Following CS:GO's big economy changes introduced in October's update, first round buys have changed dramatically. The update from Valve reads (link for the full patch notes here):

"In Competitive Matchmaking, both teams are now considered to start the half with a one-round ‘losing streak’ that is reset following a round win. Instead of $1400, the Round 1 loser receives $1900, then $2400 for a subsequent loss, etc."

So what does this mean for the players? How does it compare to the previous system? It basically means that losing pistol rounds, on either side, will now grant you $1900, instead of the usual $1400. And the second consecutive loss will grant the player $2400 in bonus money. This increase in bonus money allows for an earlier, and more comfortable, full buy than before.

Before we start, for better understanding of the new meta, we will assume that the player will not get any kills in the first two lost rounds of the half. This means that the amount of money calculated will be the the minimum you can count on for each of the rounds (no bonus money for kills was added to the calculations, since it is not a constant value).

So let's break the numbers down and analyze all your options and outcomes.

COUNTER-TERRORISTS:

Choosing to play by this new meta as a CT, or by the old meta, is a tricky decision. The loadout on CT's have more expensive rifles and it's harder to have a nice full buy by the third round. Let's see how:

First Round- $800 Available - $1900 bonus from round lost

• Option One - Buy Kevlar -> $150 left
• Option Two - Buy Pistol + Utility -> ~$0 left

Either option here is viable. Buying utility in pistol rounds is a very good choice if you have a pre-planned strategy beforehand. With the new system, losing this round will grant all players with $1900 in bonus money going into the next round.

Second Round (Pistol + Utility bought in previous round) - $1900 available - $2400 bonus from round lost

For our calculations, let's assume a Kevlar was bought in the first round:

Second Round (Kevlar bought in previous round) - $2050 available - $2400 bonus from round lost

• Option One - Full Eco -> $2050 left
• Option Two - Force Buy -> ~$0 left (assuming you spend all your money or have an amount below 1000$)

So why is this choice so hard for you as a CT player? Let's breakdown the math for the third round so it becomes clearer. You decide to do a Full Eco in round number two:

Third Round (Full-eco in previous round) - $4450 available - $2900 bonus from round lost

• Option One - Full Buy -> $0 left

The amount of money you have to spend on the third round thanks to the new loss bonus is enough for the Full Buy. But what does that get you? There is no money for an AWP and you will have to choose between a good set of utility or a Helmet. This is a though choice because the winning Terrorists are most likely armed with SMGs (for the most part) and a Helmet would definitely come in handy in those encounters. So this is where the old meta comes in:

Third Round (Force Buy in previous round) - $2400 available - $2900 bonus from round lost

• Option Two - Full Eco -> $2400 left

This was the most common scenario before the update. It would give the other team a three round advantage, but it was the only way to have a Full Buy, in the fourth round. Adding the loss bonus to the $2400, that amounts to a total of $5300 available for the fourth round. With this amount, there is enough to buy an AWP and enough for you not to worry about choosing between utility or a Helmet. On the flipside, it gives one more round to the other side.

There is a way you can get an AWP buy the third round as a CT, but that requires you to not buy anything in the first round (as explained below).

The Glass-Canon AWP Buy

• First Round - Full Eco -> $800 Left
• Second Round - Full Eco -> $2700
• Third Round - Full Buy -> $5100

This way is only recommended if you are very confident with your AWP play or have a set strategy with your team that requires the AWP. And keep in mind, you'll have no Kevlar and no utility, besides a Flash or a Smoke.

So as a Counter-Terrorist, you have the chance to buy a rifle on the third round and upset the Terrorists armed with SMGs in long range fights or wait until the fourth round to stop the pushing Ts with your arsenal of utility (at the expense of another round lost).

TERRORISTS

Terrorists don't have to worry about this decision so much for two main reasons. First, the Ts loadout is equipped with less expensive rifles, and also, Ts have another way to earn bonus money at the end of a round by planting the bomb. Planting the bomb adds an additional $800 to the T's bank.

If there are no bomb plants in the first two rounds, the Ts have the same amount of money as the CTs, so I will not be rehashing the situations explained above. However, bomb plants have high value, and can earn the Ts a total of $1600 if the bomb is planted in both rounds.

In the first round it goes without saying that you have the same paths to choose from as a CT:

First Round - $800 available - $1900 bonus for round lost + $800 from bomb plant

• Option One - Kevlar Buy -> $150 left
• Option Two - Pistol + Utility Buy -> ~$0 left

Buying utility across your team members is a very reliable choice as a T, because it will allow you, even if you lose the round, to earn the extra $800 from the bomb plant (with the help of some carefully placed utility of course). Assuming you buy an upgraded pistol and some utility, this is what you can count on for the next round:

Second Round - $2700 available - $2400 bonus from round lost

• Option One - Full Eco -> $2700 left
• Option Two - Semi-Buy -> ~$2200 left
• Option Three - Force Buy -> ~$0 left

The first option is pretty self-explanatory. You do a Full Eco on the second round and end up with $5100 available in the third round. That's an amount of money the Ts don't "need" for a Full Buy, because of the cheaper AK-47 and SG553 rifles. This is where your second option is very enticing. An upgraded pistol, for example, will allow you to get easier kills on impatient pushing CTs or when overwhelming a site with numbers advantage. This will still grant you $4600 in the third round, which is definitely enough for a Full Buy as a T. The old meta way, is almost rendered useless while playing as T since there is no need to wait for the fourth round to get a comfortable full buy, this includes an AWP (even though it is without kevlar or utility) or a very good set of throwables.

But what about a second bomb plant? This would be the best possible scenario for the losing Ts:

Second Round - $2700 available - $2400 bonus from lost round + $800 for bomb plant

Having the same options as before, but with the bomb plant achieved, this will grant you $5900 in the third round, if you do a full eco in the second round, and $5400 in the third round, if you buy an upgraded pistol or some utility. As you can see, the Ts can have a very powerful full buy if the bomb is planted two rounds in a row. AWPs and "unlimited" utility is at your disposal.

There is an extra situation that can happen sometimes, but this is a risky gamble and is not recommended.

The "Hero AK" Buy

This play is developed in the second round of the half. If the bomb is planted and a player gets some kills, there will be enough money to buy an AK-47, but not a Kevlar. So one player drops an AK to an armored teammate. With the AK on the second round, you can surprise the CTs with an unexpected boost of firepower, because you'll most likely be up against SMGs and it's an easy duel against defending CTs. However, this will leave the player who bought the AK completely broke, and if you lose the round, he won't have enough money for a full buy in the third round (the rest of the team will have enough money).

It's a very risky play and relies heavily on out-aiming your opponents and picking your fights very carefully against the SMG's.

Conclusion

So in conclusion, as a CT it is still viable to follow the old meta in case you absolutely need the extra safety that more utility grants you. But as a T, thanks to the cheaper loadout, the third round full buy is the more reliable choice, so you can turn your losing streak around as soon as possible!

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