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All CS:GO Ranks and How Does CS:GO Ranking Work

One of the biggest problems in previous Counter-Strike versions is finding teammates and opponents with the same level of play — the CS:GO ranking system was designed to address this issue. It allows players to make their matches handier, more prolonged, extremely exciting, and the fight between teams becomes an intense struggle.

In this article, you’ll find out all the information about ranks in CS:GO and the ranking system, how to get the first rank and the latest CS:GO rank distribution.

With the transition to Counter-Strike 2, some things have changed, including the rank system. You can read more about this in our articles about cs2 ranks and rating system.

What Are the Ranks in CS:GO?

CS:GO ranks help to categorize players into different tiers based on skill level, primarily for matchmaking purposes. It’s a performance indicator that is responsible for all your gaming abilities while playing. Your CS:GO rank is displayed right under your username in the game.

CS:GO ranking system has lots of practical uses, but still, it is also full of emotions and will give players an additional reason to rejoice at their in-game progress.

How to Get Your First Rank in CS:GO?

Now that you know about the ranks and ranking system, you probably want to earn your first rank. So, how do you do it?

CS:GO rank is an indicator of your skill in the game, and you can’t get it without doing anything. You have to win 10 competitive matches to earn your first rank. You will able to play just 2 matches per day. This will help to determine the level of your skills. After 10 wins, you will be assigned to one of 18 ranks depending on your matches’ performance. From this point on, you will have an unlimited number of matches at your disposal.

The only thing you should never forget is that you can play just with players who have five ranks higher or lower than yours, excluding a premade team of five.

After that, you are officially ranked and can start your journey up the ladder in CS:GO.

How Does CSGO Ranking Work

Mostly CS:GO ranking system depends on wins and losses in competitive matches directly. If the matches are won, the rating increases, and you get a higher rank. If they are lost, then the rating goes down accordingly, and there is a chance to downgrade the current rank.

CS:GO actually uses a modified Glicko-2 system. Both systems were originally developed to determine skill in games such as chess or Go, but they have been modified to work with online shooters and other games, namely the Glicko-2 system used in CS:GO prioritizes team play and success over individual play when determining rank.

In real-game terms, this means being the top fragger on a bad team or carrying a bad team affects your rank less than being on a winning, balanced team. This applies even if your personal stats are lower in those games.

Valve states that the CS:GO algorithm evaluates a player’s skill pool based on their round influence and whether their team wins the round.

Of course, to prevent people from “gaming” the ranking system, the numerical values of this system are hidden. But through experimentation and observations, most players believe the system puts a high value on team-oriented play.

In practical terms, this means getting together a balanced 5 stack team that communicates well will help you rise through the ranks faster than being the best player on a team of noobs.

Unlock the world of free CS:GO skins and explore the various opportunities that offer in-game items at no cost by following our article with all the legal way to get free CS:GO skins.

CS:GO Ranks

CS:GO has 18 ranks. To reach the highest rank, you must go through a difficult path, but nothing is impossible on the way to your goal. Here is the list with all CSGO ranks in order:

  1. Silver I (S1)
  2. Silver 2 CSGO (S2)
  3. Silver III (S3)
  4. Silver IV (S4)
  5. Silver Elite (SE)
  6. Silver Elite Master (SEM)
  7. Gold Nova I (GN1)
  8. Gold Nova II (GN2)
  9. Gold Nova III (GN3)
  10. Gold Nova Master (GNM)
  11. Master Guardian I (MG1)
  12. Master Guardian II (MG2)
  13. Master Guardian Elite (MGE)
  14. Distinguished Master Guardian CSGO (DMG)
  15. Legendary Eagle (LE)
  16. Legendary Eagle Master (LEM CSGO)
  17. Supreme Master First Class (SMFC)
  18. Global Elite CSGO (GE)

CS:GO Ranks Distribution

As you know, the road to Global Elite is challenging, but between Silver and Global Elite there are many different csgo ranks. On the following infographics, you can see the average CS:GO ranks distribution in 2023. Indicators are constantly changing, so we will update the data as often as we have such information.

CS:GO ranks distribution 2023

You can learn more about this topic by reading CS2 ranks distribution post.

Playing Ranked in CS:GO

If you’re new to playing ranked, it’s important to understand that it can be both exhilarating and extremely frustrating at times. There are highly skilled players that you will face and sometimes things that are out of your control will have an impact on your rating. For example, when you play with randoms and your team loses.

Because of this, it’s important not to get discouraged and stay positive, even after a bad team performance.

So go out there and enjoy the competition, but don’t let the normal ups and downs of ranked play discourage you or interfere with your love for the game. If you want to know how to improve your CS:GO rank, visit our extensive guide with powerful tips on how to rank up in CS:GO.

Source 2 has a significant impact on the game, introducing improved graphics, enhanced performance, and better physics, resulting in a more immersive and visually appealing gaming experience. To learn more, read our article on the impact of the new engine on CS:GO.


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Eugene Bozhenko image
Eugene Bozhenko
Eugene Bozhenko is an enthusiastic gamer and professional gaming journalist with 14 years of writing experience. Since 2007 he has been a member of the Ukrainian National Union of Journalists. Eugene has experience writing about culture, sports, modern technology and politics but gaming remains his long-term favorite topic.
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