Breaking Down Roles In CS:GO And Studying Them
CS:GO requires team roles that are more meaningful than just having AR and SMG players. It’s a combination of class setups, movement and use of utility. When it comes to choosing a role, every player must think of their entry skills, reflexes, movement, and all-around method of playing the game. Every shot that someone takes instantly gives away their position and must understand the risks behind each round. Someone who AWPs compared to an aggressive rifler are two very different roles. Rifle gameplay is swifter and much easier to use in a close quarter situation. Whereas AWPers are well known for peeking tight angles or having insane flicks when having to watch small-framed openings.
AWPS AND RIFLES
Anyone who plays CS:GO at a competitive level understands the importance of buying, saving, or picking up an AWP. It’s one of the most expensive weapons in the game best used in the hands of someone with near-perfect hand-eye coordination. Commonly known for its strengths of damage the AWP can make or break your game. An AWP is usually best for the most confident play on anyone's team. The powerful sniper cannot be used to its highest power in the hands of someone who breaks out into a sweat during a clutch situation. AWPers are always the ones who peek mid and hold obvious angles such as mid or any bomb sites main entrance.
While the AWP is a well-respected weapon, riflers are much more common within each team. That includes both support and aggressive players - two important roles that will also be touched upon. Riflers consist of people who are great entry fraggers or close-range CT players. These tend to be the people who put up the most numbers damage-wise leaving the scraps for their teammates. Anytime a team chooses to force-buy the most aggressive player will receive the rifle, knowing that they’re the best option to win a round based on low economy.
FRAGGER VS SUPPORT
Players that are considered fraggers always enter first onto a site, due to the fact they have the best shot with the numbers to prove it. Resulting in taking the first two kills allowing their team to plant while the enemy players rotate from the other bomb site. Whenever it comes down to a clutch situation, fraggers will often use their support players as bait—allowing them to provide information on enemy locations and giving their teammate a better shot at winning.
Utility comes in handy for all support players. That’s anyone who knows the go-to smoke setups, flashpoints, and appropriate times to dump a Molotov or grenade directly towards enemy territory. Knowing their teammates won’t always listen to a flash call, support players will choose the best places to pop - eventually causing the most damage to their opponents while keeping clear vision for the rest. Any player that tosses a flash right into the air or drops a smoke in a useless spot is not a support player. Besides utility usage, it’s also important to stay calm and trust yourself to clean up the damaged leftovers.
Click to enlargeMIND TRICKS WITHIN CS:GO
Next up is the game sense gods - also known as in-game leaders. IGLs are made up of players that have mastered each and every possible route in all the maps CS:GO has to offer. They call all the shots, know when to rotate, fake a push, and when to give up their position. IGLs are almost like virtual babysitters having to keep track of their team at all times telling them where to go. Consisting of what's known as big brain strats is the reason why IGLs make the game. Decision making can lead to team splits resulting in confusion for the enemy team.
One of the more specific roles is being a lurker. Someone who obtains the best trigger discipline and has a good knowledge of map routes. Almost like mixing a support player with an IGL. Not all teams have dedicated lurkers, but every few years one happens to make their way into a pro-CS:GO team. Despite being the one to lurk, IGLs are usually the ones to place lurker positions.
Secondary AWPers are often used but really uncalled for. Basically, it’s anyone who’s the second-best sniper on the team. The best combination is having an amazing AWPer with a great support player. That’s when teams can depend on their team AWPer to make the big picks while their support player can pick up an AWP for an eco round when detected.
For those who are new to the game, or just don’t know what role they land in, simply play a couple of matches. Become grounded in pubs and master your craft in custom maps with friends. Once a role becomes too much work or is considered boring, it just means you’re not fit for it. Some players just have natural talents, but it all starts with learning and practising the game.
Images via Valve
