The AWP sniper rifle has, for generations in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), been the hallmark of an individual's weapon. It’s one of the strongest weapon in CS2. But, it is also one of the hardest weapons to master for a beginner. Players like kennyS and s1mple make the AWP look easy, but it’s far from that. In order to truly squeeze out the value of an AWP, you have to practice a lot, and while that’s not going to change, here are some tips to make the journey a lot easier.

Adjust Your Sensitivity Settings

Sensitivity settings make much difference with an AWP. Having high sensitivity allows swift movements; on the other hand, low sensitivity can provide more precision. Be sure to experiment with many sensitivity settings to find the best overall comfort and playstyle for yourself. It’s also not a bad idea to copy your favorite pro sensitivity and tweak it to your liking. Although sensitivity is a personal preference, a pro’s sensitivity is a good starting point. Here is a quick starter on how to set up CS2 the right way.

Positioning is Key

While playing with the AWP, one of the critical things to think about is positioning. Proper positioning will allow you to catch opponents off guard and get those kills without putting yourself too much on the line. Look for strategic places on maps to view frequently visited places from a hidden location. Learn good spots on each map and practice movement between them. For example, on Mirage, Window is a good place to hold Mid from. You can also quickly move to Connector for another shot to mix things up.

Master Your Peek Shots

Peek shots are one of the basic skills of AWP users. The general idea is to peek around corners quickly, make the shot, and then withdraw into cover again. That minimizes exposure and increases survival. Practice your timing and aim to make your peeks as frugal as possible. Also, learn what Peeker’s advantage is in CS2.

Quick Scoping

The AWP is a sniper, which means it’s terrible at close range. To combat this, you need to master quick scopes. It involves zooming in and firing a shot immediately after. This is useful in close-quarters combat situations where a player must react quickly. That's why you must include quick scopes in your training regime.

Practice Flick Shots

A flick shot refers to quickly moving one's crosshair to their target and shooting. This skill is essential, particularly when the targets move or just suddenly appear. If you have good aim, this will come naturally to you. But flick shots can be trained quite easily as well. There are plenty of maps out there to make a routine. If you don’t have a routine you can try out this Aimbotz routine to improve flicks and overall aim, in general.

Avoid Predictability

One of the biggest mistakes rookie AWPers make is playing the same angles the entire match. If your opponent expects that you are going to AWP from a certain angle, there are countless strategies they can use to kill you. The best thing you can do to exponentially increase the impact you have on the match as an AWPer is to be unpredictable. Try playing different angles every round. It will keep the enemies guessing about your position and can land you some easy frags every round.

The other thing you can do to confuse the enemies is go on the offensive. In most cases, it’s the opponents that push the AWPer, so when you go on the offensive it can really throw them off. Let’s take Mirage for an example, on CT you can push up to Palace to get an early peak on the enemy and secure a kill. Of course, this kind of playstyle requires you to be mechanically good. Otherwise, you will just be feeding your enemies a free kill.

Mind Your Economy

The AWP is a costly weapon, so keeping your in-game economy is critical. Don't buy an AWP if it will put your team at a disadvantage in the next round. Coordinate with your team, and make sure that purchasing an AWP won't lead to disaster for your overall strategy. Also, avoid buying an AWP when your team can’t afford a full buy. In these cases, it’s better to buy your teammate a gun. Secondly, because the AWP is so expensive always plan the economic strategy beforehand

Talk to Your Team

In CS2, team communication is a precious ingredient, even more so when playing with an AWP. Tell your team about your position and where you intend to hold. This coordination can help cover more ground and refrain the enemy from getting flaky over your position. Even though the AWP is great at holding one angle, it’s also its biggest weakness. You can easily get flanked or attacked from another angle. That’s why asking your teammate to watch your back or cover you can make you even stronger as an AWPer.

Watch and Learn from the Pros

One of the best ways to improve is by watching professional players. Observe how they position themselves, what angles they play, and how they play on the offense and defense. Many pros stream their games or upload videos online, providing a wealth of information you can learn from.

Get on an AWP Aim Training Map

Several maps in CS2 have been made specifically aimed at training users to emphasize using the AWP effectively. They provide various kinds of drills to practice—accuracy, reaction time, and, in general, AWP skills. There are great Workshop maps out there, so feel free to pick one and train.

Conclusion

Mastering the AWP takes time and dedication. But it’s definitely worth the grind. The AWP is one of the best weapons in CS2 and, when you get good at it, the game becomes a lot more fun, but not for your enemies though. These tips will make learning the AWP a whole lot easier. Apart from that, it’s all practice and consistency.