CS2 Weapon Tier List

How the ranking works

Data cutoff 2026-08-06This ranking targets competitive Counter-Strike 2 weapon purchases. The main table is a weighted consensus of three public weapon tier lists—Skycoach (updated July 2026), DMarket, and Overgear—with tiers scored from S=5 down to D=1 and averaged. Price, damage, and other stat figures come from Skycoach entries. Professional pick rates shift with each tournament, so this article does not claim to be an official HLTV weapon ranking.

Consensus Tier Summary

An average score of ≥4.5 earns an S, ≥3.5 earns an A, and so on. The AK, both M4s, and the AWP all sit in S; the Deagle, MAC-10, AUG, and others show disagreements in their tiers, so the table keeps all three original tiers for easy comparison.

When reading the table, check the consensus tier first, then see whether the three original columns clash. If the three sources score closely, the community guides largely point the same way; for guns with big gaps (like the AUG, CZ, or shotguns), the pick depends more on map and round type—don't lock in a buy list based on a single letter.

Rifles

The core of full-buy rounds still revolves around the AK-47 for the T side and the M4A1-S / M4A4 for the CT side. The AK is cheap and can one-shot headshot armored targets, so it's practically the default for T-side full buys. CTs choose between the suppressor's recoil control (M4A1-S) and magazine firepower (M4A4); after the patch, both remain in the S-tier consensus.

The Galil and FAMAS handle half-buys and post-eco refrags when the rifle line gets broken. The AUG / SG 553 come with scopes and higher price tags; the three guides range from A-tier to C-tier for them—they're better suited for fixed positions and specific tactics, not as a "always correct" default purchase.

Sniper Rifles

The AWP holds strong on S-tier: one shot can decide a round, but it's pricey and missing carries a heavy penalty. The SSG 08 (Scout) is a budget-friendly pick for long-range holds and rotation harassment during eco rounds. The auto-snipers SCAR-20 / G3SG1 are expensive, offer low kill rewards, and rank low in most guides—they show up in occasional clutch situations but are rarely seen as a full-buy staple.

SMGs

In pro matches, when it comes to holding sites or playing out clutches, the MP9 on the CT side and the MAC-10 on the T side are the most frequently called out; HLTV discussions also repeatedly note that pros essentially only look at these two SMGs. The P90 has a large magazine but is pricey; the Bizon and MP5-SD are usually ranked lower in most guides—fine for casual play, but a low priority in ranked.

Pistols

The Desert Eagle is the most debated paid pistol, with all three sites hovering around the S/A border. The USP-S and Glock are the default spawn weapons; the P250, Tec-9, and Five-SeveN are go-to picks for force buys and trade kills. The R8 and CZ sit at wildly different tiers across the three sites—players who love the feel swear by them, but the guides don't consistently boost their rankings.

Shotguns and Machine Guns

Occasionally seen in close-quarters, late-round, or utility-driven scenarios. Skycoach is more optimistic about the XM1014 / MAG-7, while DMarket and Overgear are more conservative, pulling the consensus score to a middle tier. The Negev and M249 rarely serve as primary weapons in full-buy competitive rounds, appearing more often in casual play or highly unusual economy situations.

Quick Reference Panel

The following prices and damage values are sourced from the Skycoach entry dated July 2026; in-game store listings may vary due to patch updates.

How to Buy on Eco Rounds

Base your buys on the round’s cash flow rather than memorizing a static tier list. Below are general purchase directions by common round type; still, factor in whether teammates are saving, whether someone is on AWP, and the mid-range distance on the current map.

Quick editor's summary

On top of the consensus split, here's a shorter tier list based on "default ranked priority" so you can drag it into your template. If it clashes with the full table, go with what your rank's usual gun choices suggest.

Online ranked

Below is a CS weapon tier template (about 38 entries) that you can reorder from S to D based on your own rank and habits.