CS2 glossary

1080pEsports 1080p is a screen resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, meaning 1920 dots across and 1080 down. It is also called Full HD, and it remains the most common resolution for gaming monitors. 1vXEsports 1vX is a situation in a round when one player is left against several opponents (X being their number) and must either win the round alone or hold out until the end.

A SiteCS2 A site is one of the two bomb plant zones on a CS2 map, where terrorists plant the bomb while counter-terrorists defend it and defuse it. AbuseEsports Abuse is the overuse of a strong side of a game, such as a hero, weapon, move, mechanic or flaw, when a player repeatedly uses it to get an easy result. AceCS2 Ace is a round in which one player single-handedly eliminates all five opponents from the enemy team. ADRCS2 ADR is a statistical metric showing the average damage a player deals per round of a match. It is used as one of the key metrics for evaluating player performance in CS2. AimEsports Aim is a player's ability to accurately point their crosshair at a target and hit it, as well as a general term for shooting and aiming in shooters. Aim assistEsports Aim assist is a built-in game feature that gently helps a player steer their crosshair onto a target, most often when playing with a controller. Not to be confused with a cheat: legitimate aim assist is designed by the developers and is the same for everyone. Aim mapCS2 Aim map is a custom CS2 map built not for matches but for practicing shooting: players use it to train aiming, recoil control, and reaction against stationary or moving bots and targets. Anti-cheatEsports Anti-cheat is a software system that detects and blocks the use of cheats (third-party software for unfair advantage) in a game. Anti-stratCS2 Anti-strat is a prepared tactic that a team builds specifically against a particular opponent based on a review of their past matches. AnubisCS2 Anubis is a competitive CS2 map with an Egyptian setting: temples, columns, water canals and two bombsites. API keyEsports API key is a unique string of characters that a service uses to recognize which application or which user is accessing its data and functions. In essence, it is a digital pass issued to the account owner. AWP sniperCS2 AWP sniper is a player in CS2 whose primary role is to work with the AWP rifle: holding long distances, controlling key sightlines, and eliminating opponents with a single shot.

Battle PassEsports Battle Pass is a seasonal reward system in games: a player earns prizes for completing tasks and accumulating experience, while access to the most valuable ones is usually unlocked for a fee. Battle RoyaleEsports Battle royale is a game format in which many participants fight on a large map, and the winner is the last surviving player or the last surviving team. Bo1Esports Bo1 is a tournament format in which teams play a single map, and the winner of that one game wins the entire match. The name comes from the English phrase "best of one." Bo3Esports Bo3 is a tournament match format meaning "best of three": teams play up to three maps, and the first to win two takes the series. It is the most common series format in esports. Bo5Esports Bo5 is a "best of five" match format: teams play up to five maps, and the team that is first to win three of them takes the series. BuildEsports Build is a pre-planned set of player choices: which items to buy, in what order to level up abilities, and which upgrades to take so that a hero or character performs a particular task.

CacheCS2 Cache is a bomb defusal map in Counter-Strike: an industrial area with wide passages and duels at medium and long range. It was originally made by community mappers and later became part of the official map set. CalibrationEsports Calibration is the initial series of ranked matches at the end of which the game determines your rank for the first time, or refines it after a break or a season reset. CallsCS2 Calls are tactical decisions communicated to the team: where to go, which plan to execute, and when to attack or fall back. They are usually made by the player responsible for team tactics, but anyone can propose a decision. Cheat softwareEsports Cheat software is third-party software that gives a player an illegal advantage: automatic aiming, visibility through walls, or other functions unavailable in fair play. CIS DerbyEsports CIS Derby is a match in which two teams from CIS countries play each other. The word "derby" emphasizes the heightened intensity and high stakes of such a meeting. Clan tagEsports Clan tag is a short label that a player or team member puts next to their nickname to show membership in a clan, team, or organization. ClutchEsports Clutch is a round or match that one player pulls off and wins alone against numerically superior opponents, after the rest of the team has already been eliminated. Console commandEsports Console command is a text instruction entered into an in-game console to perform an action, change settings, or retrieve technical information. Content MakerEsports Content maker is a person who creates gaming content for an audience: streams, videos, breakdowns, and highlight clips. In esports, the term covers both former pro players and those who build their careers entirely on media. Counter-pickEsports Counter-pick is the selection of a hero, character, or strategy specifically against what the opponent has already chosen, in order to gain an advantage through a favorable matchup. CringeEsports Cringe is internet slang for something awkward, absurd, or embarrassing enough to make you feel secondhand shame. In games and on streams, the word is used for failed jokes, strange behavior, and humiliating moments.

Danger ZoneCS2 Danger Zone is a non-tournament battle royale mode in CS2 and CS:GO where dozens of players drop onto a large map, gather gear, and fight until only one remains. DeathmatchCS2 Deathmatch is a training mode in CS2 where all players respawn immediately after each death and continuously fight each other on a single map, without rounds or objectives, honing their aim and reaction speed. DefaultCS2 A default is the basic way to play a round in CS2: the team spreads out across the map, takes control of key areas and gathers information, then decides later where to hit based on what it has learned. Default PositionCS2 Default Position is a standard spot on the map that a player takes at the start of a round by default, until the team has information about the opponent's plans. It is convenient both for defending and for quickly adapting to the situation. DemoEsports Demo is a recorded file of a completed match that can be replayed from any angle to break down players' decisions, strategies, and mistakes. DisbandEsports Disband is the breakup or dissolution of an esports roster, when its players stop competing together as a team. The organization itself may continue operating. DPIEsports DPI is a measure of a computer mouse sensor's resolution: how many "dots" per inch of mouse travel the sensor registers. The higher the value, the farther the cursor moves for the same hand movement. DropEsports Drop is an item or reward that a player receives at random: for a match, for time spent in the game, or on a schedule. The word comes from the English "drop," meaning "to fall" or "to let fall." DuoEsports Duo is a pair of two players who play together: in ranked matches, in the same lane, or as a pairing within a team. The word comes from the Italian/Latin "duo" ("two"). Dynamic SpreadCS2 Dynamic spread is the deviation of bullets from the aim point that changes depending on the player's actions: running, jumping, crouching, and sustained fire. The worse the conditions for an accurate shot, the greater the spread.

Eco RoundCS2 Eco round is a round in CS2 in which a team deliberately forgoes buying full equipment in order to save up money for future rounds. EconomyEsports Economy is the system of in-game resources (money, gold, items) that a player or team manages in order to buy gear and gain an advantage over the opponent. It determines who can afford strong equipment, and when. Elimination MatchEsports Elimination match is a tournament game after which the losing team or player is out of the running for prizes and the title, while the winner advances. There is no margin for error in such a match. ELOEsports ELO is a system for calculating a player's or team's rating that evaluates the strength of opponents based on wins and losses and is used for matchmaking participants of roughly equal skill level. Entry FraggerCS2 Entry fragger — a player who takes the first fight when their team pushes an enemy-held position, aiming to secure an opening kill and create space for teammates. ExploitEsports Exploit is the use of an error or unintended feature in a game to gain an advantage. It may violate game or competition rules even without third-party software.

FACEITCS2 FACEIT is an independent platform for organizing online matches in Counter-Strike 2 and other games, where players compete based on rating and get access to stricter anti-cheat and tournaments. FarmEsports Farm is the accumulation of in-game resources — gold, experience, items, or currency — through repetitive, similar actions, such as killing neutral creatures or waves of enemies. The word comes from the English "farming" and is used in many games. FlashbangCS2 Flashbang is a stun grenade in CS2 that temporarily blinds players and muffles game sounds. It affects opponents, the player who threw it, and their teammates. FlickEsports Flick is a fast, sharp snap of the crosshair toward a target that stops precisely on it, followed by a shot. The technique is used in first-person shooters, where you need to instantly put the crosshair on an enemy. Force BuyCS2 Force buy — a purchase of weapons and equipment in a round when the team doesn't have enough money for a full buy, but decides to buy weapons anyway instead of an eco round (a round with minimal purchases to save up money). FragEsports Frag is a kill of an enemy player in a team shooter or another competitive game. The word is used both as a unit of scoring in statistics and as a verb: "to frag", "to frag out". Frag highlightEsports A frag highlight is a standout moment in a match in which a player gets several kills in a row in a spectacular or unexpected way. Such moments are cut into clips and shown as the best of the game. Freeze timeCS2 Freeze time is the short stretch at the start of every CS2 round when players have already spawned on the map but cannot yet move, and teams have time to buy and agree on a plan.

Game SenseEsports Game sense is the ability to understand a game situation and anticipate opponents’ likely actions using available information and experience. It helps players choose an appropriate position, moment, and course of action. GG WPEsports GG WP is the phrase "good game, well played," written in chat after a match as a sign of respect toward opponents regardless of the outcome. GrindEsports Grind is long, monotonous play aimed at a specific result: climbing rating, gaining experience, or collecting resources or items. In esports, the term describes persistently repeating matches or practice sessions in order to improve.

HeadshotCS2 Headshot is a hit to an opponent's head, which in most games deals maximum damage and often kills instantly. Hit RegistrationCS2 Hit registration is how accurately and promptly the game server records a shot hitting a player and applies damage. Hit registration issues are situations where a shot visually looked accurate, but the damage wasn't registered or was registered with a delay. HWID banEsports HWID ban is a block tied not to a game account but to a computer: the anti-cheat remembers a hardware "fingerprint" and refuses to let that machine into the game, even if a new account is created.

IGLEsports IGL is a team player responsible for tactical decisions during the match itself: choosing strategy, assigning positions, and calling plays for a round or phase of the game. ImbaEsports Imba is gaming slang for something so strong that it breaks the balance of the game: a hero, a weapon, an ability, or a tactic. In a broader sense, the word has simply become the highest form of praise: "imba" means "awesome." In-fightCS2 In-fight is close-quarters combat in a shooter, when players meet at short range and the outcome is decided by reaction speed, aim, and the ability to make a quick decision. InactiveEsports Inactive is the official status of a player on a team's roster when they temporarily do not take part in competitive activity but formally remain on the roster. InfernoCS2 Inferno is one of the classic competitive maps in Counter-Strike, played by professionals. It is set in an Italian village: narrow streets, two bombsites, and plenty of spots for grenades and close-quarters fights. Insta-smokeCS2 Insta-smoke is a smoke grenade thrown at the very start of a round, while freeze time is still running, so that the smoke blocks off a key passage before the opponent can see anything. InviteEsports An invite is a direct invitation for a team to a tournament without going through qualifiers, usually given to teams that are strongest by rating or status.

K/DEsports K/D is the ratio of a player's kills to deaths over a match or a selected period. It describes individual statistics but does not determine a player's contribution to winning on its own. KatkaEsports Katka is the slang term for a single game from start to finish: one match in a series or one ranked game. "To katnut katku" means to play one match. KDAEsports KDA is a measure of a player's performance in a match that takes into account kills, deaths, and assists. It is written as three numbers separated by slashes or calculated as a single ratio. KeyloggerEsports Keylogger is malicious or spyware software that secretly records everything a person types on the keyboard and sends that data to an attacker. It is used to steal account passwords, including gaming accounts. KickEsports Kick is the removal of a player from a match, lobby, or team roster. It can be initiated by other participants, an administrator, or the game system.

LadderEsports Ladder is a ranked matchmaking system that arranges players by skill level in the form of a "ladder": the more wins, the higher the position and rank. LeaderboardEsports Leaderboard is a public table in which players or teams are lined up by rating, points, or other results: the higher the row, the better the performance. Such tables exist on gaming platforms, in tournaments, and within games themselves. LobbyEsports Lobby is a virtual room before a match begins, where players gather into a group, configure the game and wait for it to start. The word is also used to mean the full set of participants in a single match. LootEsports Loot is the items a player obtains in a game: found in the game world, taken from defeated opponents, or received as a reward for winning. The word comes from the English "loot," meaning "plunder." Lower BracketEsports The lower bracket is the part of a double-elimination tournament bracket where teams go after their first loss. A second loss knocks them out of the tournament. LurkCS2 Lurk is a tactic in which a player separates from the team and moves across the map alone and stealthily, waiting for the right moment to secure a surprise frag or distract the enemy's attention.

MapCS2 Map is a game location in CS2 where a match takes place: each map has its own layout, bomb sites, positions, and tactics. In esports, the word also means a single game within a match. MapmakerEsports Mapmaker is the author of game maps: a person who designs and builds locations for a game, most often in an editor and by community effort rather than by the developer studio. Match-FixingEsports Match-fixing is a game whose outcome or individual events have been agreed in advance by participants or outside parties rather than decided by fair competition. Such matches violate tournament rules and undermine trust in esports. MatchmakingEsports Matchmaking is an online game system that automatically selects players for a match, usually based on skill level and rating. The player presses the search button, and the service assembles the teams and opponents on its own. MetaEsports Meta is the set of the strongest and most frequently used strategies, heroes, weapons, or tactics in a game at a given point in time, considered the optimal choice for winning. MidCS2 Mid is the central area of a CS2 map, where control helps a team watch important routes and opens up additional options for attacking or moving around the map. MinimapEsports Minimap is a reduced-size diagram of the game map on the screen that shows the positions of players, objects, and events and helps you stay oriented without being distracted from the action. MirageCS2 Mirage is one of the most popular maps in Counter-Strike, set in a Middle Eastern city; known for its balance between attacking and defending sides and its almost constant presence in the tournament map pool. MMREsports MMR is a numerical estimate of playing ability that a system uses to match opponents of roughly equal strength. This rating can be visible or hidden. MOBAEsports MOBA is a genre of team-based computer games in which two teams each control individual characters and fight to destroy the opponent's main structure on a dedicated map. The name stands for "multiplayer online battle arena." Mobile Legends: Bang BangEsports Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a mobile MOBA in which two teams of five players fight to destroy the enemy base; the game is often abbreviated to MLBB or called "Mobile Legends" in Russian. MolotovCS2 Molotov is an incendiary grenade available to terrorists in CS2 that sets an area of the surface on fire. The flames deal damage and help restrict enemy movement. Multi-accountingEsports Multi-accounting is the use of several game accounts by a single person, usually to circumvent the rules: to boost rating, collect rewards, evade penalties, or influence match results. MVPEsports MVP is the "most valuable player" title of a tournament or match, awarded for the greatest contribution to a team's wins.

NerfEsports A nerf is a weakening of a character, weapon, item, or mechanic in a game made by the developers, which makes it less effective.

OverlayEsports Overlay is a graphic layer displayed on top of a game or broadcast that shows additional information: chat, notifications, stats, the match score, or stream design elements.

PatchEsports A patch is an official game update that changes balance, fixes bugs, or adds new content. Patch NotesEsports Patch Notes are the official text from developers listing all the changes included in a game update: mechanics adjustments, balance changes, bug fixes, and technical improvements. PickEsports Pick is the selection of a character, hero, or map that a team or player makes before a match begins. Pick rateEsports Pick rate is the share of matches in which a particular hero, item, or other game element was chosen, out of the total number of games played in a given sample. It shows not strength, but popularity. PingEsports Ping is the time, in milliseconds, it takes for a signal to travel from your computer to the game server and back. The lower it is, the faster the game responds to your actions. Pistol RoundCS2 Pistol Round is the first round of each half of a CS2 match, in which every player starts with the same small amount of money and can mostly buy only pistols, light armor, and grenades. The outcome of this round strongly affects the economy of both teams. PlantCS2 Plant is the act of the attacking team placing the bomb on a bombsite in CS2. The word is also used for the action itself, the place where the bomb is set, and the stage of the round after the bomb has been placed. PlaybookEsports Playbook is a team's set of prepared tactical schemes: how it attacks, defends, and acts in typical in-game situations. A kind of "book of plays" that the players know by heart. PositioningEsports Positioning is the choice of where to stand on the map and how to place yourself relative to enemies, teammates, and objectives, which determines how safely and effectively a player acts at any given moment of a round or fight. Premier ModeCS2 Premier Mode is a competitive matchmaking mode in CS2 with its own rating system, in which players compete on maps from a shared pool and receive a numerical measure of their skill level. It is considered the most serious mode for playing with strangers. Prize PoolEsports Prize pool is the total amount of money (and sometimes other rewards) that a tournament organizer announces in advance and distributes among participants based on the results of the competition. Pro RosterEsports Pro roster is a team of professional players that competes on behalf of an organization in tournaments for money and ranking points, as opposed to an amateur or academy roster. PubEsports A pub (public match) is an ordinary public game in which players are placed into teams at random through matchmaking, with no pre-arranged roster, tactics or coach.

Ranked MatchEsports A ranked match is a game whose outcome directly changes a player's rating: a win raises it, a loss lowers it. It is the opposite of a casual game, where the result affects nothing. ReportEsports Report is a complaint against another player, submitted through a game's or platform's built-in system when that player cheats, behaves toxically or ruins the match. RetakeCS2 Retake is the act of taking back a bombsite after the opposing team has already planted the bomb — an attempt by the defending side to regain control of the site and defuse the explosive. RiflerCS2 Rifler is a CS2 (and CS:GO) player who is responsible for the main firepower with assault rifles and rifles and takes fights at medium and close range. It is the name for the fighters on the team's main line, as opposed to the sniper (AWPer) and the team leader. Role (Amplua)Esports Role (amplua) is the in-game role assigned to a player on a team: the set of tasks they carry out round after round and match after match. A player's role determines their position, playstyle, and contribution to the team's overall result. RosterEsports Roster is a group of players who represent one team in tournaments and matches in a specific discipline. RotationEsports Rotation is the movement of a player or part of a team from one area of the map to another during a round or match. RoundEsports Round is a separate segment of play in a match that ends with one side winning and earning a point. A match consists of a series of rounds: whoever is first to reach the required number of them wins. Round ReadingCS2 Round reading is the ability to use indirect clues to work out what the opposing team is planning to do in the current round and adjust your own actions to that plan in advance. RushEsports Rush is a fast and aggressive attack on a position or map site with minimal preparation, aiming to catch the opponent off guard before they can set up their defense.

ScoutEsports Scout is a specialist who searches for and evaluates promising players for esports organizations. Their job is to find the right person before the whole market starts talking about them. ScrimEsports Scrim is a practice game between two teams arranged by mutual agreement, held to work on tactics without the pressure of a tournament. SetupEsports Setup is deliberate advance preparation: a team's positioning for a round, actions that prepare a kill, or the set of equipment a gamer plays on. The meaning depends on context. Silent ReloadCS2 Silent Reload is a way to refill a weapon's magazine without the loud sound at the final part of the animation, if the reload is interrupted at the right moment. SkinEsports A skin is a cosmetic item in a game that changes the appearance of a weapon, character, or other element and has no effect on gameplay stats. Skin ChangerEsports Skin changer is an unofficial service or program that promises to trade, sell, or swap in-game skins by bypassing the built-in trading mechanisms and the marketplace. SmokeCS2 Smoke is a grenade in CS2 that creates a dense cloud of smoke and blocks vision. The word also refers to the cloud itself. SnipingCS2 Sniping is a playstyle based on precise long-range shooting from fixed positions, most often using the AWP or another sniper rifle. Spray ControlCS2 Spray control is the skill of managing a weapon's recoil during automatic fire, allowing the player to keep the crosshair on target while shooting a burst. Stand-inEsports Stand-in (substitution) is a situation in esports when a player from the main roster cannot play in a match and someone else plays in their place. The word is also used for the player who takes the absent player's spot. Steam Community MarketEsports Steam Community Market is the official marketplace inside Steam where players sell and buy in-game items from each other for Steam Wallet funds. StickerCS2 A sticker is a virtual decal in CS2 that can be applied to a weapon in the inventory; some stickers are released for tournaments and bring organizations and players a percentage of sales. Strafe AimCS2 Strafe aim is the skill of accurately hitting an opponent while moving sideways (strafing), when a player moves left and right while keeping their crosshair on the target. SubtickCS2 Subtick is a technology for processing player actions in CS2, in which the server accounts for the exact time of a shot, jump, or turn within the interval between ticks, rather than rounding it to the nearest tick. SupportEsports Support is a game role focused on helping the team: healing, buffing, protecting, or creating conditions for the carry and other roles to succeed. Swing%CS2 Swing% is a CS2 metric that shows how much a player's actions in a round changed their team's chance of winning. It measures not the number of kills, but their real contribution to the outcome of the round.

Team DamageEsports Team damage is damage dealt by a player to their own teammate instead of an opponent. For systematic team damage, a player can be kicked from the match. TeammateEsports A teammate is a player from your own team with whom you play a match or compete in a tournament together. Test BuildEsports Test build is a version of a game intended for checking its behavior and changes before the main version is released. Access may be limited to developers or invited participants, or available to anyone interested. TickrateCS2 Tickrate is the frequency at which a game's server updates the state of a match per second, measured in ticks. Tier 1Esports Tier 1 is the highest level in esports' informal hierarchy: the term refers to a discipline's strongest teams, biggest tournaments, and most prestigious organizations. Tier-2 TournamentEsports Tier-2 tournament is a competition of the second level of significance, below majors and the largest championships, but above local and amateur tournaments. TiltEsports Tilt is a state in which a player, due to anger, frustration or a string of failures, loses composure and starts playing worse than usual, making impulsive decisions. TimingEsports Timing is the sense of a round's or a game's rhythm: understanding when the opponent's key actions usually happen and how to adjust your own actions to them. To callEsports To call is to tell your team over voice chat what is happening in a match or to propose a shared decision: where the enemy is, what we are doing, where we are going. The Russian slang word "коллить" comes from the English *to call*, meaning "to name, to announce". Top RosterEsports Top roster is a team of the strongest players that ranks among the best in its discipline and regularly competes for top places at major tournaments. The expression is used both for the team itself and for its playing lineup during a specific period. Tournament formatEsports Tournament format is the set of rules that defines how a tournament is organized: how teams qualify for it, how they are divided into groups, in what order matches are played, and under what conditions the winner is determined. TradeCS2 A trade is a quick kill on an enemy right after they've killed a teammate, when the "trading" player is nearby and backing up their ally. Trade Kill (Even Trade)CS2 Trade Kill (Even Trade) is a situation in a round when both teams lose roughly equal numbers of players in a single engagement, and the overall man-advantage barely changes as a result. Transfer WindowEsports A transfer window is a period in esports when organizations can officially change their rosters: sign players, release them from teams, and announce transfers. TransfersEsports Transfers are moves of players, coaches, and other team members from one esports organization to another. The word comes from traditional sports and means a change of club together with the agreements between the parties.

UltimateEsports Ultimate is a character's most powerful ability in games where heroes have a set of skills. It usually unlocks later than the other abilities, has a long cooldown, and can turn the tide of a fight. UtilityCS2 Utility refers to grenades and auxiliary items (smoke, flashbang, molotov, HE grenade) that help control area, blind, or smoke out the enemy without direct weapon damage. Utility LineupCS2 Utility lineup is a pre-learned pattern for throwing grenades (smokes, flashes, molotovs) from specific spots on the map to solve a tactical task, such as blocking sightlines or forcing a player out of a corner.

VAC banCS2 VAC ban is a Steam account ban for using cheats in games protected by Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC). It blocks access to protected competitive servers and cannot be lifted. VAC LiveCS2 VAC Live is the part of Valve's anti-cheat that checks players' behavior in real time during a match and can instantly end the game if a violation is detected. VarianceEsports Variance is the spread of results around an expected value: random deviations in a game that mean the same skill or the same decision does not always produce the same outcome. VoiceMeeterEsports VoiceMeeter is a Windows program that works as a virtual audio mixer: it takes sound from different sources and routes it to multiple outputs and tracks. It is used by streamers and players who need to control game audio, voice chat, and microphone separately. VRSCS2 VRS (Valve Regional Standings) is Valve's official rating system for CS2 that determines team strength and distributes major slots. It accounts not only for wins and losses, but also for opponent strength, round difference, and the freshness of results.

WallhackEsports Wallhack is a type of cheat software that lets a player see opponents and other objects through walls and obstacles. Using a wallhack is considered cheating and leads to an account ban. Warm-upEsports Warm-up is a player's preparation before an important match or practice session: a short stretch of play or a few exercises to get into rhythm and settle both hands and head. Win rateEsports Win rate is the share of wins by a player, team, hero, map or mode out of all matches played, expressed as a percentage. The metric answers the question "how often does this lead to a win".