Counter-Strike 2 has introduced a new rating system that runs separately from the previous matchmaking ranks in Global Offensive. This article will explore this new rating system.
Counter-Strike is arguably the pinnacle of competitive shooters. However, the game started out as just a mod for Half-Life. As the game matured, a competitive scene also evolved alongside the casual community. Global Offensive introduced an in-game matchmaking feature to the franchise alongside skill-based ranks. Before that, only third-party rankings were available, which catered to the active competitive scene.
Moving into Counter-Strike 2, the old system has long felt obsolete. Even players of the same rank had varying degrees of game knowledge and mechanical skill. The competitive players turned to third-party matchmaking sites like FaceIT and ESEA, which had a more sophisticated rating system than conventional in-game matchmaking.
The response from Valve was to introduce a new and more refined rating system in the game that shows the ELO values directly instead of some arbitrary rank logo. Many players feel this is a step in the right direction.
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How is Counter-Srike 2’s Rating System Different from Ranks?
The rating system in CS 2 is not outright replacing the old system. The previous matchmaking system is being reworked by changing it to a per-map ranking system. This helps players master each map distinctly, as you can be a Global Elite on one map and still be a newbie on another.
Premier mode is the new way to play ranked matchmaking, where your rating is shown as a specific number rather than an arbitrary skill group. Premier was first introduced in Operation Broken Fang for CS:GO. It was Valve’s way to reduce queue times by placing a pick-and-ban system for maps and sides.
Premier uses a numbering system that balances teams with a broader range to select from. With skill ratings varying from 0 to 30,000 +, matches can be tuned to be more reflective of a balanced game instead of picking 5 Legendary Eagles that may significantly vary in skill.
How Does Counter-Strike 2’s Rating System Work?
With the introduction of Premier and rating, Valve has changed the way players’ skill group is calculated. You can assume the points or rating to reflect the skill of yourself, your teammates, and your opponents.
During each game, you are shown the potential rating change for a win and a loss. This normally depends on the team composition, recent match results history, and the opponent’s rankings. From our playing experience, the average on a win could range from 110-250 Rating points. We have also seen players facing a loss of up to -400 when on a losing streak, so the points deduction is very punishing, something Valve might adjust in the following weeks.
A tied game will award you half the winnings if you are statistically the inferior team. Similarly, it will deduct half points if you were favored to win, but the opponent tied the game.
Another feature is the introduction of promotion and demotion games. Your rating is adjusted to reach X,999 for every increment of 1,000 rating, after which you have to play a promotion game to enter the next bracket of 1,000 points. The same is true for a de-rank game where your rating will bottom out at X,000 when you face a demotion game. Lose that and you will drop down to the bracket below and have to climb up once again.
The rating skill groups are also bunched into some color-coded categories.
- 0-4,999 – Grey
- 5,000 – 9,999 – Light Blue
- 10,000 – 14,999 – Blue
- 15,000 – 19,999 – Purple
- 20,000 – 24,999 – Pink
- 25,000 – 29,999 – Red
- 30,000 + Gold
Eagle-eyed readers might detect that these color groups are the same as skin rarity categories in the game. Furthermore, the popular CS stats tracking website, Leetify has revealed the current spread of skill ratings based on their database.
Moreover, the new rating system also comes with a leaderboard that ranks all the top players into three different categories. Previously, the only way to match your rating with others was through third-party ladders like Faceit and ESEA. In Counter-Strike 2, these leaderboards are categorized into Friends, Regional, and World Leaderboards with seasonal resets that will start the climb all over again.
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