Decisions, decisions. You're making it a point to improve yourself at Counter-Strike, and you set yourself to learn the "ins" and "outs" of the game. Beginning is easy, but mastering your playstyle is a difficult task. However, a craftsman is only as good as the tools he has readily available, and CS:GO allows you many options to choose from. Would you use the M4A4 over the M4A1-S? Would you decide on the Tec-9 or Five-Seven over the CZ-75? The ultimate decision is up to you; each weapon is extremely useful in its own scenarios, and it's your job to find which weapons suit you best. In this guide, we'll cover the advantages and disadvantages to each choice, and help you make the final choice on what you will need the most on the battlefield.

Let's start with the rifles. The M4 Carbine series is a formidable beast to surmount. However, both renditions have pros and cons. Take a look at what might suit you best. Note that both M4's have brilliant first-shot accuracy, and neither is a one-shot kill to the head. Both rifles cost $3100 in-game.

M4A4: The all-around rifle. 120 rounds, 30 to a clip. Perfect for spraying through smokes and for suppressive fire. This weapon is the hammer to the Counter-Terrorist's arsenal. However, its power is matched by its audible volume; you won't exactly be hidden when using this weapon. This weapon also fires tracer rounds, which makes you easier to find when spraying through the ends of a smoke grenade. Its spray pattern is also more difficult to master than its 1-S counterpart, but with the sheer amount of rounds given, perfecting a backwards "L" is worth it in the long run. This will best fit you if you're defending an oncoming Terrorist push, with its large clip allowing you a lot of room to breathe.

M4A1-S: Some might call this the A4's younger brother; smaller volume of rounds, and significantly quieter. The most obvious difference in this rendition of the rifle is its attachable silencer; a must-have for Counter-Terrorist lurkers. Sound from the rifle is significantly reduced, and muzzle flashes/tracers are nonexistent. With its much smaller and easier spray pattern, this weapon can be picked up and used efficiently by anyone. However, convenience has a price; this rifle only allows the player 60 rounds, 20 to a clip. It also suffers from a slightly slower fire rate than its A4 counterpart. This will best fit you if you're a lurker or a rotating player, with its reduced volume and muzzle flash making it perfect for stealth.

There are a LOT of decisions to be made with pistols. The P2000 and the USP-S are two perfect examples, both of which are options for Counter-Terrorists. they are one-shot kill headshots, but only against enemies without a helmet. These are most useful on the first rounds of each half, otherwise known as "pistol rounds."

P2000: The misunderstood child of the M4A4 is a cruelly underrated pistol. It exceeds expectations with ammo count; 13 rounds in a clip, 52 in reserve. Despite popular belief, this weapon has a longer accurate range than its USP counterpart. The main downsides are its movement inaccuracies; movement control is incredibly important with this sidearm, and spray and pray tactics are heavily punished. This will best fit you in the same role as the A4 would; as an anchor defending a Terrorist push.

USP-S: This is the sidearm of choice for most Counter-Terrorists. Akin to the A1-S, its most outstanding difference is its attachable silencer, reducing muzzle flash and sound volume while shooting. This pistol also boasts incredible movement accuracy; tapping and moving is a completely viable strategy for this weapon. However, it suffers from a lack of available rounds; 12 to a clip, 24 in reserve. Trigger discipline is important, and rounds are precious. This will best fit you in the same role as the A1-S would; as a lurker or a rotating player. Changing positions becomes a lot easier when the enemy can't hear you.

Choosing the right sidearm for the right range is another choice you'll have to make concerning your loadout.

Next, we will talk about the $500 sidearms. There are three interchangeable pistols all vying for the same spot; the Tec-9, the Five-Seven, and the CZ-75. Each pistol is different in many ways; see which works best for you. Note that the Tec-9 and the Five-Seven are locked to the Terrorist and Counter-Terrorist sides, respectively. All of these pistols are a one-shot kill to the head.

Tec-9: This bad boy is beast. Lovingly nicknamed the "Rek-9," this weapon is arguably one of the most overpowered weapons in the game. Combining the possibility of a one-shot kill to the head with impeccable accuracy while moving, this is a decent pickup even for gun rounds. Spray and pray is your best bet when using this gun; speed is your ally, and with 24 rounds in a clip, you can become nearly unstoppable. Force buys on the Terrorist side just got a lot scarier. This will best fit you if precision isn't your strong suit; quantity over quality is acceptable with this sidearm, and aggression is always encouraged with the Tec.

Five-Seven: This is the Counter-Terrorists' reply to the Tec-9. While respectable with its equal damage and fire rate, it lacks the round capacity of the Tec. Better than the P250, but just short of the Tec, this is the next best thing for any CT in damage output. Recoil won't be such a problem, however, and its accurate range outmatches the other $500 sidearms. Running and gunning won't be such a volatile solution; picking your shots gets a lot more vital when using this pistol. This will best fit you in any defensive situation.

CZ-75: Let the debates begin. This automatic sidearm received a lot of heat upon its release for being incredibly overpowered, and despite its nerf since then, it is still under scrutiny for its damage output. Close-range, nothing can stand in your way, unless it's a large crowd of enemies. The largest downside to this pistol, other than its abysmal accuracy, is its lack of rounds. 12 to a clip, and 24 overall. This is a very situational weapon. It also has the slowest draw speed of any pistol in the game. This will best fit you in certain circumstances; for instance, if you are AWPing and you need to retreat to help defend an incoming close-range push. The damage output is brutal, but rounds are precious, so trigger discipline is your ally.

Finally, we'll talk about the long-range sidearms; the Deagle and the R8. The granddaddy of Counter-Strike versus the newly-born runt of the family. This will be fun. Both pistols are a one-shot kill to the head.

Desert Eagle: Legends are made with this gun. $700 of pure firepower, this hand cannon is an absolute monster in the right hands. Perfect for mid-range combat, this pistol bleeds power. However, damage always comes at a price. This sidearm is arguably the most difficult to master, since its recoil is out of this world. You have to wait 1-2 seconds between shots to guarantee its accuracy, and even then it may not land. RNG is a brutal mistress, but the reward outweighs the risk with this pistol. This will best fit you if you're extremely patient and precision is your best trait; one missed shot can spell doom for you, but a string of successful headshots can be a game-changer.

R8 Revolver: Welcome to the wild west. This sidearm has recently been the laughing stock of the Global Offensive community. Its $850 price tag makes it the most expensive pistol in the game. The revolver uses a timed shot mechanic, which requires you to wait half a second before firing its insanely accurate shot, even while moving. Its secondary fire allows for a faster fire rate at the cost of accuracy. This will best fit you if pre-fires are your forte; with its godlike moving accuracy, you can charge up your shot behind a wall and peek just as it fires, with your crosshair aimed at a commonly used enemy position.

There are many choices to be made when it comes to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's available armory. Each weapon provides its own interesting pros and cons to be debated and tested. However, their usefulness is only as good as the player who utilizes them to their full potential. Test out each option and see which you like the best; you never know what may be your next weapon of choice.

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