Many players, while playing CSGO – or just before they play a round, want to find out the ranks and the skill level of their opponents. Obviously, there are a couple of reasons for wanting to know – the desire to gauge the game’s challenge level or simply out of curiosity.
There are a couple of ways in which you can find out the levels…
First Method
You can wait until the match concludes and then look at the scoreboard to see the ranks of all players in the match.
Second Method
However, chances are you want to know before you play.
Lots of players like to adorn their nicknames with various clan tags. It’s common knowledge that you can view the ranks of your Steam friends, even if they are on the opposing team. The same principle applies if you belong to the same Steam group as your opponent or ally, as their ranks will become visible.
If your opponent has a tag appended to their nickname, you can visit their profile and join the associated Steam group. However, if the profile is private, you might need to search for the group manually, although this may not always yield the results you’re looking for.
By adding the tag of this group to your own nickname, you can ascertain the rank of your opponent during the CS:GO match itself.
Rankings – The Ranking System
Like many other games in the eSports scene, CS:GO ranks players based on skills. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive features two distinct types of rankings. The first, known as Competitive Rank, is pretty much what most players are accustomed to. It ranges from Silver to Global Elite and is earned by taking part in Competitive mode matches. Notably, Competitive Rank is now map-specific, which means that a player’s rank on Inferno may not be the same as it is in Dust II.
The second type, Counter-Strike Rating, is a newer addition to CS2. This is influenced by gameplay in the new Premier mode, which includes all maps.
Counter-Strike Rating places players on a seasonal leaderboard specific to their region.
What is a Counter-Strike Ranking
Counter-Strike Rating (CS Rating) is essentially a numerical measure of a player’s performance in CS2 Premier mode. You can view your and others’ CS ratings on the CS2 leaderboard, which is highlighted in blue. In addition, the rank, displayed to the left, will show how close a player is to the top of the leaderboard.
On the right side of the leaderboard, the %Rank value indicates a player’s position relative to other players. For instance, if a player’s %Rank is 40, they are among the top 40% of players.
CS Rating spans from 1k to 40k, with the highest-rated players typically reaching around 36k. A statistical analysis was completed on rank distribution based on player percentiles, and an approximate translation of CS2 ranks was provided to CS:GO ranks. It’s important to note that these translations are not official equivalents and are derived from launch data, so they may potentially change over time.
In CS2, Competitive mode features Counter-Strike ranks, with each map assigning them a separate rank. For example, to be assigned a rank for a specific map, a player would need to secure ten wins on that map. The CS2 Competitive Ranks align with CS:GO ranks, including:
- Silver 1
- Silver 2
- Silver 3
- Silver 4
- Silver Elite
- Silver Elite Master
- Gold Nova 1
- Gold Nova 2
- Gold Nova 3
- Gold Nova Master
- Master Guardian 1
- Master Guardian 2
- Master Guardian Elite
- Distinguished Master Guardian
- Legendary Eagle
- Legendary Eagle Master
- Supreme Master First Class
- Global Elite
Skill Levels?
It’s also worth mentioning skill levels, which are directly tied to Elo ratings, which range from 100 to infinity and reflect a player’s perceived skill and game knowledge. The concept behind matching players with similar Elo ratings is to ensure evenly balanced games.
The Elo brackets vary depending on the game, but skill levels range from 1 to 10. The Challenger rank is attained by the top 1000 players at level 10.
- Level 10 (2001+)
- Level 9 (1751 – 2000)
- Level 8 (1531 – 1750)
- Level 7 (1351 – 1530)
- Level 6 (1201 – 1350)
- Level 5 (1051 – 1200)
- Level 4 (901 – 1050)
- Level 3 (751 – 900)
- Level 2 (501 – 750)
- Level 1 (100 – 500)]
How to Check CS:GO Rank FAQs
How do CS:GO ranks work?
CS:GO ranks basically indicate a player’s skill level, which is earned through competitive gameplay. Ranks range from Silver I to Global Elite, with higher ranks representing higher skill levels.
How are CS:GO ranks determined?
Ranks in CS:GO are determined by a player’s performance in Competitive mode matches. It considers factors such as wins, MVPs, and individual performance – which all contribute to rank changes.
Can I see my CS:GO rank in-game?
Yes, your CS:GO rank will be displayed on your profile page in the game’s main menu. Additionally, your rank will be shown on the scoreboard during competitive matches.
What do CS:GO ranks mean?
CS:GO ranks essentially reflect a player’s skill and experience level within the game. Higher ranks indicate a better player – with the highest rankers having a real mastery of game mechanics.
How do I improve my CS:GO rank?
To improve your CS:GO rank, you’ll need to focus on improving your gameplay skills, communication with teammates, and game sense. By keeping practising and learning from the mistakes you make will help you climb the ranks.
Do CS:GO ranks reset?
Although CS:GO ranks do not necessarily reset entirely, they can change over time based on how you perform in matches. There may also be seasonal updates that also affect rank distributions.
Can I lose my CS:GO rank?
Yes, if your performance declines or you keep on losing matches, you could potentially lose your CS:GO rank and drop to a lower skill group.
How often are CS:GO ranks updated?
CS:GO ranks are stats that are updated regularly based on player performance in matches. However, Valve has not publicly disclosed specific details about the frequency of updates.