CS2 buy-tier loadouts
What to buy, when, on each side.
Seven economic tiers across both sides. Pistol → eco → anti-eco → force → half-buy → full-buy → full-buy with AWP. Each shows the recommended primary, armor, and utility split, plus the round goal so you know what success looks like before the round starts.
- $800
Pistol round
Round 1 (and round 13 in MR12)
Goal: Win to break the opposing economy. The 2-round pistol+anti-eco swing is the biggest economic momentum in a half.
T-side
- Primary
- Glock-18 (default) — burst-fire close range
- Armor
- No kevlar — buy is too tight
- Utility
- Smoke + flash for execute, OR molotov for retake denial
CT-side
- Primary
- USP-S (default) — accurate single tap
- Armor
- Kevlar ($650) survives 2-tap from glock
- Utility
- Flash + smoke OR P250 ($300) upgrade for double-tap kills
- $2,500–$3,500
Anti-eco
After winning pistol — opponents on a forced eco
Goal: Don't over-invest. Stop their players cheap, deny molly+armor advantage. Save full-buy money for round 3.
T-side
- Primary
- MP9 / MAC-10 — close-quarter SMG, $1,250
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet ($1,000)
- Utility
- 2 flash + smoke for execute
CT-side
- Primary
- MP9 — best CT-side close SMG
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet
- Utility
- Molotov + smoke for site denial
- $0–$1,000
Full eco
Lost previous round at full-buy. Can't afford rifles next round either way.
Goal: Stack a site, get one kill, steal a rifle. Never push 5 spread out — clump up and force a 5v4 trade scenario.
T-side
- Primary
- Free Glock-18 only — save all money
- Armor
- None — saving for next-round full-buy
- Utility
- Single smoke if everyone has $500+
CT-side
- Primary
- Free USP-S — armor optional
- Armor
- None — save for full-buy
- Utility
- No util — full save
- $1,500–$3,000
Force buy
Two consecutive losses, opponent has full-buy. Either commit now or eco again with even worse $.
Goal: Dictate the round. Hard execute one site with armor + utility. Don't default — your weapons can't trade in long-range duels.
T-side
- Primary
- Tec-9 / Five-SeveN ($500) + kevlar — pistol force
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet ($1,000)
- Utility
- 1-2 smoke + molly + flash for site execute
CT-side
- Primary
- P250 + helmet — accurate, lethal at close
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet
- Utility
- Molotov + smoke to deny first peek
- $2,500–$3,500
Half-buy
IGL-decided save-half. SMG+armor+util, save AWP money.
Goal: Trade efficiently. Win → keep economy lead. Lose → still have full-buy next round because of small spend.
T-side
- Primary
- MP9 / MAC-10 / UMP-45
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet
- Utility
- 1-2 grenades, no full set
CT-side
- Primary
- MP9 / MP7 / MAG-7 (close site)
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet
- Utility
- Molotov + smoke
- $4,500–$5,500
Full-buy
All players have rifle money + utility budget.
Goal: Win the round. This is the buy where you should expect to win — anything less is wasting an economic advantage.
T-side
- Primary
- AK-47 ($2,700) + full util
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet
- Utility
- Molotov + 2 smoke + flash + (HE)
CT-side
- Primary
- M4A4 / M4A1-S ($3,100 / $2,900) + full util
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet
- Utility
- Molotov + 2 smoke + flash + kit ($400 if defuser)
- $5,500–$7,500
Full-buy with AWP
Designated AWPer has $4,750+ AND team has rifle money.
Goal: AWP holds the long angle, riflers entry. AWP must trade out: if AWPer dies cheap, the round is mostly lost.
T-side
- Primary
- AWP ($4,750) for AWPer · AK-47 for riflers
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet
- Utility
- AWPer: 1 flash. Riflers: full util set.
CT-side
- Primary
- AWP for AWPer · M4 for riflers
- Armor
- Full kevlar + helmet · kit on defuser
- Utility
- AWPer: smoke for repositioning. Riflers: full set.
Reading these tiers: economy is dynamic — your IGL adjusts based on opponents’ money, not yours alone. The numbers above assume an MR12 half. The general pattern: alternate full-buy / save / force in losing rounds, never let the same player carry the AWP two rounds in a row (deny them economy carry-over), and don’t force-buy on round 3 unless you’re sure opponents have rifles.
For dynamic round-by-round visualisation, see the Economy Simulator.
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