Best guns in CS2: Ultimate weapon tier list

❘ Updated: 2024-06-28T18:27:47

Terrorist character holding AK-47 in T-Spawn of Nuke map in CS2

Valve

Winning a match in CS2 depends on how you spend your earned money which means having the best guns is essential. This could also switch based on the map you’re playing on.

Take a look at a complete tier list featuring all of CS2‘s weapons you should be choosing in each round.

Best CS2 weapons

Tier	Weapons
S-Tier	AK-47, AWP, M4A4, M4A1-S, Desert Eagle
A-Tier	AUG, Dual Berettas, G3SG1, SCAR-20, SG553, P2000, Five-SeveN
B-Tier	FAMAS, Galil, Glock-18, MAC-10, MAG-7, MP7 P250, P90, TEC-9, USP-S, SSG 08
C-Tier	Negev, XM1014, UMP-45, MP5-SD
D-Tier	M249, PP-Bizon, R8 Revolver, Sawed-Off, Nova

S-Tier

AK-47

The AK-47 is one of the best weapons in the game and has the highest headshot damage multiplier among all the Assault Rifles. However, this Assault Rifle has high recoil, so it has a learning curve.

AWP

The AWP is the hardest-hitting Sniper Rifle with each shot dealing enough damage to destroy an enemy player at long range. This gun is ineffective at close range, forcing you to switch to a sidearm for close-quarters combat.

M4A1-S

The M4A1-S is the M4A1 but with an integrated Suppressor. While this does affect the performance lowering its headshot damage, it’s a great option for those who wish to use a stealthy approach. It’s a well-balanced weapon with low recoil.

Desert Eagle

Despite being a Sidearm, the Desert Eagle is an S-Tier weapon. It does a lot of headshot damage, which makes it a go-to choice during the first couple of rounds in every match. Unlike most Sidearm, the weapon is extremely effective at long range.

A-Tier

AUG

Only available to Counter-Terrorists, the AUG Assault Rifle is commonly referred to as auto-zoom. The weapon is priced higher than the M4A1, but isn’t as efficient.

G3SG1

The G3SG1 is the same as the AUG but is available to Terrorists only. The weapon is slightly expensive, but doesn’t perform as efficiently as the AK-47.

SCAR-20

The SCAR-20 is a DMR so you will be able to fire constant shots back to back. The weapon does good headshot damage but does not deal a lot of body-shot damage.

SG553

The SG533 is also a DMR but it’s only available to Terrorists. Just like the SCAR, it does good headshot damage but falters when it comes to body shots. It does the highest damage amongst all Auto Rifles, and easily penetrates armor, but has a very slow rate of fire.

Dual Berettas

The Dual Berettas is the only Akimbo gun that allows you to use two pistols at once. Although it’s slightly difficult to be accurate, it has a good rate of fire. While it’s difficult to land a headshot with this weapon, its rate of fire allows you to get kills easily with multiple well-placed body shots.

Five-SeveN

The Five-SeveN is a compact Sidearm available to both sides in CS2. The first two shots of this weapon have very little recoil so it’s easier to land headshots with it. The weapon also penetrates armor, so you’ll still get a with headshots even if your enemy is wearing armor.

P2000

The P2000 is an accurate Pistol with large reserves. Moving while firing this gun doesn’t impact as much, making it a great choice while shifting from one spot to another. However, you’ll need two headshots to kill an enemy if they’re wearing a helmet.

B-Tier

FAMAS

The FAMAS is a Counter-Terrorist burst-fire weapon, preferred by most players because it’s easy to get headshots with it. You can also toggle to fully automatic mode, however, its only major drawback is its damage output.

Galil

The Galil is an Auto Rifle that’s available to Terrorists only. Although it’s considered to be an alternative to the AK-47, it’s more difficult to handle than the latter. It’s a slow-firing Auto Rifle, but doesn’t do enough damage to armored enemies.

Glock-18

The Glock-18 is the Terrorist side’s default gun which features a burst-fire mode. It’s good for close-range encounters, but if you have the money, there are better options available.

MAC-10

The MAC-10 is an SMG that has decent recoil but it doesn’t deal enough headshot damage or body shot damage. Although the weapon is decent if you’re engaging in close-range encounters, it isn’t meant for long-range battles at all.

MAG-7

Only available for Counter-Terrorists, the MAG-7 Shotgun is effective in close-range encounters. Despite being a powerful gun, it’s extremely bad at engaging groups of enemies at once.

MP9

Despite having a high rate of fire, the MP9 SMG isn’t that accurate at close ranges and requires a considerable amount of recoil control to ensure accurate hits.

P250

The P250 Sidearm has a decent rate of fire but it doesn’t do enough damage other than headshots. However, it doesn’t have enough range and isn’t effective during long-range encounters.

P90

The P90 is one the fastest-firing SMG in the game and has very little to no recoil whatsoever. However, isn’t effective during firefights because it is inaccurate even when aiming down the sights.

TEC-9

The TEC-9 is a fully automatic Sidearm that only Terrorists can purchase. However, it has a high bullet spread when hip firing, and there are better and more accurate alternatives available.

USP-S

This USP-S the Counter-Terrorists’ default gun which features a steady rate of fire and moderate recoil. However, it has a low reserve ammo count, which makes it a less favorable choice.

SSG 08

The SSG 08, also known as the Scout Rifle, is the only other Sniper available in CS2. While the weapon is a good choice for eco-rounds, it has a slow rate of fire and you’ll have to strafe if you want to use this weapon effectively.

C-Tier

MP5-SD

This MP5-SD is another CS2 gun that comes with an integrated Suppressor. Although it allows for a stealthy playstyle, it doesn’t deal enough damage and isn’t as accurate as some of the other SMGs on this list.

UMP-45

Unlike most guns, you should not aim down the sights with the UMP-45 because it makes recoil control a lot harder. The best way to make the most out of it is spray when using this gun, especially when you’re facing a group of enemies.

Negev

The Negev is a bulky Light Machine Gun, which means you’ll move slower than usual, and it lacks accuracy too, so you’ll have to avoid spraying with this weapon. Despite that, the weapon has a moderate damage output, so it’s a tad bit better than the M249.

XM1014

Although it performs well against groups of enemies, you move slower while using the XM1014, making it accurate when you’re standing still. While it’ll outperform some Sidearms in close range because of its tight bullet spread, it lacks damage output in mid-ranged combat.

D-Tier

M249

The M249 has a high rate of fire because it’s an LMG, but it has a very high recoil, which makes the weapon hard to control. That aside, it’s got high bullet spread too, making it a weapon that you should avoid.

PP-Bizon

The PP-Bizon SMG has the slowest rate of fire in the category. Also, it doesn’t deal a lot of damage either, which is the reason why it’s held in the D-Tier.

R8 Revolver

The R8 Revolver Handgun does a decent amount of damage but isn’t that great because of its limited eight rounds magazine and reserve. Additionally, it isn’t too effective at medium range either, failing to deal enough damage.

Nova

The Nova is one of the weakest Shotguns in CS2, and has very little armor penetration too, so it’s one weapon that you need to stay away from if looking to dominate the close ranges.

Sawed-Off

The Sawed-Off shotgun is the worst weapon in the game because it has extremely low per-pellet damage, and has high pellet spread too. It’s a weapon that you should avoid even in anti-eco rounds.

If you’re transitioning to CS2 from Valorant, here’s how you can adjust the sensitivity across both games, along with the best settings for the game.