How ELO System Works In CS2
The Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) ELO ranking system represents a significant overhaul from the ranking system used in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). Here's a detailed look at how the new system works and how it differs from its predecessor:
Key Differences Between CS2 and CS:GO Ranking Systems:
ELO-Based Ranking: CS2 introduces a new rating in Premier mode to determine skill levels. This system uses a visible ELO number that changes based on a player's wins and losses. In contrast, CS:GO featured ranks for matchmaking ranging from Silver to Global Elite, but it was never clear how close you were to ranking up or down.
Map-Specific Ranks: In CS2, ranks are still included but are not used in Premier Mode. In the regular competitive mode, ranks are now map-specific, meaning players will have different ranks for each map. This feature is a departure from CS:GO's system, where ranks were not map-specific.
Placement Matches and ELO Points: To receive a placement rating in CS2, players need to win 10 games. Ratings begin at 1,000 and can go over 40,000, based on the highest-ranked player currently. Each 5,000 ELO points segment is represented by a different color, with corresponding rough CS:GO rank estimates.
ELO Point System and Color Tiers: CS2's ELO point system is categorized by color tiers, each representing a range of ELO points.
- 1,000-4,999 points are Grey
- 5,000-9,999 are Light Blue
- 10,000-14,999 are Blue
- 15,000-19,999 are Purple
- 20,000-24,999 are Pink
- 25,000-29,999 are Red
- 30,000 and up are Gold
Win Streaks and Loss Streaks Impact: In CS2, the performance in terms of kills, deaths, etc., is not as crucial once a rating is assigned. Instead, the focus is on winning games. Win streaks can increase the ELO points earned, while loss streaks can compound the ELO loss.
Impact of Opponent/Teammate Rating: It is likely that the overall rating of opponents and possibly teammates impacts the amount of ELO gained or lost per match, although this aspect of the system hasn't been explicitly confirmed by Valve.
Promotion and Relegation Matches: In an update, Valve specified that relegation and promotion matches would only occur at color boundaries, i.e., every 5,000 CS Rating points.
Specific ELO Categories in CS2:
Based on the percentile numbers from Leetify's 2022 player base chart post-CS:GO rank reset, the CS2 ranking system can be compared to the previous game's ranks as follows:
Silver in CS:GO corresponds to approximately 1,000 - 4,500 CS2 Rating points.
Gold Nova is around 4,500 - 7,000 points.
MG1-MGE is in the range of 7,000 - 9,000 points.
DMG-LEM equates to about 9,000 - 13,000 points.
Supreme is between 13,000 - 15,000 points.
Global Elite is 15,000+ points.
Future Developments:
Valve has plans to add more features to the CS2 ranking system. For example, in the Competitive mode, each map will reflect a player's Skill Group separately, allowing for more nuanced matchmaking based on map-specific skills.
Conclusion:
The CS2 ELO ranking system represents a significant evolution from the CS:GO system, focusing more on dynamic ELO points, map-specific rankings, and a more transparent understanding of a player's skill level and progression. This new system aims to provide a more accurate and engaging competitive experience for players.