Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is the latest addition to Valve’s first-person shooter (FPS) series Counter-Strike. In this article, we will explore the various team roles in CS2, and how the roles in CS:GO have been adapted to CS2. Read on to find out more.
In-Game Leader (IGL)
When a team is established, there is always one person in control of what happens in the game. They decide on the strategy for each round, and will have to make mid-round decisions to adapt to what the other team are doing. Essentially, the IGL is the brains of the operation. Due to the nature of this role, it is very rare that you’ll see the IGL in the top half of a team’s scoreboard. There are exceptions, but trying to outthink another team makes it very difficult to focus on your individual performance. Some of the best IGLs of all time are Finn "karrigan" Andersen, Lukas "gla1ve" Rossander, Markus "pronax" Wallsten, and Danylo "Zeus" Teslenko.
Over time this role has adapted, creating hybrid roles like the AWP-IGL. A role that is particularly difficult to master, but has been used to great effect by the likes of Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo, Dzhami "Jame" Ali, and Casper "cadiaN" Møller.
Going into CS2, this role is going to require even more tactical thought. The utility changes (primarily the volumetric smokes) create new possibilities for dealing with situations, such as a Counter-Terrorist (CT) smoking off a bombsite’s entry point, as you can now partially clear smokes and gain temporary vision - timing will be everything. IGLs will also have to work very closely with their coaches and analysts to figure out new ways to use utility in certain areas of a map. Valve’s new sub-tick feature has caused many smokes to not land as they once did. Not only that, but the way that they spread will allow for more options to remove your opponent’s vision of you.
Entry Fragger (Opener)
An Entry Fragger will be one of the sharpest aimers in the game. Traditionally, this role would require the player to be the first to arrive at the bombsite. Recently, however, this has changed, as the players who often get opening kills aren’t always the first ones in - sometimes they aren’t even with the team! This role has adapted a lot from traditional Entry Fraggers like Adam "friberg" Friberg or Dan "apEX" Madesclaire, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to be played in CS2.
Openers in today’s game can be seen as space creators, and you may even see them in positions by themselves, such as under B-Stairs on Vertigo. Players like Nikola "NiKo" Kovač and Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis are exceptional in this role. If the role develops more in CS2, these two will be at the helm of it.
Lurker (Closer)
Over the years, this role has also changed to the point where one player may not play the “lurk” spots on every map. Players like Christopher "GeT_RiGhT" Alesund and Vincent "Happy" Cervoni Schopenhauer were famous for this role, almost always being isolated from the pack. Whilst this may still be the case, don’t be surprised if you see these players occasionally join the team, or another player pick up this role on one of their maps.
This role can be used as a way gather information on the enemy and pick off rotating players late into the round when your team take the opposing bombsite. The best players in this role are Sergey "Ax1Le" Rykhtorov, Robin "ropz" Kool, Kaike "KSCERATO" Cerato, Guy "NertZ" Iluzand, Lotan "Spinx" Giladi, Nemanja "huNter-" Kovač, Jakob "jabbi" Nygaard, and David "frozen" Čerňanský.
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Support (Anchor)
The Support is an often underappreciated role in the minds of viewers, and one that isn’t the most desirable to play due to the lack of freedom that comes with it. To become an expert Anchor, you need to be confident in your own ability to take on multiple enemies and hold a bombsite alone. You must also be selfless and put the team first, often setting up the moments where the stars of the team will shine. This is a role with extreme importance to a team, and one that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Some of the best players in the role are Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy, Keith "NAF" Markovic, Rasmus "sjuush" Beck, and Justin "jks" Savage.
AWPer
This is the most self-explanatory role for almost all Counter-Strike players. The AWP is a big green sniper rifle that has the ability to take out an enemy with a single shot. Those that play this role are often regarded as some of the best players in the game, so it’s no surprise to see Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut, Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyljev, and Nicolai "dev1ce" Reedtz finish CS:GO in the top three for HLTV rating at big events.
There are a few different ways to play AWPer. As mentioned previously, some will also adopt the IGL role. Whilst the role is more commonly associated with those with the quickest reactions, such as Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov, Abdulkhalik "degster" Gasanov, and Dmitriy "sh1ro" Sokolov, some play more of a support-type role. Tyler "Skadoodle" Latham was an AWPer famous for adopting this kind of style. These players have a heavy focus on throwing flashbangs and holding positions, rather than seeking duels aggressively. Most of the players who adopt this kind of playstyle also take on the IGL role, but there are some exceptions, with the likes of Helvijs "broky" Saukants, Joshua "oSee" Ohm, and Frederik "acoR" Gyldstrand coming to mind.
