Understanding the New Rating System in CS2: A Comparison to CS:GO Ranks

The ranking system in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) has undergone a major overhaul from its predecessor, CS:GO. In CS2, a new rating system in Premier mode is now used to determine skill levels, replacing the traditional ranks seen in CS:GO matchmaking.

Previously in CS:GO, players were assigned ranks ranging from Silver to Global Elite, but it was often unclear how close they were to ranking up or down. However, in CS2, ranks are still present but are not utilized in Premier Mode. In regular competitive mode, ranks are now per map, meaning players will have a different rank for each map they play on. In Premier Mode, the focus is solely on the new ‘CS Rating’ system.

The CS Rating is a visible Elo number that changes based on a player’s wins and losses. Players must win 10 games to receive their placement rating, which starts at 1,000 and can go up to over 40,000. Each 5,000 elo increment is represented by a different color, with rough comparisons to CS:GO ranks provided.

Players can think of the color of their rating as their ‘rank’, similar to the system used by third-party service FACEIT. As players climb the rating ladder, they will reach different color tiers that correspond to skill levels. For example, reaching 15,000 elo puts players in the upper echelon, with less than 5% of players above this number.

To improve their rating and rank up in CS2’s Premier Mode, players need to focus on winning games. The system rewards winning streaks with larger rating gains and punishes losing streaks with significant rating losses. Additionally, the overall rating of opponents and teammates may impact the amount of elo gained or lost in a match.

Valve recently made changes to the rating system, including relegation and promotion matches occurring at color boundaries and increased possible rating win/loss amounts to expedite player movement after calibration.

Players should also be aware that ratings are not permanent and may be reset if they do not play for a while or at the start of a new season. CS2 also features leaderboards that display ratings, wins, and win percentages, allowing players to see how they stack up against others globally or in specific regions.

Overall, the new rating system in CS2 adds a layer of depth and clarity to the competitive experience, providing players with a more accurate representation of their skill level and progress in the game.