CSGO ranks are something you’ll start to notice when you’re seriously getting into the competitive scene. They’re actually a result of players having a tough time as a result of being matched up against others that are more skilled than them. It used to be unfair. Anyone could be matched with anyone. Now though, these ranks make it so that you’re only matched against others of a similar skill level. In this guide, we’re going to cover what these ranks are, why you need to know about them, and how they can help you.
A List of Every CSGO Competitive Rank
There are 18 ranks in this system, divided into Silver, Gold, Nova, Master Guardian, and Elite. Let’s go through them now. It’s not that dissimilar to the skin ranking system in that you technically trade up for rank as you get better, like how you can trade for better skins as you improve through sites like Tradeit.
Here are the 18 CSGO ranks available:
- Silver I (S1)
- Silver II (S2)
- Silver III (S3)
- Silver IV (S4)
- Silver Elite (SE)
- Silver Elite Master (SEM)
- Gold Nova I (GN1)
- Gold Nova II (GN2)
- Gold Nova III (GN3)
- Gold Nova Master (GNM/GN4)
- Master Guardian I (MG/MG1)
- Master Guardian II (MG2)
- Master Guardian Elite (MGE)
- Distinguished Master Guardian CS:GO (DMG)
- Legendary Eagle (LE)
- Legendary Eagle Master (LEM CSGO)
- Supreme Master First Class (SMFC)
- Global Elite CS:GO (GE)
You’ll work your way up through these ranks based on your performance in the game. It takes a lot of work to get to the highest rank, but it’s worth it if you want to play against the best players out there.
Getting Your First CSGO Ranks
Before you can join the matchmaking system, you need to earn your first rank. This is something that you can do yourself, but you need to meet some requirements. The first is that you have to reach the second level in open competitive matches. This is a playlist you can jump into in the game. You’ll play through games of Casual or DeathMatch, and eventually, you’ll hit level two. It isn’t that difficult.
The second thing you need to do is finish ten ranking matches. Your KDA, or the ratio of the kills you get to the deaths you suffer, will affect your rank when you finish these matches. It’s something that you’ll need to get better at over time. The better your KDA, as in the more kills and fewer deaths you have, the higher your rank will be. However, there is slightly more to it than just this. For example, getting more bomb plants, clutch rounds, MVPs, and bomb defusals will all also help push your rank up higher and higher. Check out out guide on CS:GO tips for more.
How to Prepare for Your First Ranks
There are a few things that you can do to prepare for earning your first rank. These tips will help you in your early matches, and all the way up to the top.
Training mode
Make the most of the training mode. This is where you can try out all the weapons in the game. You can fire them at targets and get used to their recoil and sprays in a safe environment. This is something that will bode well when you come to fire weapons in a proper match.
Map Callouts
Pick some maps that you’re playing on a lot. You need to learn the map callouts for it so that you can interact with other players when you’re in the heat of battle. Callouts are locations on the map that you can reference with short names. It’s useful to call them out if you want to move to a particular area. It’s also great if you know where the enemy is and need to tell your team.
Crosshair Customization
You can customize your crosshair in CS:GO. You can make it bigger, smaller, change the color, and a lot of other stuff too. Take some time to change yours so that it fits your play style. If you have a particular type of crosshair that you like, try to replicate it in the game.
Learn to Communicate
When you enter a match, you’ll be playing with others. CS:GO is a team game. You need to communicate with your team if you want to succeed. Practice keeping in touch with these other team members as you play. It doesn’t take much. Just say hi at the start and work your way forward from there. You can work on it over time, and eventually, you’ll be chatting away like there’s no tomorrow.
You will notice that players in the lowest CSGO ranks tend to not communicate with each other.
Work With the Economy
The in-game economy is part of every match. You need to work with this economy and pick up the weapons your team needs you to have. Keep up that communication and ensure that everyone knows what weapons are required. Don’t just pick the weapon you want. Demonstrate what you’re good with, buy it, and show what a useful team player you are.
Ranking Facts
There are a few things that you need to know about the ranking system that you won’t be aware of when you start. We’re going to cover all of those here.
First, you need to know that you increase your ranking by winning ranking matches. So you need to work up to playing these matches and then proceed to push up your rank every time you play. Wins will push your rank up. If you’re unhappy with your rank, you need to get more wins.
The top rank that you can earn is Global Elite. This is the top rank in the game, and it takes a lot of work to reach. You’ll start to earn service medals once you hit level 40. Reaching either of these points takes a lot of hard work and dedication. CS:GO is very much a lifestyle instead of a game as a result. Keep this in mind if you’re looking to get into the competitive CS:GO scene.
