Counter-Strike 2 has a plethora of game modes to choose from, but the competitive game modes are the most popular ones by far and in CS2, these two modes require unlocking.
This has led to many players asking how to unlock competitive in CS2. We’re here to provide all the details on both Competitive and Premier so you can jump in and start ranking up.
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How to unlock competitive in CS2 to start earning ranks
This dual setup may lead to additional confusion for newcomers to the game. Let’s delve into each of these game modes and explore the methods for players to unlock them.
The CS2 Competitive game mode represents the traditional way of competing against a team of five players and earning a rank for a map.
To access the Competitive game mode, you must engage in other game modes such as Casual, Bomb/Hostage, Deathmatch, and more. These modes will reward you with XP, gradually increasing your account’s level. The classic Competitive game mode becomes available once you reach Level 2.
Note that there have been reports of varying level requirements for accessing Competitive among different players.
Upon unlocking the Competitive mode, you have the opportunity to achieve a rank for each map. You need to participate in 10 matches on a specific map to establish a map-specific rank.
Valve decided to spice things up by tossing in map-specific ranks to catch out the crafty players who spam a single map just to climb the ranks.
But let’s be real — the grind to snag a rank for every map and claw your way up on each one? That’s a whole different level of gaming sweat that might just make you break a keyboard or two.
How to unlock Premier in CS2 for an official rating
The Premier mode is CS2’s latest addition to the competitive scene. To dive into this experience, you’ll need Prime status on your account. Once that’s secured, tackle 10 placement matches to unlock Premier and earn yourself a CS Rating, graded on a scale from 0 to 30,000+ — where higher is better.
The key distinction between the classic Competitive and Premier lies in the matchmaking process. Premier takes things up a notch with a pre-game ritual of picking and banning maps before the action kicks off. While it’s not a strict rule, Premier generally brings a more elevated skill ceiling and a more intense gaming experience compared to the traditional Competitive mode.
Now you know how to unlock Competitive in CS2 as well as Premier, so you can take your pick and test your mettle.
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