All CS2 Roles Explained

CS2 is a heavily tactical game won by the combined efforts of all five players. While the game doesn’t pigeonhole players into specific roles, certain dedicated roles naturally emerge as players climb the competitive ladder. These roles are the building blocks of a successful team composition. 

The most important thing to know about CS2 roles in your pubs is that it’s quite difficult to coordinate and you’ll probably find that a degree of flexibility is needed. Play to your strengths and you’ll find the role that’s right for you. Can’t wait and want to charge in guns blazing? Entry fragger might be for you. Headshot expert? Try out the AWPer/sniper role.

Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty and examine each one.

All CS2 Roles

Entry

If you’re not looking for the easiest ride in the game, being an Entry Fragger like Team Spirit’s donk is no walk in the park. This is the player who spearheads your attacks, jumping in first and securing crucial entries into bombsites.

Often, the Entry is the sacrificial lamb, traded for valuable map control. The role demands razor-sharp aim to quickly and efficiently clear angles, as well as impeccable gamesense to anticipate enemy positions while operating on a shoestring of information. If they can survive their entry, that’s all the more power for you.

Lurker

The Lurker is the quintessential opportunist, holding the rear end of the attack and often playing on the opposite side of the map. If your team is gearing up to strike a bombsite, the Lurker’s job is to keep the enemy guessing, which is a key role in those rounds that really matter. Some of the best CS2 players in the world make the list for playing this role flawlessly.

Whether cutting off rotations or threading the needle with sneaky plays, a good Lurker is as elusive as a shadow and strikes when least expected. Their motto? “Patience pays dividends.” But if the Lurker is taken out too early, the jig is up, and the team’s plans may fall apart like a house of cards.

Support

The Support player is the glue that holds the team together, setting up their teammates for success. Armed with utility like flashes, smokes, and grenades, the Support must have an encyclopedic knowledge of lineups and a knack for timing.

They also need to have strong communication  skills to stay in sync with the team and adapting on the fly. As the third or fourth player into a bombsite, they’re also responsible for trading kills. 

Sniper

In a game where the best player has been an AWPer more often than not, their sniper role is a crucial one. With great power comes great responsibility, the price tag of the one-shot one-kill weapon reads a hefty $4750 and the best CS2 teams almost invariably have some of the best snipers in the game.

On the T-side, AWPers may be reluctant to pick up the gun due to the nature of the rounds, but on the CT-side, they become imperative for locking down key angles. The best snipers have been known to be as nimble as a cat, often stepping into entry duels with the AWP to get a quick pick.

IGL

The In-Game Leader is the team’s captain, calling the shots and steering the ship. While it may seem like a desk job, being an IGL is anything but a cakewalk. They juggle assigning roles, processing information mid-round, and making decisions based on it that can make or break a round.

This demanding role often means their fragging takes a back seat and their stats may suffer, as their eyes are glued to the map to process the information rather than the crosshair. An IGL as experienced as karrigan knows they must keep their wits about them while ensuring the all the cogs work in unison.

Anchor

The Anchor is the CT side’s first line of defence guardians at bombsites. While the rest of the team hunts for picks and information, the Anchor stays put, holding the fort. This role requires a cool head and the patience of a saint, as they often delay pushes, spot for information, and deploy their utility to ensure the rest of the team can rotate over in time. Anchors are the rock on which the team’s CT defense is built, buying precious seconds for reinforcements or at least get two kills to increase the chances of a retake. 

There you have it, all CS2 roles

Each role in CS2 is a cog that holds paramount importance in the intricate dynamics of a team. It is impossible to find success if the players in your team don’t fit into the roles, no matter how good they are.

History speaks volumes about the number of rosters that have failed due to misaligning with their roles, even though all five were great at shooting heads. When choosing your own role, choose the one that best complements your skillset and playstyle.