Learning how to headshot in CS2 is one of the first steps to climbing the ranks. This is because, in a tactical shooter like Counter-Strike 2, the headshot multiplier is fairly high and can rapidly speed up a gun’s time-to-kill (TTK). However, knowing how to headshot in CS2 isn’t something that comes naturally, and you need to be attentive and dialed into the game to pull off those crazy one-taps!
How To Headshot in CS2
The best way to guarantee a headshot is by placing your crosshair at head height (or above the neck) while there’s no recoil on your gun. Generally, in CS2, there are four regions on a player’s body: The limbs, the stomach, the upper body, and the head. Each portion has a separate damage multiplier, with the head having a 4x damage multiplier.
However, the damage multipliers can get confusing when you include armor, wall bangs, and bullet penetration into the mix. So don’t get flustered when you land a headshot and it doesn’t one-shot the person; there are a lot more factors to consider!
Best Tips For Landing Headshots In CS2
In CS2, gun mechanics are fairly straightforward: wherever you aim, that’s usually where the bullet will go, at least for the first shot, known as first bullet accuracy. However, once you start spraying bullets, the gun recoil comes into play, and you’ll see your shots spreading all over the place. Hence, as long as your aim is on point and you’re firing one-taps or in short bursts, you can count on headshots registering as intended. Just make sure you keep a few key tips in mind when you try to headshot people:
Crosshair Placement
The single most important tip for new players is to be mindful of their crosshair placement. Admittedly, only the best of the best can make those precise, snappy flicks on an enemy’s head, so your best bet for achieving consistent headshots is having good Crosshair Placement.
Good crosshair placement means positioning your crosshair at head level even when there are no opponents on screen. As you get better at the game, you’ll get more familiar with common angles where enemies peek from. With pristine crosshair placement, you’ll guarantee that you don’t have to move your mouse too much when they show up on your screen.
Spray Control
If we’re being honest with ourselves, landing the first bullet is easier said than done, even with accurate crosshair placement. However, you can still save yourself by controlling your gun’s recoil. Each gun in CS2 has a specific recoil pattern, and if you get it down right, you’ll have a much better grasp at how to headshot in CS2.
With good practice, you can nail the recoil pattern and adjust your bullets even with your crosshair shifting all over the screen (due to the recoil). The idea is to try to land the subsequent bullets on your opponent’s head, and if you have a tough time with first bullet accuracy, aim a little below the neck – this won’t guarantee a one-tap, but it’ll make it easier for subsequent bullets to hit the head.
Tap Firing
Spray control isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – especially at longer ranges. If you struggle with headshots, try to be more disciplined with your shots and tap fire over long ranges. With this method, you can adjust your aim and wait for your recoil to die down before you make the next shot, landing headshots more effectively.
Other than that, make sure you’re warmed up and put in some time in Deathmatches or custom warm-up maps before you start a match. That’ll keep your aim crispy and help you land those crucial one-taps!
Conclusion
Hopefully, these tips gave you a much better idea of how to headshot in CS2. Once you can finally start tapping heads in Counter-Strike, climbing the ranks becomes infinitely easier. Make sure you put in those practice hours and keep on following more tips to get better at the game.