In CS2, each player has a level, or also called your profile rank, which is determined by how many XP points you’ve earned. You can find out your current level by clicking your profile picture under your agent on the main menu. This will tell you both your competitive rank and your profile level.

In this article, we will help you reach the maximum level 40 quickly!

All 40 Profile Ranks - Source: Xfire

How to Earn XP in CS2

Getting XP comes from playing the game. You gain XP points by completing matches of CS2 on official Valve servers, community maps don’t count. You can see these points tallied up in the end-match screen. Getting to level 2 takes 1000 XP points and then for every 5000 XP points you earn, you level up. There are 40 profile ranks you can achieve and, once you get to 40, you can reset back down to 1 for a reward.

The number of XP points you get each match is determined by your performance times a multiplier which is different for each gamemode. Generally, the more casual the gamemode, the lower the multiplier. Every gamemode calculates XP differently, so here is a chart to see how much you will get for each:

In addition to the base XP you get, there are also a few mechanics to boost your XP gain. The biggest helper is the weekly XP bonus. At the start of every week, you are given a pool of 5000 bonus XP points to get. For the first 3500 of that, you will receive a bonus every match for 3x the amount of XP you earned. For example, if you get a base of 100 XP from the match, you will get a bonus of 300. Once you’ve used 3500, the last 1500 points will be awarded as a bonus of 1x the XP you earned. If you get 100 XP from a match, your bonus will be 100.

Additionally, some XP rewards come with operations when they are available such as bonuses for completing missions or challenges, though as of November 2023, there are no active operations.

Tips for Leveling Up Quickly

Deathmatch and Arms Race* are the best choices to grind XP regardless of skill level. These game modes are fast-paced and give you constant opportunities to get kills and points to make up for their lower multipliers. They are also more beginner-friendly and can expose you to different weapons, making them more enjoyable to play for long periods.

Casual, Flying Scoutsman*, and Demolition* have decent multipliers, but also move relatively slowly, and can be difficult to get many points in as you have fewer opportunities to fight. They can be a good place to practice real tactics in a less competitive environment but aren’t ideal for XP gain.

(The Arms Race, Flying Scoutsman, and Demolition modes are not available as of the publishing of this article)

While Competitive and Wingman offer high multipliers, they require a higher time commitment and can be difficult if you are a beginner due to their highly competitive nature. They offer massive rewards if you can play well, but it’s best to wait until you’ve got some experience to dive in.

For points-based game modes like Deathmatch and Casual, make sure to maximize your individual point total. This means getting into as many fights as you can because you gain points for getting kills and don’t lose anything for dying. Always have your gun out and ready for a fight because you never know who’s around the corner!

In Deathmatch, you can do small things to get more points like using bonus weapons to get extra points, which will also give you practice with more guns. You should also shoot chickens when you see them for a tiny bonus.

For round-based gamemodes like Competitive and Wingman, focus less on getting as many kills as possible and more on being a good teammate. Communicate often and be sure to contribute to team tactics and morale! For more on how to succeed in competitive gamemodes, check out our article on Solo Queue Etiquette!

Purpose of Your Level

While your profile rank may seem like just a cosmetic badge on your profile, it has a few other interesting features tied to it. Some are essential for playing and some are just for fun, but all are worth exploring!

Unlocking Competitive

Most game modes are accessible from the moment you download CS2, but the main Competitive one is locked until you reach level two. This means you must obtain 1000 XP points before you can play the flagship game mode, making XP an important part of everyone’s early CS2 experience.

Earning Weekly Drops

While cases and cosmetic drops have been a part of Counter-Strike for a long time, Valve changed the system when CS2 was officially released in September 2023. Drops now come after you level up for the first time of the week in the form of the Weekly Care Package. This lets you choose two out of four cosmetic items like cases, skins, and sprays. Be sure to play consistently to get the most out of these drops!

Service Medals

The profile badges you get with each rank are nice, but the real pride comes when you hit the highest level of 40. Once you make it there, you can claim a service medal to display on your profile. Each year has a distinct design and every time you reach level 40, the color of the center gem changes to show your dedication to the game.

Conclusion

CS2 is a competitive game and mostly measures your in-game skill. Despite that, it’s important to remember that your experience is also valuable and measured by the profile rank system. Whenever you finish matches, you are given XP points based on your performance that count towards your overall profile rank. The number of points you get is based on either your point total or overall rounds won times the gamemode’s multiplier. Gaining XP can take hard work, so choosing the right gamemode and strategy can make all the difference in leveling up quickly and efficiently. At the end of the day, the only wrong way to get XP is to not play, so hop on a server and get going!