There are many types and styles of players in CS:GO. You have those who are more aggressive, those who are more passive, those who prefer rifles, those who prefer the AWP, and even those who say they can only play well on a certain spot. It’s a game that favors many different styles, and that’s a good thing.

One of those styles is being an aggressive AWPer. That is a style that became famous due to some professional players getting praised for it and finding a lot of success in-game against some of the best teams in the world, like the old kennyS or the s1mple we all know nowadays. In this article, I’ll share with you a few tips on how you can be an aggressive AWPer and hopefully succeed at the same time.

First things first, what exactly is an aggressive AWPer?

You can look at AWPers and characterize them under two groups - passive and aggressive ones. A very good example of a passive one is Jame, from Virtus.pro, while you look at hallzerk, from Dignitas as a more aggressive example. An aggressive AWPer essentially looks out for picks and kills actively, while a more passive one waits for the players to come into their crosshairs while holding spots more passively.

Although it’s a matter of opinion, one can say that playing more aggressively can be more fun than passively, but you’ll probably die way more times, which means risking an expensive weapon round after round.

How to be an aggressive AWPer?

You’ll be the one looking out for frags, getting positions early in the round (winning Banana as a CT on Inferno, for example) and even taking some risky peeks mid-round. There’s one thing I have to say that it’s of the utmost importance - being an aggressive AWPer is not the same as playing dumb and alone. If you’re playing aggressively, you’ll need your teammates' support even more. Having them flash for you or even smoke out positions to allow you to flee is super important, so make sure to keep an active communication.

Make sure you know the timings of each map, how much time it takes for both teams to reach a certain place after the round starts, as that will make you think about what peeks are the best to start the round. Also, remember that different spawns make a big difference when going for these fast initial peeks.

Ask for Your Teammates' Help

Let’s imagine a certain scenario - you’re playing CT on Inferno and want to make a fast push on Apartments to peek Second Mid. You can just run Boiler and then peek through the balcony. The thing is, that’s a relatively common play, which means that the opposing team might be expecting that. But there’s one simple trick to solve this, having your teammate flashing for you. Time the throw with him and have him throw the flashbang above apartments so that it blinds the entire second middle, making a safe peek for you. Generally, the best time to throw the flash is when you’re entering Boiler, as reaching the Window is the time it takes for the flashbang to reach the second middle and blow.

Naturally, this is just an example of countless others that can (and should) be used. Never underestimate the power of utility, especially when the opposing team understands that they’re dealing with a player that likes to play in the frontlines with an AWP.

Understand When It’s Time to Give Up and Switch Things Up

Maybe things are not going your way. Maybe you played amazing the last match, but this one you're struggling to get more than one or two kills every couple of rounds. You should probably stop and think about what you’re doing. There are many ways to use an AWP (or any other weapon, in fact), so why try the same thing all the time? You like to play aggressively, I get it, but maybe it’s better to keep on the other end of the team for a few rounds,

When things aren’t going your way, make sure to try different approaches. If you’re getting demolished every time you try to take a more aggressive stance, play in the background for the next few rounds. Remember, when switching styles, your opponents will not know for sure you’re doing it, which makes them nervous about finding you. They won’t see what you’re doing or where you are, which makes them wonder if you’re still being aggressive and where your next surprise peek might happen.

Aiming Is Important

Being an aggressive AWPer generally means that you’ll find yourself in many situations where either you kill or get killed. You won’t have much time to miss a bullet and survive to try and take a second shot. With that in mind, it’s important to have a sharp aim when entering a match.

Take your time to Deathmatch and play other aim maps, as they will undoubtedly help you on your way to becoming a great sniper at CS:GO. Remember that this game rewards repetition and routines, which means that the more you play, the better you will eventually get. It’s all about the hours you put into the game. At the same time, not all of those hours should be focused on getting your aim better, and that’s why the next and final point is important…

Watch Demos and Learn from the Professionals

This is the most classic tip, I know, but that’s one of the reasons why it’s so good. If you’re serious about getting better at CS:GO, you should learn from the best. Take a look at some of the players that become known due to their style with the AWP and the type of plays they generally do. I generally say to people that if they stop doing one hour of deathmatch every day and just do 40 minutes while using the remaining 20 minutes watching a demo, they would get much better at the game. Being able to aim and shoot well is not everything there is to it in Counter-Strike.

Thank you for reading this article! Hopefully, it will help you get even better at this competitive shooter in the long run. In the end, remember that the most important thing is to enjoy the journey and to have fun!

You can reach out to me for feedback or suggestions via Twitter.