Scoped Assault Rifles Making a Comeback in CS2 Competitive Scene

The return of scoped assault rifles to the CS2 competitive scene is causing quite a stir, with the AUG in particular gaining popularity among professional players. The weapon is proving to be a valuable asset for CT sides on certain maps, helping to keep them competitive. This resurgence of the AUG brings back memories of the infamous “AUG meta” in 2019 when it surpassed the M4 as the most-used rifle by CTs. Despite being nerfed and falling out of favor, the AUG is now threatening to make a sudden comeback in the meta with the introduction of CS2.

One player who has embraced the AUG is GamerLegion’s Frederik “acoR” Gyldstrand. He has been using the scoped rifle since the release of CS2 and believes it provides a solution to the issue of “peeker’s advantage.” AcoR, who typically wields the AWP, found himself struggling with the sniper rifle in the early stages of CS2 and turned to the AUG for its ability to level the playing field. Unlike the AWP, which is a one-shot kill and leaves little room for error, the AUG allows for multiple shots and increases the chances of success in head-to-head duels.

Although the AUG has only accounted for a small percentage of kills at IEM Sydney, more teams are starting to warm up to the weapon after witnessing its effectiveness. ENCE, for example, has been utilizing both the Krieg and the AUG, with players like Pavle “maden” Bošković and Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia making good use of these rifles. The addition of CS2 has brought about changes in gameplay dynamics, and the AUG seems to be a viable choice for many players.

AcoR also shared his thoughts on other changes in CS2, such as the addition of a grenade damage sound. While he finds it to be a powerful tool that can be incorporated into strategies, he also believes it can be game-breaking. The sound cue allows players to instantly react and push when they hear an enemy take damage, leaving little chance for the opponent to defend themselves. However, there is a drawback to the new sound effects when an HE grenade lands directly on a player, as it completely mutes all other sounds for a few seconds, making it difficult to hear enemy footsteps.

It remains to be seen whether Valve will consider these changes to be beneficial for the casual and professional scenes. The recent disabling of alias binds and the lack of action on issues affecting competitive integrity suggest that Valve has a firm stance on how the game should be played. In the meantime, IEM Sydney continues with the top six teams advancing to the playoffs.