CS Premier vs Competitive

Despite the multitude of modes the game offers, CS2 Premier vs Competitive is probably the only battle that deserves our attention. At first glance, the two modes are quite similar: they both follow the Counter-Strike 5v5 classic rules with traditional gameplay and have several game maps to choose from. However, the CS2 Competitive vs Premier comparison has many subtle nuances an average player might not be aware of. Understanding the difference between the two is especially relevant for newer players who might not be familiar with the map-choosing process, rank system, and the modes’ availability.

In this article, we’ll introduce to you all the differences between the game’s two most popular modes, which should help you pick the one that fits your interests and expectations better.

Difference Between Premier and Competitive in CS2

Before we discuss the Premier vs Competitive differences, let's mention some similarities first. Both modes are built around the traditional Cs formula: 10 players split into two teams, with one team attacking (Terrorists) and the other one defending (Counter-Terrorists) the bombsite. A match lasts for 24 rounds, or until one of the sides wins 13 rounds. And, of course, the teams switch roles after 12 rounds to be on equal grounds.

Also, all the differences between Counter-Strike Premier vs Competitive, both modes reward team play and strategy. The round length, amount of available grenades, weapon variety, starting ammunition, and after-death spectate options are also identical for both regimes.

However, there are also plenty of differences between the two. Let’s review them in detail.

Availability & Access

While Counter-Strike 2 is free-to-play, you can currently purchase an elite Prime status through a one-time $15 payment. The Prime badge allows you to gather weekly experience and responsive rewards, which can be sold via Steam or other trading platforms. Besides, it is a decisive factor in the Counter-Strike 2 Premier vs Competitive comparison. Premier mode is one of the perks of this Prime thing, so you’ll have to actually spend $15 to play it.

Keep in mind that there is no need to purchase this feature right after you’ve downloaded the game, as the Competitive mode is just as good for training your aim, movement, and teamplay.

Map Pool

Another specific disparity between the CS2 Premier Mode vs Competitive is the maps you’ll be playing on. Since Premier is Valve’s attempt at a dedicated professional mode, its map pool duplicates the official rotating 7-map list. At the moment of writing, the following maps are available when playing in the Premier mode:

1. Ancient;
2. Anubis;
3. Dust 2;;
4. Inferno;
5. Mirage;
6. Nuke;
7. Vertigo.

If you’ve claimed Prime status, you can always check the current map pool in the Premier tab in-game.

Moreover, in this pro-oriented mode, the players get a chance to veto a map they don’t like. The process looks like this:

1. The players are randomly placed into two teams.
2. The first team bans two maps.
3. Then, the second squad bans three more.
4. Team 1 chooses the map from the two remaining options.
5. Team 2 receives the right to choose the initial side (T or CT).

As you can see, the banning process seems quite balanced, with two decisions for each squad.

The map pool of the CS2 Competitive mode is much wider and includes all the maps from the Premier list, plus the following five arenas:

1. Overpass;
2. Office;
3. Thera;
4. Mills;
5. Italy.

When comparing ​​CS2 Premier mode vs Competitive, the latter also looks simpler in terms of the map and side-choosing process, as in Competitive, you can simply pick the map(s) you want to play on. This way, you can play a single map every time without ever considering the possibility that the opponents might ban it, or select a few maps at once and allow the game to make the choice for you.  The “sides” of a Competitive match are also assigned randomly.

Rating & Ranking Systems

The most controversial and widely discussed topic of this comparison is the CS2 Premier ranks vs Competitive ranking approaches.

So far, the Competitive mode sticks to the familiar CS:GO system with 17 ranks, starting from Silver I and ending with Global Elite. What's different, though, is that you now have a Competitive rank for each map in the pool. It means you can be a Legendary Eagle on the Dust II, Gold Nova II on Vertigo, and Silver IV on Mills — everything depends on your win rate on the map.

To receive your base rank for a Competitive map, you have to score at least two wins while playing there, which is a much easier task than the ten victories required in the traditional Competitive. Ranking up or down is usually a matter of a few consecutive matches, but a good individual performance will usually lead to faster climbing (or slower falling).

With the relatively minor changes between CS:GO and CS2 free-to-play Matchmaking, the differences between CS Premier vs Competitive become all the more apparent. For instance, the Premier mode has its own Leaderboard table and ELO ranking points.

All the Premier ranks are divided into seven divisions with 5 thousand points margins, with the Golden one being the most elite. An inter-division step is usually highlighted for you so you can know when to give the match all you have.

To receive your first Premier ELO rank and start gaining points, you must first win at least ten games. Interestingly, a win or lose streak will lead to more points earned or deducted, so you can enter the appropriate rank relatively quickly. At the same time, individual performance is less important than teamplay, as it’s the map’s win/lose parameter that matters in this case.

In our CS2 Premier vs FACEIT comparison, we’ve already made a comparison between the different ranking systems CS2 has. Below is the approximate table of how CS2 Premier vs Competitive ranks can be compared.

Cheaters

One of the biggest pains for the whole Counter-Strike 2 community is the presence (and the sheer number!) of cheaters on Valve’s official servers. Almost every match in Premier mode has some suspicious moments, with every second or third game being totally ruined by annoying hackers.

Not that the situation is very different in Competitive, though. It seems that the need to climb higher on the Leaderboard can outweigh common sense, with cheats bringing the whole matchmaking system to a crashing halt. Valve had promised a better Anti-cheat system for Premier mode, yet you’ll still encounter lots of hackers there.

Attitude and Experience

The comparison between Premier vs Competitive in CS2 reveals that the former is a pro-oriented mode that even simulates the veto-ban process, while the latter is more accessible to newer players. The Premier ranking system relies on the team results rather than personal stats, forcing players to at least attempt teamwork. Unsurprisingly, you should expect better teamplay and a more focused approach in Premier games. Players with 10,000 points or more typically know plenty of good grenade spots and have enough skill to aim headshots with most weapons.

On the other hand, Competitive mode is a better fit for newcomers. Of course, there is no problem with playing it on a professional level, especially if you want to flex your personal muscles or play on the maps unavailable in the Premier mode. Still, it's more of a fun experience where you don’t have to worry about your ELO rank all that much.

Which Mode Should You Play?

Overall, the choice of whether to go for CS2 Premier or Competitive is up to you! We can only suggest you pay attention to your level of play and attitude when making this decision. If you have a few friends ready to ride at full cylinders, it’s better to choose Premier and try your luck in a competitive environment. However, if you are a solo player or simply want to play on more maps, you should pay attention to the Competitive mode. And if you just want to never meet cheaters again, it’s better to get to a decent level in the Casual mode and then register a FACEIT account to play competitively.