Has the Attack Become Too Strong? Community Debates CS2 Balance
The release of CS2 was supposed to bring new tactical depth to the game, but in reality, it turned out differently.
Recent tournaments, including ESL Pro League Season 21 and BLAST Open Spring, have shown a concerning trend: the dominance of the attacking side. This issue has been discussed on Reddit, where players express concerns about game balance. On most maps, the win rate for the T-side exceeds 55%, reaching 60% and 58% on maps like Dust2 and Mirage, respectively.
Why is the defense losing ground?
In CS:GO, the balance between sides changed periodically, but the tactical depth remained constant. The era of aggressive map control by SK , the era of Astralis with their precise team play—all demonstrated different styles of defensive play. However, CS2 has introduced changes that weakened the CT-side:
Peeker’s advantage. The game feels strongly tilted towards the attackers, making it easier for them to win duels, reducing the effectiveness of traditional holding points.
Nerf to the incendiary grenade. In CS2 , the incendiary grenade has a smaller spread radius, limiting the defense's ability to hold off fast pushes.
Changes to CT economy. In the MR13 format, losing the pistol round and the first gun round results in a 6-0 score before the defense can stabilize their economy.
AWP loses its significance. The limitation of 5 bullets in the magazine, difficulty in utilizing the weapon due to shooting mechanics, and economic challenges make the sniper rifle less popular.
Tournament statistics confirm the issue
The results of major tournaments speak for themselves. At ESL Pro League Season 21:
Anubis: 61% wins for T.
Dust II: 60% wins for T.
Inferno: 54% wins for T.
At BLAST Open Spring 2025, the situation is similar: the attacking side dominates almost all maps except for Ancient.
Reddit users have suggested several changes to restore balance. These include increasing the starting loss bonus to $1600 or $1900, restoring the incendiary grenade's previous spread radius, reducing the cost of defuse kits to $200, and reverting from MR13 to MR15, which could stabilize the defense's economy.
The balance issue in CS2 remains unresolved, and the community is awaiting potential changes from Valve in upcoming updates. Meanwhile, teams and players are forced to find new ways to adapt, building fresh strategies and moving away from the familiar tactics of CS:GO times.
