AWP is a high-risk low-reward kind of weapon. It is the most expensive weapon in the game, yet, if you get a kill using it, it rewards you with the least amount of money, only one hundred US dollars. It is also a bad weapon for close combats, and if you miss, you will probably die. On the other side, this is a one-shot kill weapon in most scenarios and if used correctly, the deadliest weapon in this game.
When to Buy an AWP?
Before everything, we first need to establish when to buy AWP. This is the most expensive weapon in the game, and you can’t just buy it whenever you feel like it. Let’s get one thing straight, this weapon should never be used in early and anti-eco rounds. In those kinds of rounds, enemies can swamp you with SMGs, and there is literally nothing you can do. It is best to use it in full-buy rounds when enemies also have riffles and an AWP.
AWP Playstyles
There are plenty of AWP playstyles in theory, but in practice, there are only two, aggressive and passive. To explain it easier, we will take the iconic duo, two AWP players that made a huge impact on the CS:GO scene; Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz. In-game performance of both players was extraordinary; they both made a lot of frags and earned their spot on the CS:GO Hall of Fame list.
If you are one of those fans, who likes to watch live streams and bet on CS:GO, you probably noticed what’s the difference between the two. If you are not, let us explain. S1mple is an aggressive player who always hits impossible shots. He is peeking when he isn’t supposed to, taking charge and attacking all fronts. It is a joy to watch him play. Every opponent respects him and stays on high alert when playing against him.
Dev1ce is just the opposite, a perfect example of a passive AWP player. You will hardly ever see dev1ce make some impossible shot. He is the man who does his job as an AWPer and somehow ends up with 20+ frags in almost every match. Every shoot he makes looks easy; it looks like you could make it. Maybe you even could if you have a fast enough reaction time. But it’s not about reaction; it’s about his positioning. He always tries to position himself perfectly, and enemies will often walk straight into his crosshair, so he does not have to flick. His positioning is perfect in every single situation, which makes him a hard target, and makes his kills look easy, even though they are not.
AWP Positioning & Movement
Speaking of positioning, it is important to learn how to position and move with AWP. You should always try to minimize the risk and stay behind a cover. This way, if you miss a shoot, you can fall back and reposition behind another cover. In case you miss another shot, you can once again fall back and reposition. It is also important to change your positions and occasionally switch sites. If you constantly play the same position, enemies will expect you there, and you will eventually get pre-fired and killed.
Your movement should also be on point, and you should move to the side as soon as you shoot. Running around the map alone without any backup with AWP isn’t smart. Always have a teammate supporting you in case you get rushed. A teammate can help you prevent those rushes, and if you get killed, he can trade you and save your AWP for the next round.
AWP Battles
Probably the most interesting thing when playing AWP is the AWP battle. It is a battle against the opponent’s AWP player. Whichever team has a better AWP will probably win the match. You should not rely on your skill in AWP battles. Instead, you should play it smart. If you are on the CT side, make sure to position yourself perfectly and do not re-peek if you miss the shot. Your enemy will be waiting for you, and you will die. Instead, fall back and wait for him to come to you.
On the other side, if you are playing as a T, you should use the peekers’ advantage. This advantage gives you a few milliseconds when you can see your enemy before he can see you. Make sure to crouch, pre-scope, and pre-shoot at the position your enemy might be. You can also have one of your teammates flash you out, but don’t peek right after the flash because your enemy will shoot at the position he was holding while being blind. Position yourself and wait for him to re-peek. If he does, you will have a clear shot. If he does not, you won that part of the map and can progress further to the site.
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