Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is considered to be a competitive game, so it is natural that most players will be seen playing ranked matches, which in CS:GO is referred to as “Competitive” matches. This term will be used throughout the article. The benefit of playing Competitive CS:GO matches is that every player will have their skill groups, or ranks, provided to them visually. This gives players a good idea of where their skills stand amongst other players.
What are the Ranks in CS:GO?
Before we get into the requirements to get a rank, let’s first have a brief overview of what the skill groups in CS:GO actually are:
| RANK | RANK ICON | RANK DISTRIBUTION |
|---|---|---|
| Silver I (S1) |  | 3.9% |
| Silver 2 CSGO (S2) |  | 4.23% |
| Silver III (S3) |  | 4.37% |
| Silver IV (S4) |  | 5.21% |
| Silver Elite (SE) |  | 6.44% |
| Silver Elite Master (SEM) |  | 7.78% |
| Gold Nova I (GN1) |  | 8.76% |
| Gold Nova II (GN2) |  | 8.79% |
| Gold Nova III (GN3) |  | 9.05% |
| Gold Nova Master (GNM) |  | 8.08% |
| Master Guardian I (MG1) |  | 7.55% |
| Master Guardian II (MG2) |  | 6.61% |
| Master Guardian Elite (MGE) |  | 5.24% |
| Distinguished Master Guardian CSGO (DMG) |  | 4.15% |
| Legendary Eagle (LE) |  | 3.25% |
| Legendary Eagle Master (LEM CSGO) |  | 3.20% |
| Supreme Master First Class (SMFC) |  | 2.64% |
| Global Elite CSGO (GE) |  | 0.75% |
The skill groups provided are in order of the lowest rank up to the highest rank, and skill groups can only be obtained by playing the Competitive game mode in CS:GO.
The players who are in the Silver rank are mostly new players. The players in Gold Nova are generally casual players. Master Guardian players have great understanding of the game and the economy system and are the top 20% of the player base. Players who are Legendary Eagle up to The Global Elite are dedicated and serious players who have committed a lot of hours into the game.
How do I get my first Rank?
We’ve understood the basics of the 18 skill groups in CS:GO, but how do we actually get a rank for ourselves? Like most other competitive video games, Valve has set certain requirements for new players before they can actually start their first Competitive game mode match.
This is to ensure that the players know the basics of playing the game instead of jumping into a Competitive match with zero prior experience. In CS:GO’s case, the process to be eligible to play Competitive actually doesn’t take too long.
Reaching “Level 2”
CS:GO has a leveling system that is separated from the actual Competitive ranking system which was discussed above. This leveling system reflects on how much you play the game, instead of how good you actually are at the game. Players can level up simply by playing the game more.
New players are required to reach Level 2 before being allowed to play Competitive. This means that they will have to play game modes such as Casual and Deathmatch a few times to level up to Level 2. This is so that players can get a basic understanding of the game. After reaching Level 2, you will be able to start finding Competitive matches.
Reaching higher levels can also make you eligible for Prime Status, allowing access to Prime Matchmaking, which reduces the amount of cheaters and smurfs, improving your gameplay experience compared to Non Prime Players. Read more about the Prime Status in our other article!
Winning 10 Competitive Matches
For the game to get a good understanding of the skill group you belong in, you’ll have to play quite a few matches. CS:GO will require you to win 10 Competitive matches for your first rank to be displayed. These 10 wins matter a lot as this will decide where you will end up in the CS:GO ranking system.
The process of getting your first rank is made even slower as you can only win a maximum of 2 games per day. After you have won 10 times, your win-loss ratio and performance will be added up together, and the game will reward you with one of the 18 CS:GO skill groups.
This rank will be displayed under your username. You will be able to play as many games as you want after receiving a rank, as the “2 wins per day” clause will be removed.
Basic Requirements before playing competitive
Discussed above are what you need to do in order to be able to play Competitive matches. But there are extra requirements that you can prepare for before playing ranked.
These requirements aren’t compulsory, but can greatly help you increase your win rate during your initial 10 wins. Following these requirements may assist you in scoring a higher starting rank such as Gold Nova or even Master Guardian.
Learning Callouts
Communication is key in a game like Counter-Strike. A team full of Gold Novas using communication can easily beat a team of Master Guardians that don’t communicate at all. That is why it may be a good idea to learn map callouts in preparation to playing Competitive.
The use of Callouts are to inform your team on where the enemy’s location is. Giving out Callouts is a major help to the team, and precise information is what leads teams to victory. It is recommended to at least take time to learn the different Callouts on popular maps. You can learn these callouts from our articles on Mirage, Dust II, Cache and Inferno.
Using a Microphone
Now that we know how important Callouts are in order to win, being able to quickly and instantly communicate through a microphone instead of typing may be a big help. Communication is good, but having instant communication is even better. This is even more important in a game like CS:GO where rounds can be decided in a matter of seconds.
Having a quick flow of communication in the team can help the team immensely, and that can be achieved by using a microphone. If you are weak in the aiming department, giving fast and accurate callouts is another way of giving a great contribution to your teammates.
Warming Up Before Playing
Communication is very important, but at the end of the day, CS:GO is still a game based on being able to aim well. Instantly queueing up for a Competitive match after waking up won’t allow you to play at your maximum potential. That is why it is widely recommended by the community to warm up before playing Competitive.
Warming up can simply be playing one or two matches of Deathmatch before playing your two to three hour Competitive session. This will ensure that you have a good feel of your mouse and that you’ll be ready to aim at the head and start spraying properly for the day.
Professional players take warm up very seriously, and that’s one of the reasons why we see them with insane aim all the time. You can easily do the same thing to make sure you’ll do great in the Competitive matches.
Advanced Requirements to Reach High Ranks
Comfortable Crosshair and Sensitivity
CS:GO offers an abundance of commands that can help you customize your crosshair to one that you prefer. A good crosshair can help you aim better and in turn, get more kills. At some point in your CS:GO career, you would want to mess around with crosshairs and find the perfect fit for you to be able to compete in the higher skill groups that the game has to offer. Check out what crosshairs professional players are using here.
A comfortable sensitivity can allow you to move your mouse better, significantly improving your aiming capabilities. A sensitivity that fits you can help with hitting faster shots and aiming more precisely, which is important as higher ranked players tend to move in an unpredictable manner. Our article on the best sensitivity can help you out with this.
Aim Training
Unless you’re extremely talented and a natural God at CS:GO, you will need to train your aim to make sure it is in par or better than the people in your rank. Training your aim frequently will allow your aim to be much smoother and quicker, which is definitely required to rank up to Legendary Eagle and above. The community has created multiple effective ways to train your aim.
First, you can go on the Community Server Browser and look for “Headshot Only Deathmatch” servers. These servers only allow you to kill enemies with headshots only, which will train you to consistently aim at head level.
Secondly, there are custom made aim training maps that allow you to tweak many different settings which can help you train different aspects of aiming. Whether it’s spraying, AWPing, these maps have it all. We highlighted the best aim training maps in our other article.
Learning Utility (Smokes, Flashes, Molotovs)
The usage of utility is very heavily emphasized in the higher ranks. Smokes are essential for the Terrorist Side, as good smoke lineups can help the team enter the site. Flashbangs are very useful as teammates can set up flashes for each other in order to get entry kills. Molotovs are very useful to force enemies out of common positions. These are a few examples of the importance of utility.
There are a lot of available guides around the internet teaching lineups and effective utility usage tricks. Players who can use utility properly bring so much value to their team, so if you can be that person who’s good at utility, you will see great results in the future.
Overall Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a competitive game where people can continuously try to improve their gameplay to reach greater heights. There are lots of aspects and fundamentals that players can improve on, but it can take a very long time to master them.
The best CS:GO players are patient and improve themselves one step at a time. This makes reaching ranks like The Global Elite very rewarding and a very respectable achievement.
However, CS:GO can also be enjoyed casually by playing with friends on pre-made stacks. At the end of the day, it is up to the players and what they want to accomplish from playing this game. Whether they are here to be the best, or to have a good laugh with friends using moan commands, it’s always important to have fun!
FAQs
CS:GO Competitive Ranked Requirements | TGG? ›
You have to win 10 competitive matches to earn your first rank. You will able to play just 2 matches per day. This will help to determine the level of your skills. After 10 wins, you will be assigned to one of 18 ranks depending on your matches' performance.
What are the requirements for CS:GO competitive? ›To unlock competitive matchmaking, you must reach level two by playing any of the game modes, including Casual, Arms Race, Demolition, Danger Zone, and Deathmatch. When your competitive match ends, you will find the players' rank on the scoreboard. You need to win ten of them to get your own.
How many wins do I need to rank up in CS:GO? ›It depends on the specifics of the game, as there are multiple ranking systems used in CS:GO. Generally speaking, however, you typically need 10 wins in a row to move up a rank. The number of wins needed is based on the player's current skill level and the system's algorithm.
What is the average competitive rank in CS:GO? ›In CS:GO average rank is usually agreed to be around Gold Nova. It can be the most difficult rank to escape, as it's often where smurfs reside. A smurf is a player of higher skill, that purposefully de-ranks themselves in order to easily stomp on worse players.
Can I get a rank in CS:GO without prime? ›Will I receive a Competitive Skill Group if I do not have Prime Status? No. Competitive Skill Groups are only issued to users with Prime Status.
Is CS:GO competitive skill based? ›Yes! Competitive matchmaking will match you with other players of similar skill, which is more likely to increase your overall skill and result in a fun match.
How hard is CS:GO competitive? ›CSGO just has tougher mechanics. It takes a lot more practice to master the mechanics and aiming in CSGO, which is why the pros are often respected for being the best of the best when it comes to accuracy and speed. After playing the game for a year, shroud admitted that both games are “hard in their own way.
What determines if you rank up in CS:GO? ›The players receive their rank after winning 10 matchmaking matches (max. 2 wins/day) and from that moment their rank is displayed in main menu under avatar picture, medals and displayable items. The rank changes in time with you being better/worse. There are ranks from simple silver I to Global Elite.
How much XP do you need to rank up in CS:GO? ›| Rank | XP required per level | Total XP accumulated |
|---|---|---|
| Recruit Rank 1 | 5,000 XP | 0 XP |
| Private Rank 2 | 5,000 XP | 5,000 XP |
| Private Rank 3 | 5,000 XP | 10,000 XP |
| Private Rank 4 | 5,000 XP | 15,000 XP |
To earn your initial rank, you'll have to win ten placement matches, at a limit of two per day. These allow time for the game's ranking system to determine your caliber. Note that an unranked player will be unable to queue with anyone of rank Master Guardian II or higher, unless queuing with a full team of five.
Is it easy to rank up in CS:GO? ›
As long as players are consistent and prove they can play against similarly ranked players with ease, you will rank up. Remember, playing ten games in a row isn't healthy for your rank! And if you're a silver looking for a fast way to the global elite, get in line. It will take months; there is no quick track scheme.
What is the lowest competitive rank in CS:GO? ›Silver 1 is the starting tier of CS: GO players, and it's the lowest rank you can achieve in the game. Meanwhile, at the very top is the Global Elite, and it is often reserved for the very best players in professional or competitive Counter-Strike.
What is the fastest way to rank up in CS:GO? ›- Learn and Practice Spray Patterns in CS:GO. ...
- Peek Enemies Properly (Fast/Wide & Jump/Jiggle Peek) ...
- Check Map Callouts. ...
- Learn CS:GO Team Play Basics. ...
- Remember About Flashbang Assist. ...
- Use Grenades Wisely. ...
- Practice Strafe and Strafe Jump. ...
- Learn How to Defuse Bomb in CS:GO.
If you choose not to pay for the upgrade, you won't be able to participate in Ranked matches anymore. Valve has introduced Unranked matches for Competitive, Wingman and Danger Zone game modes, though, which anybody on CS:GO can access.
Is CS:GO Prime status worth it? ›Prime is only a small paywall between the free2try, and paying customers. Yeah its worth it, if you want to take CSGO serious and play for ranks or even just fun still buying prime is the way to go.
How much does prime cost CS:GO? ›For newer players, you can still get a CS:GO Prime account. The only way now is to buy Prime Status on Steam for $14.99. This price has remained consistent since the transition, as a reduction would result in more cheaters.
Is CS:GO a stressful game? ›Valve's iconic tactical FPS title CS:GO, on the other hand, turned out to be the least stressful game as the average heart rate of the players decreased from 79.5bpm before playing the game to 77bpm after playing it.
What is the most important skill in CS:GO? ›The most important thing in this game comes down to one word: aim. Pretty much everything else in CSGO is secondary. You could have the best gamesense in the world but if you can't aim, none of it matters and this is something the best CSGO players know all too well.
What do pros use in CS:GO? ›The popular resolutions used by most CS: GO pros are 1920×1080 (Full HD) and 1600×1200. Although these are the most common resolutions used by pros they will not necessarily work best on every player's hardware – so it's always important to try different resolutions until you find what works best for you.
Why CS is the hardest major? ›Computer science ranks as one of the hardest college majors for its combination of theoretical and technical material. Majors must master operating systems, computing principles, and data structures.
Why is CS so hard in college? ›
Full Answer
Initially Computer Science seems hard because learning to program is challenging. Programming is the first task that Computer Science students must master, and programming requires an extremely logical and methodical approach to solving problems.
However, it remains one of the hardest college majors. Students enrolled in a computer science degree program will need to learn popular programming languages and challenging theoretical concepts. Coding assignments can be tricky, especially when it comes to finding small errors in a program.
Is Legendary Eagle a good rank? ›Legendary Eagle Master (also known as LEM) s the third-highest rank in the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive ranking system.
What is the hardest rank up in CS:GO? ›Supreme Master First Class probably, as the games are basically GE anyways, so never expect to win every game.
What Gamemode has the fastest XP in CS:GO? ›The earned XP is capped at 1,000 XP in Casual games, although this is incredibly difficult to reach as that would mean you need 250 points in a single game. Regardless, Casual is one of the best modes to earn fast XP as you only need a modest amount of kills (under ten) to earn a respectable amount of points.
What is the highest rank you can get after 10 games in CS:GO? ›Even if you win all ten initial matches without slipping up, the highest initial rank you can get is Legendary Eagle Master.
How long does it take to get to level 40 CS:GO? ›You can increase 2 ranks per week, assume you gain the maximum XP(Reduced penalty won't affect). If your XP is 4XXX at Tuesday night, then you can increase 3 ranks. That means, it takes about an average 5 months to reach rank 40 from Recuit.
Do you always rank up after 7 wins? ›Once you complete your placements, your rank will get adjusted every time you reach 7 wins or 20 losses, whichever comes first.
How many competitive games do you have to play to get ranked? ›How many placement matches do you need to play ranked in VALORANT? You will initially need to play five placement matches in order to get your first rank in VALORANT competitive. After that, each new season will only require three wins to display your new rank.
How many programs should I rank to match? ›The take-home points from all this is that the longer the list the less likely you are to go unmatched. For the average student, ranking 10-12 programs will likely ensure a match. Work backwards from this number to account for attrition of programs during the application and interview process.
Does rank really matter in CS:GO? ›
The CSGO ranking system is designed to ensure that players are matched with opponents of similar skill levels. This helps to ensure that matches are fair and balanced. CSGO ranks are an important part of the game and it's important to understand that the CSGO ranking system is not solely based on wins and losses.
Why do I never rank up in CS:GO? ›You need to win rounds. And by that I mean you need to win the maximum number of rounds in a game even if it's in a loosing cause. Each round lost will make you loose points and each round won will help you gain points. Try not to lobby.
How long is the cooldown for competitive rank CS:GO? ›First cooldown (level 1) - lasts 30 minutes. Second cooldown (level 2) - lasts 2 hours. Third cooldown (level 3) - lasts 24 hours. Fourth cooldown (level 4) - lasts 1 week.
How many Tier 1 CS:GO teams are there? ›17 teams in total.
What is the biggest rank in CS? ›In CS:GO, the very best rank you can achieve is Global Elite.
What does Tier 1 mean in CS:GO? ›A t1 team is a team in the top 30 (more like top25) A t2 team is a team in the top 26 and lower. A t3 team is a team in the top 50 and lower T1 teams are invited in DH, ESL events blast and so all.
Is it possible to skip ranks in CS:GO? ›Yes. You can get to some pretty high ranks if you perform well before you hit the 10 competitive wins. For example, in WarOwl's Solo Queue to Global Elite series, he started as a Legendary Eagle. That's part of the third tier of the ranks.
What is the maximum first rank in CS:GO? ›The Global Elite is the highest rank in the CSGO ranking system, and it opens the door for the very few “chosen ones”; there's no higher rank than this.
Which country has most CS:GO pros? ›They collected data from over 7 million matchmaking players and came forward with a result that puts Russia in the lead, contributing with a massive 11.65% of the CS:GO player base.
Is CS:GO a pay to win game? ›Pay-to-win & CS:GO operations
However you slice it, players who've spent money on an agent or a skin, or got it from the operation battle pass, get an advantage over others. And even though this advantage is minuscule and doesn't affect the gameplay directly, it's still there. It's pay-to-win.
Is CS:GO declining? ›
The classic shooting game still attracts new players despite a decrease that began in 2021. Based on data from Steam, it appears that Counter-Strike will regain its lost player base in the year 2023.
Does prime on CS:GO last forever? ›No. Currently there is no way to remove Prime Status from your account.
What is the best rate to use CS:GO? ›- 3.5 Mbps – rate 437500.
- 4.0 Mbps – rate 500000.
- 4.5 Mbps – rate 562500.
- 5.0 Mbps – rate 625000.
- 5.5 Mbps – rate 687500.
- 6.0 Mbps – rate 750000.
- 6.2 Mbps – rate 786432 (Maximum)
Prime is a feature reserved for players who bought CS:GO (before it became free-to-play) or are level 21 or above. Those with Prime are also lucky enough to receive exclusive benefits.
Is it possible to get CS:GO prime for free? ›Unfortunately, this feature was removed in 2021. Prime Status is used as a cheater deterrent, but a rank 21 limit didn't slow cheaters down enough. That means there's now only one option to get Prime Status as a new player: buy it directly through Steam on the CSGO store page for $14.99.
Will CS:GO 2 be free? ›Counter-Strike 2 was officially revealed by Valve as a free upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO). Players can play the game for free whether they are existing CS:GO players or want to try out Counter-Strike 2 for the first time.
Will CS:GO Prime ever be free again? ›Can you get CS:GO Prime for free in 2022? Unfortunately you cannot unlock CS:GO Prime for free any more. In June 2021, Valve made several changes to the game to protect the wider player base from smurfs.
How many wins do you need to get silver 3? ›it would take about infinite wins,as there is no relation between win and rank. Originally posted by Galaxyorgaming | loot.
How many rounds do you need to win in CS:GO? ›Completing objectives such as planting the bomb, defusing the bomb or killing an enemy earns players money. A competitive game takes place across 30 rounds, with each round lasting a maximum of 1 minute and 55 seconds. The first team to win 16 rounds wins that specific game.
How do you push your rank in CS? ›- Get a Suitable Gun from the Weapon Store. ...
- Go for the High Ground. ...
- Team Up With Players of the Same Rank. ...
- Choose Characters Wisely. ...
- Conclusion.
Do you lose rank if you leave CS:GO? ›
The only things that count are round win/loss and mvp. If you leave a match when your team is loosing, you can derank because you lost more rounds than you won before leaving and not because of abandoning.
Can you skip silver 1 to gold 4? ›If you're demonstrating a level of skill far beyond your rank, you may skip an entire division upon reaching 100 LP (for example, jumping from Silver IV to Silver II). If the difference is great enough, you may even skip your tier promos, and thus hop straight from Silver I to Gold IV without a promotional series!
What percent of players are silver 3? ›| Rank | Top% |
|---|---|
| Bronze 3 | 79.7 |
| Silver 1 | 72.8 |
| Silver 2 | 64.6 |
| Silver 3 | 56.9 |
All players from Iron to Silver can play together. Silver and Gold Players can play together. Gold and Platinum players can play together. With Platinum or above, it is the same 1 tier difference.
How many rounds is the average CS:GO match? ›A standard, competitive game of Counter-Strike is typically played over two halves of 15 rounds each with each round having a time limit of 1 minute and 55 seconds.
How long is the average competitive CS:GO? ›The average time matches in CS: GO if skilled players are involved clocks in at 40 minutes in 30 rounds and 25 minutes in 16 rounds.
What is the longest matchmaking in CS:GO? ›The longest match of CSGO! The longest CS GO match was in the ESL UK Premiership Season 1 championship, where Team XENEX and Team exceL faced each other in an 88 ROUNDS match!
Can your CS:GO rank go down? ›Overall CS:GO ranking system depends on wins and losses in competitive matches directly. If the matches are won, the rating increases, and you get a higher rank. If they are lost, then the rating goes down accordingly, and there is a chance to downgrade the current rank.
How long does it take to lose CS rank? ›After 30 days, your account will no longer have it's rank. You'll not be able to play with players above MG1, unless you're in a 5 man queue. Winning one game will give you the rank back. Often, though, you can get a lower rank, and will have to play more games in order to get your original rank back.
What is the lowest rank you can play with CS:GO? ›Elite Division
Silver 1 is the starting tier of CS: GO players, and it's the lowest rank you can achieve in the game. Meanwhile, at the very top is the Global Elite, and it is often reserved for the very best players in professional or competitive Counter-Strike.