A Comprehensive Guide to the Economy of CS2

Understanding the intricacies of the CS2 economy is a crucial skill that can significantly impact the outcome of matches. Numerous elements influence the result of a game between two teams, but the economy and its management stand out as crucial factors. The way you handle your economy is essential in determining your success or failure in the game.

Acquiring the necessary skills becomes essential to understanding the significance of effectively managing your economy in CS2. This comprehensive guide provides you with all the important information about CS2's economy.

Understanding the Mechanics of the CS2 Economy

For those who may need to become more familiar with the term 'economy' in CS2, it pertains to all financial aspects of an actual CS2 match. This is entirely unrelated to the skins market or any similar topics.

In CS2, the currency is regularly used to acquire various armaments and tools within the game. After each round, players are rewarded with funds that they can utilize at the beginning of the subsequent round.

There is a collection of guidelines that determine the amount of money you receive for each round. Gaining a thorough comprehension of these concepts is crucial for enhancing your skills in effectively managing CS2's economy. In order to make it easier to understand, the sum of money you receive is determined by these three elements:

• Kills
• Round Outcome (Win or Lose)
• Plant and Defuse

Generating income — Kills

Frags in CS2 will earn you some cash. Nevertheless, the quantity you receive is contingent upon the weapon employed for the termination. As an illustration, eliminating an opponent with a rifle will reward you with $300, whereas taking them down with an AWP will grant you $100. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the monetary rewards you receive for eliminating opponents using different weapons:

• Grenades – $300
• Submachine Guns (except P90) – $600
• Shotguns (except XM1014) – $900
• XM1014 – $600
• Knife – $1500
• Zeus x27 – $100
• AWP – $100
• Pistols – $300
• P90 – $300
• Assault Rifles & Machine Guns – $300

Simply examining this list reveals that the higher the weapon's cost, the lower the amount of money received for kills. The rationale behind this is that more affordable firearms, such as SMGs, pistols, and shotguns, are often perceived as more challenging to use for successful kills.

The game tries to prevent situations where the winning team keeps buying the best weapons and accumulating a lot of money by giving more money for kills with weapons that are usually used in difficult economic situations, compared to weapons bought by teams with a lot of money.

Making Money — Round End

Another element that impacts the economy is the final result. Emerging victorious in rounds results in a monetary gain, while experiencing defeat still offers its own set of rewards.

• Each successful round will earn your team a generous sum of $3250.
• When you unfortunately fall short in a round, you will receive a sum of $1400 as compensation for your initial defeat. With each subsequent round you fail to win, the amount you receive increases by $500. This is commonly referred to as the bonus for consecutive losses. The maximum limit for this bonus on consecutive losses is $3400.
• When playing on the T-side, if you manage to achieve victory by successfully executing an explosion, you will be rewarded with a generous sum of $3500.
• However, a well-executed defuse by the CT side also rewards them with a sum of $3500.

Undoubtedly, this is the epitome of a 'money-making' team. In addition to this, your earnings are also accumulated.

Planting Explosive Devices

When the explosive device is strategically placed, a generous reward of $300 awaits the individual responsible. Furthermore, in the unfortunate event of a subsequent round loss, the entire team is granted an additional $800 to alleviate the setback. Therefore, opting for a vegetation placement during rounds when your team has invested in lower-tier weapons can prove to be highly advantageous for your financial situation.

If you meet your demise as a terrorist once the official round-timer has expired and the bomb remains unplaced, you will not receive any monetary compensation in the subsequent round. Therefore, it can frequently be advantageous to perish prior to the expiration of the round timer as a terrorist. Suppose you're on the CT side, and you're aware that an opposing terrorist is attempting to preserve their weapons. In that case, it's frequently advantageous to aggressively pursue a frag once the round-timer expires, if feasible.

Popular CS2 Economy Tactics

In computer science, numerous established concepts related to the economy exist that every competitive gamer should familiarize themselves with. The terms we'll discuss below are self-explanatory, but we'll explain each of them.

It's worth noting that to make a complete purchase (including utilities and all), you'll require approximately $5000 as a T and $6000 as a CT. It's not necessary to purchase an entire utility set each time, but it's beneficial to have a clear understanding of the objective. Starting from April 2024, players can now view the absolute minimum amount of money they are assured to possess in the upcoming round, thereby simplifying the task of managing their in-game economy.

Complete Eco / Preserve Round

Complete eco (frequently referred to as 'eco') implies refraining from making any purchases. This is for those occasions when your team is in a dire financial situation and needs to cut costs for the upcoming round. During a complete economic round, players opt to use either the standard pistol or a more affordable alternative like the P250, provided they have the funds. It is pretty challenging to emerge victorious in rounds where teams opt for a complete eco strategy. The primary objective of these rounds is to trade one round in order to have a complete buy in the following round. If you're playing as T, it's always a wise move to prioritize planting the bomb to earn additional funds.

Partial Purchase

This option provides a balanced approach, combining elements of both eco and complete buy strategies. It's for situations when you possess funds but need more than purchasing a rifle and full armor. During half-buy rounds, players often opt for a combination of grenades and more affordable firearms like SMGs, shotguns, or even a Famas/Galil.

When the team finds itself in a situation where it has a surplus of funds to purchase superior weapons but not quite enough for a comprehensive buy, it opts for what is known as a half-buy. When opting for a half-buy, it's crucial to understand that it's advisable not to exhaust the entire budget. Ensure that you have an ample amount remaining to make a complete purchase in the subsequent round.

Purchase All Necessary Items

This is the purpose of all the rounds dedicated to saving. When it comes to a complete buy, it's all about going all out and equipping yourself with a top-notch rifle, a wide range of utility tools, and full armor protection. Typically, on the CT side, this will also involve having a defuse kit.

Compulsory Purchase

In times of great need, one must be willing to take unconventional actions. Pressuring involves making a purchase without considering one's financial circumstances. This strategy is employed when one must emerge victorious in the upcoming round at all costs. Using this approach carries significant risks and potential rewards, so it is crucial to exercise caution. 

Purchase the Hero

This is a less typical purchasing strategy, but a 'hero buy' occurs when one player on the team invests in higher-quality weapons while the rest of the team saves their money. An excellent illustration of a heroic purchase occurs when a player who has been racking up numerous kills (and consequently accumulating more funds) decides to invest in an AWP in order to defend a site single-handedly. At the same time, the rest of the team conserves their resources. In this situation, the player purchasing the AWP would be considered the 'AWP specialist.''

Understanding that a hero purchase is an uncommon approach is of utmost significance. It's dangerous, and making a mistake can seriously disrupt your team's finances for numerous rounds. Always consult with your team before making any impulsive purchases.

Anti-Eco / Bonus / Farming

This strategy is commonly employed when the opposing team is anticipated to economize, such as after losing the pistol round. Opting for an anti-eco purchase involves acquiring weapons that offer a substantial kill reward, such as SMGs and shotguns. This strategy allows you to generate additional funds by eliminating opponents who are equipped with pistols.

Declaring an anti-eco round can be pretty precarious; if you invest in a plethora of SMGs and the opposing team opts to force buy, you have relinquished your weapons advantage, and the outcome of the round becomes uncertain. The complexities and strategic mind games contribute to the exhilarating nature of competitively playing CS2.

Tips for Maximizing CS2 Economy

It’s About the Team

Team coordination plays a crucial role in determining the success of the CS2 economy. It is essential to keep your team informed about your purchasing decisions, including the timing and details of the items you are buying. Your team and you must have a similar financial situation.

If you decide to purchase an AK-47 while your teammates are struggling to afford even an SMG, you are significantly undermining your team's financial stability.

Unless you're using unfair tactics or resorting to cheating (which is highly discouraged), your chances of winning against a fully equipped team on your own are incredibly slim, even if you possess a rifle. If you are the sole purchaser of a gun and end up losing the round, you may not have enough funds to make a complete purchase in the following round, unlike your teammates, who can make complete purchases. This can result in a chain reaction, where your team rarely has a complete, appropriate purchase.

Consider the budget of your team and make purchases accordingly, even if you have additional funds available. Ensuring that your economy remains in sync with your team will significantly enhance your likelihood of securing victory in the round. Feel free to sell any weapons you've purchased if you've made an error. If needed, you can utilize the feature available in CS2. 

Make Smart Financial Decisions

You can enhance your team's financial situation as an individual by making intelligent choices.

If you find yourself in a tough economic situation as a CT, it's worth considering whether or not purchasing a helmet is necessary. An AK can take down an opponent with a single headshot, regardless of whether they are wearing head protection.

Similarly, rather than purchasing a defuse kit, inquire with your teammate if they already possess one. If you're both playing on the same site, you have the option to grab their defuse kit in the event of their demise.

Here's another instance of wise expenditure: picture yourself committing to swiftly occupy a specific location as a Counter-Terrorist during a round where you have limited funds, with the intention of surprising the Terrorists. Considering your imminent confrontation with the adversary, it is highly likely that a complete arsenal of grenades will be optional. A quick explosive may suffice; it's best to forgo the haze and the incendiary device.

Dropping

If you happen to have some additional funds, it's always a good idea to lend a hand to your teammates and assist them in cutting down on expenses. Whenever you find yourself short on funds to make a purchase, it's always a good idea to request a drop from a teammate who has the means to help you out. Ultimately, the funds of your team are indistinguishable from your own and vice versa.

Take a Break From Constantly Pressuring Yourself

This is a common occurrence in lower ranks, where some players consistently purchase every round. Perhaps this stems from a sense of frustration, or it is simply a result of limited understanding. Purchasing all the rounds and never allowing your economy to stabilize is detrimental to your team's success.

If you wish to reach a complete purchasing round, you must be willing to make financial compromises. Transitioning from an economy round to a fully equipped round with powerful rifles and a full set of utility can yield significantly better results compared to consistently purchasing submachine guns and a couple of grenades each round. Maximizing the number of complete buy rounds is crucial in CS2, as utility and weaponry play a vital role in the game.