When it comes to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, it might seem like a pretty surface-level game. After all, it’s you against them, and all you have to do is aim your gun in the right position, right? But as soon as you’re in the realm, it won’t take long before you realise that this game is a lot more complex than you anticipated.

As with most things, the basics of the game are pretty straightforward. However, even though the basics might be easy to grasp, beginners will soon find that they reach a threshold preventing them from progressing. CSGO quickly gets deeper, and if you don’t keep at it, you can’t master the game. This is often why beginners give up on it.

As soon as you take advantage of these Counter Strike: Global Offensive tips, you’ll see your confidence boost, which will allow you to own battles and build a strong team.

  • Master basic guns from the start

Because CSGO is a tactical shooting game, your gun knowledge needs to be up to scratch. But don’t try to master them all from the start, no matter how impressive some of them might look. 

Because you’re new to the game, start with weapons like USP-S (Pistol), AUG (Automatic Rifle) and SSG 08 (Sniper Rifle). Even though they’re the top weapon choice for beginners, they’re still powerful guns that experts use to win battles.

While we’re on guns, it’s worth mentioning that each has its own unique spray pattern. Once you get to grips with the above guns and their spray patterns, you  can then start considering spending money on fancier weapons.

Check out this guide on the commonly used guns in CSGO: 

  • Practise your shooting

A lot is going on in battle, which often means you don’t have time to think about your next move or even take a couple of seconds to aim. Practising your shooting is how you will access more complex aspects of the game and put yourself in a position where you can make tactical moves with speed. 

When you’re learning the basics of the game, take time between shots, don’t just go crazy with shooting hundreds of shots – this isn’t a 2000’s video game. In between shots, work on your aim and be aware of the recoil. You’re also going to want to aim for the head rather than the body. 

Play around with some bots and get a feel for how accurate your shooting is. Once you’ve had your fun, play in Deathmatch mode as it’ll give you a chance to practise fast shooting.

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  • Learn the callouts

All CSGO players have to learn map callouts. The map callouts refer to various places on the virtual locations. These are very important in matches, especially if you are playing with your team. Knowing the different names for each area of a map is crucial in communicating with your teammates during gameplay and understanding where everyone is at all times. 

There’s nothing worse than being ambushed by an enemy when you’re not looking or having someone sneak up on you from behind because they know that area better than you do! All these things can be avoided by learning some common terms for the maps so that communication goes more smoothly.  

  • Cache Callouts
  • Dust 2 Callouts
  • Vertigo Callouts
  • Cobblestone Callouts
  • Inferno Callouts
  • Mirage Callouts
  • Overpass Callouts
  • Train Callouts
  • Nuke Callouts

  • Listen to IGL

The In-Game Leader is one of the most important roles in the game. This person is the tactical mastermind behind the game, who’s also responsible for the approach of each game. They’re the ones who decide where a team goes, what they do, and whether or not it’s time to change plans based on how the battle is going. The ability to think quickly and devise new plans and strategies is arguably the most important role of the IGL. 

The IGL’s role wouldn’t be possible without a team backing the CSGO strategy and sticking to the plan. Therefore, one of the number one CSGO tips is that when the IGL sets a plan, you go with it. Not only does this help you build team trust, but it also means you learn from the best while increasing your knowledge and understanding of the game’s tactics and strategies.

There are a lot of toxic gamers, so don’t be one of them. Instead, share information with other players, inform them of enemies, coordinate your movement and don’t be afraid to share your emotions.

IGL something you’re keen on? Here are 5 CSGO pro tips for becoming a respected IGL:

  • Movement basics

Most newbies to CSGO give too much attention to trying to shoot their enemies. True, it’s the goal, but getting there isn’t as simple as shooting and aiming. You’ve got to master the basic movements to master the game, and getting the moves down is a combination of knowledge, technique and your own intuition. 

Because CSGO is a team game, there’s a lot of pressure to perform well and defend your team. If you’re a complete beginner, practise with bots to get a feel for the game basics and how movements work. While it’s tempting to keep up the game with bots, don’t play for too long because it isn’t realistic. 

    • Jumps: these work well when you want to surprise your energy, but they make a lot of noise, so it’s best to keep this for one-on-one battle situations.
    • Crouching & walking: both are silent and great for approaching enemies, but crouching is usually a giveaway that you’re a newbie. Crouching it’s a great move for peeking corners, but it’s pretty slow, so don’t rely on it in battles.
    • Sidestep shooting: this gives the shooter accuracy in shooting and mobility. 
    • Strafing: walking side to side makes you a harder target to hit, but it also provides you with a full range of motion for shooting.
    • Bunnyhops: jumping between strafing and is a great tactic for increasing your movement speed and control.
  • Take cover: part of your CSGO training involves knowing when to cover and when to attack – and taking cover is one the easiest ways to stay alive. 

 

  • Pay attention to sound

Keeping quiet isn’t something you can avoid in CSGO. But that doesn’t mean you mustn’t be careful with your jumping, banging and stomping. Distinguishable sounds can indicate where you are to enemies, which often results in surprise attacks.

Headphones are what’s going to immerse you in the game fully, so it’s suggested you use a pair to enhance your hearing for tactical attacks.