While playing Counter-Strike, you might notice yourself gaining XP and having a level and rank in the game. Many people see this system, and often ask how CS2’s XP system actually works. Today we’re here to answer that for you.

First introduced in Global Offensive, Counter-Strike 2’s XP system is Valve’s take on a reward progression system that can be found in other FPS titles like Call of Duty and Battlefield. With playtime, players can earn XP that counts towards drops like cases, graffiti capsule, and weapon skins. In CS2, Valve made changes to how XP is accrued and how drops function. In this blog post, we’ll cover exactly how the system works and when you can expect to get your drops!

What is XP in Counter-Strike 2?

XP is short for Experience Points. These points are gained from participating and completing matches in any game mode. These points are completely separate from your CS Rating, which is a measure of your current ranking in the Premier Competitive mode.

How much XP can I earn?

How much XP you earn is based on what mode is being played. For the normal 5v5 competitive mode, you can expect to earn 30 times your team’s rounds won in XP. For Wingman, this multiplier is down to 15.

For the Casual mode, this multiplier is turned down to 4, but it’s multiplied by your score rather than rounds won. The multiplier for Deathmatch and Arms Race is lowered to 0.2 and is also multiplied by individual score.

How much XP you can earn is capped, however. Once you earn 11,166 XP in a week, you have reached the threshold for XP Overload. While in this state, you’ll receive reduced XP reward when participating in matches. You’ll be given a badge that’s shown next to your name in lobbies and on the scoreboard, with different colors to signify how long you’ve been in Overload. You reach the next tier of XP Overload by accumulating the requisite amount of XP every week.

In previous Operation DLC released by Valve, it was possible to obtain and use “Bonus Rank XP” consumables that would give the player 5000XP or 1 levels worth of XP. These are not available for purchase and could only be obtained while the Operation was active.

What is XP used for?

The overall amount of XP you earn has a corresponding rank, independent from CS Rating. These ranks range between 1 and 40 and have unique titles from “Recruit” at Rank 1 to “Global General” at Rank 40.

When reaching the next rank, you become eligible for a Care Package. Inside, players are given the choice of 2 items from a selection of 4. The items available will always include at least 1 case, 1 weapon skin and a graffiti capsule. These items are selected from a pool of items that are eligible to be dropped. Certain skins and cases, such as those from Operation specific collections, have been removed from the drop pool. The Care Package system has replaced the random drop system that was used in Global Offensive. Players are eligible for only one Care Package per week. To check if you can redeem yours, go to the “Store” page in the main menu.

Once you reach Rank 40, you’re eligible to “prestige” your rank, and redeem the yearly Service Medal. These medals are unique for each calendar year, and have colored tiers if you happen to level up to 40 more than once in a year.

The best way to gain XP in game is by playing well. Thankfully, at Refrag, you’re at the right place to start improving your skill in Counter-Strike. Our Bootcamp has tailor-made tasks for you to complete that will help you become a better Counter-Strike 2 player. Interested? You find find more about it in our Bootcamp announcement post.