Counter-Strike 2 doesn't have character classes, but players naturally fall into roles based on their position and responsibilities within the team. The entry fragger pushes into sites first, relying on raw aim and aggression. The support player flashes and smokes for the entry fragger, trading kills when they fall. The AWPer uses the powerful AWP sniper rifle to hold long angles and get opening picks.
The in-game leader (IGL) calls strategies and reads the opponent's tendencies, while the lurker plays away from the team to catch rotations and create pressure on the opposite side of the map. In casual play these roles are fluid, but understanding them helps you contribute to your team more effectively.
Weapons in CS2 are divided into categories: pistols, SMGs, rifles, heavy weapons, and the AWP. The Glock (T) and USP-S/P2000 (CT) are your starting pistols. The AK-47 is the T-side workhorse — a one-shot headshot kill that's devastating in skilled hands. CTs rely on the M4A4 or M4A1-S, which are slightly weaker but offer better accuracy and less recoil. The Desert Eagle is a powerful force-buy pistol capable of one-shot headshots at any range.
SMGs like the MAC-10 and MP9 are excellent on anti-eco rounds (when opponents are saving) because they award bonus kill money. Shotguns work in tight spaces but are situational. The AWP costs $4,750 and kills with one shot to the body, making it the most impactful weapon in the game but also the most economically punishing to lose. New players should master the AK-47 and M4 before investing time in AWP play.