Counter-Strike 2 (Valve / ESL FACEIT Group) Rules Explained

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Counter-Strike 2 (Valve / ESL FACEIT Group) Rules Explained | OpenSourceSports

Full Rulebook(29 sections)

Plain-English summary drawn from the official rulebook — great for getting started. For competitive or formal play, see the Complete Rulebook. Hover any rule to see its source sentence.

Overview

Counter-Strike 2 is a tactical first-person shooter in which two teams of five compete as Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists. Matches are structured across a series of rounds, with top-level play contested in Valve-sanctioned Majors and tier-1 tournaments operated by partners including ESL FACEIT Group, PGL, and BLAST.

How to win

Map win condition — First to 13 rounds wins; tie at 12-12 triggers overtime.
Terrorists: Plant and detonate the bomb, OR eliminate all CTs; Counter-Terrorists: Defuse a planted bomb, eliminate all…
MR3 overtime rules — 3 rounds per side, $10,000 start; first to 4 OT-round wins takes the period.
How to Win — Ts: plant/detonate bomb or eliminate all CTs; CTs: defuse, eliminate all Ts, or outlast timer.
BO1: Single map win; BO3: First to 2 map wins; BO5: First to 3 map wins (Grand Finals)

The game

Each team has 5 active players and up to 1-2 substitutes (varies by tournament); Common roles: In-Game Leader (IGL), AW…
Server administrators: Configure servers, manage match settings; Referees: Monitor gameplay, authorize tactical pauses,…

Cultural norms — not in the rulebook. These are widely understood traditions and expectations among experienced Counter-Strike 2 players. Not enforced by referees; enforced by the game’s community. Rules marked ⚡ Contested are genuinely debated even among veterans.

⚠️ Strong Expectation— Most experienced players will take notice and be upset

Knife round determines side selectionProfessional play
— Before a competitive match, both teams rush mid-map armed only with knives to contest side choice. The winning team picks CT or T side. Refusing or running from the knife round is seen as unsportsmanlike. This ritual is observed at LANs, FaceIt hubs, and organized pick-up games and is a defining marker of competitive CS culture.(Sometimes replaced by a coin flip in official tournament brackets, but the knife round remains the norm in grassroots and semi-pro competition.)[1]
Say "GG" at match end — never "GG EZ"
— Typing 'GG' in all-chat when the match concludes is expected sportsmanship. Typing 'GG EZ' — implying the match was trivially easy — is considered one of the most disrespectful acts in competitive CS. Valve directly acknowledged the community norm by adding a filter in CS:GO that auto-replaces the phrase with a self-deprecating message.(Valve introduced the GG EZ auto-replace filter in 2016, citing community consensus that the phrase was toxic. The filter itself is documentation of the unwritten rule.)[1]
Don't break team eco
When a team calls an eco round — saving money to fund a full buy next round — every player is expected to save, even if they personally can afford a rifle. Buying breaks the team's coordinated economy, strands eco teammates in 1v2 situations, and signals poor teamwork. Repeated eco breaks are considered a serious breach of team responsibility at all competitive levels.

1. Introduction

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is a tactical first-person shooter developed by Valve Corporation. Two teams of five players compete as Terrorists (T) and Counter-Terrorists (CT) across a series of rounds. CS2 is the successor to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and features updated graphics, sub-tick networking, and dynamic smoke grenades.

Competitive CS2 is governed primarily by Valve through its Major Championship system, with tournament operations handled by partners including ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), PGL, and BLAST. The game is one of the longest-running esports titles, with professional competition spanning over two decades.

This ruleset covers the standard competitive format used in Valve-sanctioned Majors and tier-1 professional tournaments.

2. Equipment & Technical Requirements

Hardware

Gaming PC meeting tournament specifications (typically high-end CPU and GPU)
Monitor: 240Hz or 360Hz refresh rate, 24-25 inch display (tournament standard)
Mouse: players bring their own (must be wired or tournament-approved wireless)
Keyboard: players bring their own (no programmable macros)
Headset: noise-isolating or in-ear monitors with white noise overlay at LAN events
Mouse pad: players may bring their own

Software

Official Steam client with Counter-Strike 2 installed
Tournament server running the current competitive build
No third-party software, overlays, or assistive tools permitted
Custom configs (crosshair, viewmodel, binds) allowed within game parameters

Network

LAN play required for all Major and tier-1 events
128-tick (or sub-tick) dedicated servers provided by tournament organizer
Online qualifiers: minimum 50 Mbps connection, <50ms ping to server

3. Playing Area (Maps)

Matches are played on maps from the official Active Duty Map Pool, which Valve updates periodically.

Active Duty Map Pool (2026)

Mirage: Classic two-bombsite map with mid control focus
Inferno: Tight corridors and iconic banana/arch dynamics
Nuke: Vertically layered map with upper and lower bombsites
Ancient: Mayan-themed map with distinct A/B site approaches
Anubis: Egyptian-themed map featuring water-based rotations
Dust II: The most iconic competitive map in FPS history
Vertigo: High-rise construction site with elevator rotations

Map Structure

Each map has two bombsites (A and B) that Terrorists attempt to plant the bomb at
Maps are designed for 5v5 play with balanced T/CT dynamics
Spawn points, buy zones, and bombsite boundaries are fixed per map

4. Players & Officials

Team Composition

Each team has 5 active players and up to 1-2 substitutes (varies by tournament)
Common roles: In-Game Leader (IGL), AWPer, Entry Fragger, Support, Lurker
One coach per team; coaches may only communicate during timeouts and halftime (Valve coach bug rule)

Officials

Server administrators: Configure servers, manage match settings
Referees: Monitor gameplay, authorize tactical pauses, enforce rules
Tournament directors: Handle protests, scheduling, and rule interpretations
Anti-cheat staff: Monitor players and systems for unauthorized software

Player Eligibility

Minimum age: 16 years (most tournaments)
Must not be VAC-banned on their competing account
Must not be under an active ESIC or Valve competitive ban
Regional residency requirements may apply for certain leagues

5. Rules of Play

Map Veto

Teams alternate banning maps from the Active Duty pool
BO1: Ban-Ban-Ban-Ban-Ban-Ban, remaining map is played
BO3: Ban-Ban-Pick-Pick-Ban-Ban, remaining map is decider
BO5: Ban-Ban-Pick-Pick-Pick-Pick, remaining map is decider
Higher-seeded team chooses first ban or first pick (varies by tournament)

Round Structure

Each match half consists of 12 rounds (MR12 format, introduced in CS2)
Total regulation rounds: 24 (teams switch sides after 12 rounds)
Round time: 1 minute 55 seconds
Bomb timer: 40 seconds after plant
Freeze time: 20 seconds (buy period at round start)

Economy System

Players earn money through kills, bomb plants/defuses, and round results
Starting money: $800 (pistol round)
Maximum money: $16,000
Loss bonus increases with consecutive round losses (up to $3,400)
Team-based economy decisions (eco rounds, force buys, full buys) are a core strategic element

Tactical Timeouts

Each team receives 4 tactical timeouts per match (30 seconds each)
Coaches may communicate with players during timeouts
Technical pauses may be called for hardware/software issues (referee approval required)

6. Scoring & Victory Conditions

Round Win Conditions

Terrorists: Plant and detonate the bomb, OR eliminate all CTs
Counter-Terrorists: Defuse a planted bomb, eliminate all Ts, OR let the round timer expire

Match Win Condition

First team to 13 rounds wins the map (MR12)
If the score reaches 12-12, overtime is played

Overtime

MR3 overtime: 3 rounds per side (6 total per OT period)
Starting money: $10,000 per overtime period
First to win 4 rounds in OT (or equivalent lead) wins
Additional OT periods played until a winner is determined

Series Scoring

BO1: Single map win
BO3: First to 2 map wins
BO5: First to 3 map wins (Grand Finals)

7. Violations & Penalties

Cheating

Aimbot/wallhack: Use of any aim assistance or information-revealing software — permanent ban
Match fixing: Deliberately losing or manipulating outcomes for gambling — permanent ban
Bug exploitation: Intentional use of map exploits or game bugs — round loss, map forfeit, or disqualification
Coach spectating abuse: Exploiting spectator camera during live rounds — coach ban

Conduct Violations

Verbal abuse: Harassment of players, staff, or officials — warning to fine
Unsportsmanlike conduct: Excessive celebration, taunting, or disruptive behavior — warning to suspension
Betting violations: Players or staff betting on matches they can influence — suspension to permanent ban

Penalty Tiers

Verbal warning
Round or map forfeiture
Monetary fine
Tournament disqualification
Temporary competitive ban (months to years)
Permanent ban from Valve-sanctioned events

8. Safety & Integrity

Anti-Cheat

Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) runs on all competitive systems
Tournament-specific anti-cheat clients may be required (e.g., FACEIT Anti-Cheat)
Peripheral device checks: mouse and keyboard firmware verified at LAN events
Player PCs may be inspected before and during matches

Player Welfare

Adequate rest periods between matches at multi-day events
Soundproof booths or noise-canceling setups at major LAN events
Access to medical staff and support services during events
Players must not be under the influence of prohibited substances during competition

Data Integrity

All competitive matches are recorded (GOTV demos)
Demo files are available for post-match review and dispute resolution
Server-side anti-cheat logs are retained for investigation purposes
ESIC (Esports Integrity Commission) may conduct independent investigations