General In-Game Tips

Essential Counter-Strike: Source tips on armor, flashbangs, communication, and movement. Learn when to buy armor and how to use flashbangs effectively.

Walkthrough:

1. Always buy armor before a gun unless you are on a budget and want a glass cannon AWP. Getting hit without armor causes aimpunch, making it impossible to aim and putting you at a fatal disadvantage. If you are not on an eco round, you need armor.
2. On the Counter-Terrorist (CT) side, you can forgo a helmet if cash is tight, as Assault Rifles (AKs) will one-shot you through it anyway. If you must choose between a helmet and an extra grenade or defusal kit, it is acceptable to pass on the helmet.
3. This principle does not apply to the Terrorist (T) side, as a helmet can save your life from an M4 headshot (a shot that lands on the enemy's head, usually an instant kill). Use the money saved on defusal kits to buy helmets.
4. Learn to flash yourself out. If you eliminate an enemy and suspect more are coming, throw a flashbang in front of you, turn around as it detonates, and escape. This is useful in locations like Cubby on Inferno, B Car on Dust II, and Water and Construction on Overpass.
5. The Dualies are generally poor outside of pistol rounds. For eco rounds or as a sidearm upgrade for an AWP, other $500 pistols like the Five-SeveN, Tec-9, or CZ75 are better choices.
6. You move fastest with your knife equipped. If you need to rotate quickly, switch to your knife.
7. Avoid speculating on information when communicating. Call only what you see. For example, if you are a CT on Dust II's B Site and see three Ts, do not immediately state it is a