CS2 has more than one ranking system, and that confuses many players. Premier shows a number called CS Rating, Competitive shows one of 18 skill groups per map, Wingman has its own ranks, and Faceit is a separate platform. This guide explains how each one works, based on CSDB and WeCoach, checked on October 10, 2026. Valve does not publish the exact formulas, so treat the details as community knowledge, not official statements.
Key takeaways
- Premier needs Prime Status and 10 wins before your CS Rating is shown.
- Rating colors run from grey (0 to 4,999) to gold (30,000 and above).
- Competitive has 18 skill groups from Silver I to The Global Elite, tracked separately on each map.
- Wingman and Faceit have their own ladders that do not convert to Premier.
- Community data puts the average Premier player around 11,000, in the blue tier.
Premier and CS Rating
Premier is the mode with a single number. After you win your placement matches, you get a CS Rating that updates after every game. It works like Elo: wins raise your rating and losses lower it, and the size of the change depends on the strength of the two teams. WeCoach says round difference may also matter, but calls that speculation. Exact point values are not published.
| Color | CS Rating | Share of players (CSDB estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Grey | 0 to 4,999 | about 21% |
| Light blue | 5,000 to 9,999 | about 24% |
| Blue | 10,000 to 14,999 | about 27% |
| Purple | 15,000 to 19,999 | about 20% |
| Pink | 20,000 to 24,999 | about 5.5% |
| Red | 25,000 to 29,999 | about 2.4% |
| Gold | 30,000 and above | about 0.6% |
These shares are community estimates from tracking sites, not Valve figures. WeCoach lists slightly different numbers for January 2026, so remember that the split moves over time. The colors are only display tiers. There is no rating cap.
Placement and unlocking Premier
Ranked queues require Prime Status, which costs $14.99 on Steam according to the store page (or it carries over if your account had Prime in CS:GO). CSDB says a new account must first earn some XP in other modes before ranked queues open. Then you need 10 Premier wins. Losses and draws do not count, and CSDB mentions a daily cap on placement wins. Each season also soft-resets ratings toward the middle, so you play a shorter placement again.
Competitive: the 18 skill groups
Competitive uses classic ranks that you earn per map. You need 10 wins on a map before its rank shows, and you choose the map yourself.
- Silver I, II, III, IV
- Silver Elite, Silver Elite Master
- Gold Nova I, II, III, Master
- Master Guardian I, II, Master Guardian Elite
- Distinguished Master Guardian
- Legendary Eagle, Legendary Eagle Master
- Supreme Master First Class
- The Global Elite
Valve has not published how many wins each group needs, and CSDB says no fixed number is known. Your Competitive rank and Premier rating do not affect each other. A player can be Gold Nova on one map and have a blue Premier rating, and that is normal.
Wingman
Wingman is the 2v2 mode. It uses the same badge artwork as Competitive but has its own ranks, which only Wingman matches change.
Faceit
Faceit is a third-party platform with levels 1 to 10 and a visible ELO number. It has one ELO across all maps, a veto system on a wider map pool, and a smaller player base that leans toward serious play. The ladders do not convert cleanly between systems, so do not try to compare numbers directly.
Seasons and medals
Premier runs in seasons. WeCoach reports that Season 4 started on January 21, 2026 with a full reset, and CSDB says Season 5 began on July 8, 2026, with Cache replacing Overpass in the map pool. According to WeCoach, a medal needs at least 25 wins in a season with a rating, and each further 25 wins adds a bar up to five bars at 125 wins. The medal color follows the highest tier you reached.
The pick system
Premier uses a pick system for maps. Read our map pool and Premier picks guide for the current order.
How to improve
- Train your aim daily. Try our 20-minute routine.
- Learn the economy. See the economy guide for beginners.
- Follow the rank-up routine.
- Play with friends who communicate.
Common mistakes about ranks
- Judging yourself by one match. A rating moves in steps, and a single loss to a stronger team costs little.
- Comparing a Faceit level to a Premier color. The systems are built differently.
- Thinking a high Competitive rank on one map means a high Premier rating. They are separate.
- Playing only to avoid losing rating. Playing safe and scared slows learning.
- Paying for boosting. It breaks Valve's rules and can end your account.
Which mode should you play?
- Premier if you want a single number to track and you like pick and ban map choice.
- Competitive if you want to learn one map at a time, because ranks are per map.
- Wingman if you have one friend and want a quick game.
- Faceit if you want a third-party ladder with its own levels.
Jetzt live: Counter-Strike 2
Alle ansehen →
LIVE
Twitch
835
🏆Spirit vs. MOUZ | ESL Pro League Katowice | Semi Final | !Corsair !Rambo !holy !Razed !Alternate
zonixxcsde
LIVE
Twitch
827
SPIRIT vs. MOUZ - GER CAST 🏆✨ ESL PRO LEAGUE KATOWICE 🏆✨ 14.10 CHALLENGE | !oktober !esn !rambo !holy !acezone !dm !csmoney !razed 🏆✨
redcsde
LIVE
Twitch
373
duo q later? | !eldorado
SpykeyTVde
LIVE
Twitch
116
🟢 abcdELO - Skeleton Giveaway - !batzen !info !clip
TypischALGOdeNext steps
Read how Premier changes after each match in our Premier rating guide, and visit the CS2 hub for practice servers.




