journey to the semi-finals captured the hearts of fans and solidified their place as the tournament’s most compelling story.

### Semi-Finals: Power Meets Persistence

**Na’Vi vs MOUZ: Tactical Brilliance vs Emerging Talent**

The semi-final clash between Na’Vi and MOUZ was a fascinating encounter that pitted Na’Vi’s tactical mastery against MOUZ’s emerging talent. Na’Vi, known for their calculated approach, started strong, taking the first map, Inferno, in a hard-fought overtime battle. MOUZ pushed them to the limit, but Na’Vi’s experience and ability to execute under pressure proved decisive.

On Mirage, MOUZ once again showed their potential, taking an early lead. However, Na’Vi’s veterans, particularly b1t and jL, stepped up when it mattered most, turning the game around and closing out the series 2-0. For MOUZ, the loss was bittersweet—they had proven they could hang with the best, but Na’Vi’s poise and composure were the difference-makers.

**Vitality vs SAW: The Dream Ends**

SAW’s dream run came to an end in the semi-finals at the hands of Vitality. The French-Israeli squad, having shown no mercy throughout the tournament, continued their dominant form with a quick 2-0 victory. Despite the loss, SAW walked away with their heads held high, having exceeded all expectations and demonstrated that they belong on the international stage.

Vitality’s performance, on the other hand, was clinical. They dismantled SAW on Nuke and Dust2, leaving no doubt about their intention to claim the Cologne title. With this win, they secured their spot in the grand final, setting up a highly anticipated clash with Na’Vi.

### Grand Final: Na’Vi vs Vitality—A Championship Showdown

The grand final of IEM Cologne 2024 was a best-of-five series that exemplified the highest level of Counter-Strike. Both Na’Vi and Vitality had proven themselves throughout the tournament, and this final promised to be a clash of titans.

**Map 1: Nuke**
Vitality struck first, taking Nuke 16-14 in a closely contested match. Spinx and Magisk were instrumental in securing the win, delivering key plays that kept Vitality ahead despite Na’Vi’s efforts to mount a comeback.

**Map 2: Dust2**
Na’Vi responded on Dust2, as w0nderful and b1t led the charge. Their aggressive playstyle overwhelmed Vitality, allowing Na’Vi to secure a 16-11 victory and level the series at 1-1.

**Map 3: Mirage**
Mirage was the highlight of the final, offering a marathon battle that stretched through three overtimes. Both teams displayed incredible resilience and skill, but Vitality ultimately prevailed 22-20, breaking Na’Vi’s impressive streak on the map and taking a crucial 2-1 lead in the series.

**Map 4: Inferno**
With momentum on their side, Vitality moved to close out the series on Inferno. They started strong, jumping out to a 10-2 lead in the first half. Although Na’Vi fought back valiantly, the deficit proved too much to overcome. Vitality secured the map 16-9, winning their first IEM Cologne title and adding another prestigious trophy to their collection.

ZywOo, despite a quieter series by his standards, was named the HLTV MVP for his consistent performances throughout the tournament, further solidifying his status as one of the game’s greatest players.

### Conclusion: IEM Cologne 2024—A Tournament for the Ages

IEM Cologne 2024 delivered on every front, offering upsets, comebacks, and some of the highest-level Counter-Strike we’ve seen. Vitality’s victory not only reaffirms their position at the top of the global rankings but also brings them

 one step closer to the elusive IEM Grand Slam. Na’Vi, despite falling short in the final, proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with.

As the dust settles in Cologne, all eyes now turn to IEM Rio 2024. Will Vitality continue their dominant run? Can Na’Vi bounce back and take the next title? And what surprises will the next tournament hold? The Counter-Strike world eagerly awaits the answers.

Share your thoughts on the tournament, your favorite moments, and what’s next for these teams on our social media channels!



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IEM Cologne 2024: Triumphs, Upsets, and an Unforgettable Grand Finale

Counter-Strike Operations have a long and storied history of awesome skins, fun maps, and new additions to the game… but it’s been a while since we’ve had one, so let’s talk about what these operations actually are and what — and when can we expect the next operation in Counter-Strike 2.

Operations are a form of DLC in Counter-Strike that introduces new maps and new skins, as well as an Event Pass that allows you to get rewards in exchange for buying the pass. Completing the Operation Pass usually gets you skins worth about at least as much as the pass price itself, meaning that it might be a good idea to buy it if you’re willing to put in the work completing quests.

So far, there have been eleven Operations in Counter-Strike, all in Global Offensive, starting with Operation Payback in 2013 and ending with Operation Riptide which started in September 2022 and ended in February 2023. Ever since then, we haven’t seen a new operation as Valve focused on bringing CS2 to the masses. But let’s start from the beginning.

## How do Operations Work?

### The Operation Coin

Let’s start with the old school aspect of operations, the Operation Coin.

The Operation Coin is essentially your progress tracker, allowing you to see how the Operation is going for you, the Coin has four tiers - Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond. The Tiers are defined by your progress in the operation. For operation Riptide the Coin had the following requirements:

Bronze Coin - Purchase the Operation Pass
Silver Coin - Earn 33 Stars
Gold Coin - Earn 66 Stars
Diamond Coin - Earn 100 Stars

### Operation Stars

Earning Stars is easy. It requires you to simply complete missions. Some missions are extremely simple (e.g. win one match), while others require some skill to complete (e.g. Deal 300 utility damage in a wingman match).

Stars allow you to progress your coin, but they also allow you to buy rewards from the star shop, which include skins, stickers, and patches. Using stars to make purchases won’t take away from your Coin Level, so don’t worry about that.

### Operation Shop

The shop features everything from cases (you’ll still need to buy keys to open these) to particular Agent skins, or classic collections and skins from them. These purchases will allow you to recoup a big part of the money you spent on the Operation. For example, Operation Riptide cost $14.99, and the Operation Riptide Case never cost less than $0.50 and you could get one for 2 stars. This means that you only needed around 60 stars to recoup the cost of the Operation, AT WORST. The Operation Riptide Case now costs over $5 dollars, meaning that if you got the Diamond Coin and spent every star on cases, you’d have 50 cases worth $5.50 each, giving you $275, thus a $260 profit, as long as you hold on to the cases for around a year. That’s a pretty good deal, and that’s not even the only way to go about it, as you can mix and match risk with reward pretty well. Thus, the Operation becomes a bit of an investment.

That said, remember that every operation thus far operated in different ways, and thus there’s no one surefire way to say what the next one will be. But hey, we love speculating, so let’s speculate about what’s coming up!

## CS2 Operation Rumors

We’ve heard rumors for a while about additional cosmetic items being released in the form of keychains for the weapons (known from Rainbow Six Siege, or Valorant), these would be a fun extra way to customize your gun, and just as Operation Shattered Web introduced Agents in 2019, we believe that the new Operation might introduce keychains, or perhaps, utility and bomb skins, as these have also been rumored to be coming our way for a long while.

What’s more is that CS2 has been lacking many of the game modes available in CS:GO. With Arms Race returning, we’re still waiting for the likes of Retakes, Demolition or Flying Scoutsman. With an Operation, these could return to the game as a place for missions.

Finally, a new operation means our favorite thing here on PirateSwap! New skins! We won’t speculate as to what these will be, but we’re sure some awesome community creations will be grabbing the bag.

And that’s all we know! We’re looking forward to the first Operation in CS2! Give us your guesses as to what it will be called on our socials!


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What are Operations in Counter-Strike? | CS2 Operation Rumors and Speculations

IEM Cologne 2024 is almost here, and with it, our preview! Check out what we have in store for one of the biggest tournaments of the year.

## Play-In Phase

### Complexity vs AlternateATTAX
Complexity comes into the tournament looking to continue their form from Jonkoping, where they won the Challengers event. With Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski still leading the charge for the NA-based squad, they’re looking to continue that form into Cologne. AlternateATTAX meanwhile are one of the two hometown teams coming from the German qualifier for the event. It’s unlikely Complexity struggle against the ATTAX, who have been mostly playing Tier 2 competition, winning some smaller events, which we don’t think will result in a spot in the Group Stage.

### Eternal Fire vs Falcons
Coming off their recent roster changes, Falcons will be tested against one of the big Major feel-good stories. The Turkish squad haven’t really shown up since then, but they’re always a danger to top-tier teams courtesy of the talents of Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş and Özgür “woxic” Eker. Falcons are no slouches either, of course. With a solid second-place finish in Jonkoping, they’ll be looking to continue their streak. However, if we were betting on somebody, it’d be Eternal Fire.

### Heroic vs MIBR
Heroic has been constantly shuffling their roster ever since their heyday and now, another one came as Nico “nicodooz” Tamiji was replaced by Abdul “degster” Gasanov. So far, the change hasn’t brought much in the way of success, but after only 2 months, it’s possible that they’re only starting to gel now. For MIBR, their roster has been going steady for a while, and a coaching change with Renato “nak” Nakano coming is yet to make a big difference. Heroic probably takes this one.

### BetBoom vs 9z
The battle of two teams that probably won’t get far in the competition. BetBoom recently made the addition of Kiril “Magnojez” Rodnov, but otherwise both teams are pretty consistent in their roster and performance, very much seated in the second tier of pro Counter-Strike. If we were to bet, we’d probably put our money on 9z.

### FURIA vs Imperial
This part of the bracket is pretty unfortunate, as two Brazilian teams face off against each other, and the second pair also feature the Brazilian paiN. FURIA have looked good with the addition of Felipe “skullz” Medeiros to the fold, qualifying for the quarterfinals at the ESWC, and getting to the semis at YaLLa Compass. Imperial meanwhile also made changes, benching Henrique “HEN1” Teles in favor of Argentinian Santino “try” Rigal from 9z’s bench. We don’t see Imperial winning here as we believe FURIA will once again prove to be the top Brazilian team.

### Liquid vs paiN
Two more teams with recent roster changes, with João “snow” Vinicius joining paiN and Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak and Justin “jks” Savage joining Liquid. Evidently one addition is not like the others, with jks being an accomplished rifler wih a lod of experience, making us think that the Brazilians will head straight to the lower bracket.

### FlyQuest vs BIG
The Australian outfit faces off against the hometown favorites in this one, with BIG looking solid after the addition of Rigon “rigoN” Dashi. It feels like the days of the Aussie upset are behind us and we fully expect BIG to make a run for the Group Stage in their home country.

### TheMongolZ vs SAW
TheMongolZ are just on the brink of entering that elite tier of CS, but just can’t put it together. The outfit from the steppes will look to further their bid as the underdogs of the season against another team of single-nation upset specialists in SAW, who had quite a run in the Major, but haven’t really done much ever since. With the Mongolians winning YaLLa Compass and placing second in the Skyesports championships, we expect them to hold their nerve and beat SAW.

## Group Stage
The eight teams that will go through the double-elimination barrage will face off against the seeded teams in the Group Stage in a bracket where the top team advances straight to the semis, while the second and third team head to the quarters.

### Group A
Awaiting our contestants are eight qualified teams. Group A will see the qualified teams face off against the reigning Major and ESWC champs Na’Vi, the new look surprise ESWC runner-ups in G2, the ever-dangerous Team Spirit and… Astralis who are just kinda there. This group is probably the tougher of the two, as the three teams in it have been on a tear recently, and we expect them to qualify for the knockout stage.

### Group B
Strong teams that can’t quite get results mark this group with MOUZ, FaZe, Vitality and Virtus.Pro being pretty stable, outside of the Russian outfit who added Denis “electronic” Sharipov to the mix recently. If there’s going to be an upset that sees a Play-In team take one of the top 3 spots, we can see any one of these teams having an off week and ending their Cologne journey early, with VP and Vitality seeming particularly vulnerable of late. We think that there may be surprises here.

And what do you think? Let us know on our social media, and if you want to rep any of these teams with some stickers, you can always get them cheap on PirateSwap, the best skin exchanger on the web!


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 IEM Cologne 2024 Preview

### The Biggest Fails in Counter-Strike History

Counter-Strike has been around for a long time, over 25 years in fact! In that time we’ve seen great plays, but also some massive fails that have changed the nature of the game, and of the pro scene. In this article, we’ll be counting down the eight biggest fails in Counter-Strike history!

#### G2 Forgetting to Defuse
We start off with one of the simplest, yet most catastrophic in nature. G2 was in the middle of a big comeback on the CT-Sided Nuke of old against Astralis during the StarLadder Berlin Major in 2019. Retaining a chance for a comeback, G2 started revving it up when at 15:8, Astralis planted a bomb on B. The CTs easily dispatched the terrorists, before… failing to realize which bombsite the bomb was on, allowing the bomb to explode and winning the game for Astralis, eventually leading to G2’s elimination.

#### Niko Missing the Shot of His Life
We stay with G2 for this one, as at the PGL Major Stockholm 2021 they faced off against Na’Vi in the Grand Final. After losing the first map, they looked poised to take the second map, as they were leading 15-12 and Nikola “NiKo” Kovacs had the game winning shot in his sights, with his favorite deagle in hand. All he needed was to hit one headshot on an opponent who wasn’t even looking at him… and he missed.

The round took a turn from there quickly, and Na’Vi mounted a comeback, eventually winning in overtime. If NiKo hits the shot… who knows what happens in the 3rd map. This shot is probably something he still has nightmares about to this day, as the Major has eluded him since then.

#### 1G
Small errors with big consequences continue as Jaryd “summit1g” Lazar was trying to make a transition from streaming to pro play during DreamHack Austin 2015. Playing as a stand-in for Splyce, they faced off against the top-tier CLG. Everything was going great on Train, as they were winning 15:11. Summit won a big clutch against CLG, and as he was getting ready to defuse… He ran into his own molotov and died.

Guess what happened next.

That’s right, CLG took the map, and then the next map, kicking Splyce and summit out of Austin, and with a meme associated with his name to boot.

#### Olofpass
Imagine designing a map, and missing a spot that allows one man with a sniper absolutely take over, and writing the rules in a way that will just cause controversy. Well, that’s what happened at DreamHack Winter 2014.

With Overpass being a pretty new map, fnatic learned of a rare boost that allowed them to see the lower half of the map entirely. As they were losing to Team LDLC in the quarterfinals, they started boosting Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer onto the boost sopt, where could completely read the opponent’s movements and rain death from above.

Fnatic made a comeback, LDLC appealed, and the real fail started as the organizers changed their ruling multiple times, looking for a loophole to allow the game to restart with the first half score. That didn’t quite work, as fans were outraged by the fact that such an obviously over-the-top exploit. In the end, it was fnatic deciding to forfeit the game to LDLC that ended the bruhaha, and LDLC eventually went on to win the Major, ending this epic Valve and Dreamhack fail.

#### AUG Week
We move away from Esports for a while to talk about a patch. A 2014 patch that suddenly made the AUG a laser blaster, lowering its recoil while maintaining the damage dealt by the weapon. This meant that the AUG was now a killing machine with little to no downsides. This whole AUGpocalypse lasted a week, before Valve decided that enough is enough and ended AUG week by nerfing the weapon back down to a manageable state.	

#### Revolver
The R8 Revolver had a similar story when it was introduced. It used to be able to one hit kill with a shot to the torso, which after a while became obviously abuseable by players given its price, making the meta completely screwed.  Added during the 2015 Winter Update, the Revolverocalypse didn’t last long, as two days later it was nerfed.

#### Gaming Paradise
Back to esports. Gaming Paradise was a competition mired in controversy, and the biggest failure in tournament organizing history. The whole thing has been at times called “The Fyre Festival of Esports”

The event was supposed to take place in a beach-side resort in Slovenia, and it started off badly as teams had trouble getting funds for travel to the resort. Once there, their passports were held by the hotel, and the PCs ordered weren’t there. It turned out that the organizers didn’t pay for anything, forcing the local admins to scramble to get a tournament going. It did get going eventually, and the winners - Team Kinguin, never got their prize money. Now that’s an epic fail if we’ve ever seen one.

#### word.exe
Imagine you’re trying to get away with cheating during a LAN tournament. It’s not that easy, is it? Well, for Nikhil “f0rsaken” Kumawat, the challenge seemed achievable as he went into eXTREMESLAND 2018 with cheats on his computer. It didn’t take long for people to catch on, with the admins spotting his cheating and eventually discovering a file called “word.exe” on his computer.

If you’re gonna cheat… come on now.

#### The Coaching Bug
In 2020, Wisła Kraków coach Mariusz “Loord” Cybulski uncovered a bug that allowed coaches to see parts of the map they wouldn’t have access to from their players POV. It turns out that this bug went undetected since 2016, with the likes of Nicolai “HUNDEN” Petersen said to be abusing it for years and with full knowledge. In the end, 100 coaches received suspensions for abusing the bug. 

But the real fail? Valve failing to realize that the bug was around for four years. That’s insane.

That’s all for the Top 8 fails, but there are many others… like failing to get awesome skins for the best prices.