Guns, grenades, and knifes are the CS2 weapons you can utilize in Counter-Strike 2. However, most of the weapons in Counter-Strike 2 are guns of variable varieties. How much damage guns inflict is one of the most important factors to consider when it comes to choosing (or purchasing) CS2 weapons during matches. Each gun inflicts an amount of raw damage per bullet, and the strongest weapons kill enemies with fewer bullets. However, guns also have variable armor penetration impact that affects how much damage they inflict.
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- Eight of the Best CS2 Guns to Wield in Counter-Strike 2
How Does Damage Work in Counter-Strike 2?
Damage calculation is relatively straightforward in Counter-Strike 2. You can inflict more or less damage by hitting four different body areas with gun bullets. These are the damage multipliers applied for hitting alternative body areas in Counter-Strike 2:
- Head: 400 percent
- Stomach and pelvis (ouch): 125 percent
- Chest and arms: 100 percent
- Legs: 75 percent
The 100 percent multiplayer effectively means chest shots don’t inflict any extra damage. A headshot inflicts 4x the damage of a chest shot. Many guns can kill enemies not wearing helmets with single headshots. Shooting enemies in the legs inflicts 25 percent less damage than chest shots.
Range is another variant that affects damage inflicted in Counter-Strike 2. The amount of damage many guns inflict decreases with distance. This damage drop-off is especially evident for shotguns, which are considerably weaker CS2 weapons from longer distances.
Armor reduces the damage inflicted by most CS2 weapons. How much depends on the armor penetration of a gun’s bullets. The Counter-Strike 2 guns have armor penetration stats ranging from 47 to 100 percent. Only a few guns can kill enemies wearing helmets with single headshots. These are the highest-damage CS2 weapons in Counter-Strike 2.
AWP (Sniper Rifle)
The AWP is the highest-damage sniper rifle and gun in Counter-Strike 2, with a raw damage rating of 115. This sniper rifle also has a very high armor penetration of 97.5 percent. It is the only gun in the game that can kill armored enemies with single body (chest) shots from long range. The formidable AWP damage factor makes it one of the best CS2 weapons, which can be quite devastating in the hands of an accomplished sniper.
The AWP gun
M4A1-S, AK 47, and SG-553 (Assault Rifles)
In terms of raw damage, the M4A1-S is the strongest assault rifle in Counter-Strike 2. The M4A1-S’ damage rating of 38 is the highest for assault rifles. This gun can kill an enemy with four chest shots from close range and five from longer distances.
However, the M4A1-S’s armor penetration of 70 percent weakens it compared to the AK-47 and SG-553. The AK-47 is an assault rifle with a raw damage rating of 36 and armor penetration of 77.5 percent. Its higher armor penetration makes the AK one of the few CS2 weapons with which you can eliminate armored enemies with single headshots. In comparison, two hits are required to pull off a headshot with the M4A1-S.
The M4A1-S
The SG-553 is another of the highest-damage CS2 weapons, even though it only has a raw damage rating of 30. However, it’s the only gun with 100 percent armor penetration. This means armor damage reduction doesn’t apply to the SG-553. You can eliminate a player with four chest hits (long and short range) and one headshot when utilizing the SG-553.
R8 Revolver (Pistol)
The R8 Revolver is, by some distance, the highest-damage pistol in Counter-Strike 2. This gun has a raw damage statistic of 86 and is strong enough to kill off enemies with two chest shots. You can also kill off enemies with single headshots when utilizing the R8. However, many players prefer the Desert Eagle pistol because of its vastly superior fire rate.
The R8 Revolver
Sawed-Off (Shotgun)
The Sawed-Off is the most damaging shotgun in Counter-Strike 2, with raw damage and armor penetration stats of 32 and 75 percent. The damage this gun inflicts varies considerably with range, like other shotguns. This is one of the highest-damage CS2 weapons for close-range gun fighting since it enables you to instantly kill enemies with single shots from short distances. However, it takes four chest shots to eliminate enemies from long range with this shotgun because of its high spread. So, it’s best to get up close and personal when armed with the Sawed-Off.
The Sawed-Off gun
UMP-95 (Submachine Gun)
The UMP-95’s raw damage statistic of 35 is the highest for CS2 weapons within the submachine gun category. This is also one of the best submachine guns for armor penetration, along with the P90. Submachine guns, like shotguns, are more damaging for short-range gunslinging. The UMP-95 can eliminate enemies with about five chest shots from close range. However, it takes more bullets to kill off opponents from long range with the UMP-95.
The UMP-45
Negev (Machine Gun)
There are only two machine guns in Counter-Strike 2, the Negev and M249. The Negev has a marginally higher raw damage statistic than the M249. However, the M249 boasts stronger armor penetration (80 percent), which can make it more damaging against armored opponents. Yet, the Negev inflicts higher damage on unarmored enemies.
The cost could be decisive for many players favoring the Negev over the M249. The M249’s $5,200 price tag is confusingly high, making it the most expensive gun in Counter-Strike 2. In comparison, you can snap up the Negev for $1,700. Thus, the Negev is undoubtedly much better value.
The Negev
High Explosive Grenades (Utility)
HE grenades are the highest-damage throwable CS2 weapons in Counter-Strike 2. A single and direct grenade explosion can inflict up to 98 damage on an unarmored enemy. However, a grenade hitting a player also inflicts minor damage. This makes it technically possible for one grenade to kill an unarmored player with maximum health. However, explosive grenade damage varies considerably depending on how close they land around hostiles.
The CS2 weapons above are the most damaging for their respective gun categories. They’re the best sniper rifles, assault rifles, submachine guns, machine guns, pistols, shotguns, and utilities to equip for damage. However, not all the highest-damage guns are necessarily the best. Gunfire rate, movement speed, and recoil are also important things to consider for selecting the best weapons in CS2.
