Counter-Strike Source Tips

So you’ve been playing Counter-Strike Source for a little while now, and are really enjoying it, but can’t seem to maintain an even score, and sometimes can’t even get a few kills. It’s okay, we’ve all been there. Instead of taking it out on your keyboard and mouse, take a few minutes to read this guide, and you’ll find yourself becoming a better CS player.

1. Use Headphones

I can’t stress this one enough. If you want to be an effective CS player, then you need to use headphones. With or without a mic, they will be one of the best things you’ve ever done for yourself in terms of playing Counter-Strike.

The Benefit

Using headphones will allow you to listen for footsteps, which is one of the most under utilized tools in the game. If you want to know why people look like hackers, it’s probably because they’re listening for footsteps. Listening for footsteps, gunfire, or a knife unsheathing, will greatly reduce the amount of times you get killed from behind, or surprised by a would-be attacker. This also sets up an advanced tactic called pre-firing.

Tip

A lot of places where you play are going to have All-Talk on. All-Talk allows both teams to converse on mic to each other. This can be hugely distracting and can many times negate the benefit of headphones. CS has the positive (or negative) of also being a social network of players who are able to chat and become friendly with one another. If this is not something you are interested in, and just want to play for the game, consider using the console command: voice_enable 0.

Learn more about Console Commands, by reading our Article: Useful CS:S Console Commands.

2. Always Aim for the Head

No matter what you are doing, your Crosshairs should be aimed at the head. A headshot is going to do the most damage for you, and eliminate your opponent faster.

The Benefit

The faster you eliminate your opponent, the less likely you are to take damage, and the less likely you are to die. Learning to shoot people in the head will be the skill that you can get good at, but can never master.

Tip

A great way to adjust your aim for the head at a distance, or even around a corner is if a teammate has run in that direction. Place your aim right where his head was, and if he’s taken down or you hear fire coming from that direction, you know for sure that your aim will be placed right in the spot where the enemies head will be.

3. Cover is Your Friend

I know it’s fun to run and gun, but sometimes taking on 5 people like Rambo isn’t in your best interest. Taking cover, and using it effectively will be your best option in just about all situations.

The Benefit

If you run out full bore, and encounter two people taking down one, only to have the other one kill you, that’s a decent trade off, right? Wrong. By popping out, burst firing, and picking off one guy and pinning the other one down, you are enabling your team to get in position, and sticking around for other situations that may call for you to step up. Think of the game as Chess, not Checkers. Thinking a few moves ahead, is always a good thing.

Taking cover is NOT camping. Sitting in a spot for a few moments, and letting your opponent make a bad decision is smart, not stupid, nub, or lame. Don’t let naysayers force you to do things you don’t want to do. Unless you hold up in one spot for the entire round, you are not camping.

By the way, if you are on CT, on a bomb map, your job is TO CAMP. You are trying to prevent the other team from planting the bomb, and winning the round. If it’s a hostage map, then T is supposed to camp. Keep this in mind, when you choose a team. If all you want to do is run and gun, then pick the appropriate team for that map.

Tip

Always be looking for cover. Each movement you make should be to another spot in which you can take cover. Always stay close to the spot if you are trading shots with another player. If the going gets too rough, then back off and let them move up to a situation that will benefit you.

Warning

Doors, wooden boxes, and thin walls can be shot through. These are not reliable cover, so keep that in mind when you are looking for a place to move to. Also, corners in general are capable of being penetrated by bullets. You can recognize these spots by looking for the thinnest point in the wall, or box.

4. Make Spraying Illegal

Spraying with any gun is usually not your best option. Unless someone is right in your face unexpectedly, then you should rarely ever have to spray. Spraying is defined as holding down the fire button, and unloading your clip at your enemy. Some guns are better at this than others: M4a1, and the MP5 are some of the stand outs. Other guns are relatively terrible at it: AK-47, and Mac-10 are near the bottom of the barrel in terms of spraying.

The Benefit

Not spraying allows you to control your gun fire, allowing your aim to be much crisper. The first few shots of any gun, are usually the most accurate, after that, it’s a game of chance. Stick to the game of skill, by shooting no more than 3 rounds at a time, and only spraying in dire situations.

Tip

Practice by not allowing yourself to spray with any gun, no matter how difficult the situation. This practice will allow you to make spraying your last option, and should improve your aim dramatically. Remember, always use burst shots, and aim for the head. The only gun I spray with on a typical basis, is the MP5 and this is only because its recoil is so minor.

If in a situation that warrants spraying, always remember that the guns recoil forces your aim upwards. Compensate for this by dragging your aim downwards, so gunfire stays in range of the enemy. Practice by spraying a wall and monitoring how each guns bullet holes line up. This can be your benchmark for how much you need to pull downwards.

5. Moving and Shooting is a Bad Idea

If you are not stationary, then your gunfire is not going exactly where it should be. Running and firing, is basically rolling the dice. If you don’t believe me, try running at a wall and spraying with an AK-47. The resulting catastrophe will look like an abstract painting.

The Benefit

As always, it comes down to aim. If you learn a simple, yet hard to perfect tactic, your aim will increase greatly. This will enable you to register many more head shots, and allow you to use cover effectively.

Tip

The technique is called… Well… Let’s call it the Stop and Pop method. As dumb as that sounds, it has the potential to more than double your average amount of kills. The method is: strafe out (A or D key), and then hit the opposite key to stop your momentum, this STOPS you. Pop off your 3 round burst, which should be done immediately as you’ve come to a stop, giving you an accurate shot. If you killed him, grab cover or move on. If not, repeat method, as many times as it takes to kill the enemy. The Stop and Pop method, is a favorite of people who use the AWP.

Conclusion

These five tips will allow you to become a better all around CS:S player. Remember, practice makes perfect. Reading this will not instantly turn you into a Counter-Strike god, but it will put you on the path to becoming a one man killing machine.