IGL in CS2: Meaning & How to Be a Good IGL in CS2?
Like most team-based games, Counter-Strike has several roles a player can fill in a squad. Today, we’ll review the arguably most important and critical position in the game — IGL in CS2. Like the orchestrator, this player coordinates the team’s efforts and makes sure his colleagues stay cool under fire.
This naturally raises the question of how to achieve good results as an IGL, as the role can be somewhat hard to define. Today, we’ll comprehensively analyze what IGL is, what they can do for their team, what skills they need to excel, and how important they actually are. Our CS2 in-game leader guide also includes some tips on how an aspiring IGL can boost their team’s performance.
Who are IGLs in CS?
So, what does IGL mean in CS2? IGL (an abbreviation for “in-game leader") is “the brain and heart” of the team. Considering the IGL meaning in CS2, it is no wonder that anyone aiming for this role should have good communication skills and a decent understanding of the game’s mechanics.
As a rule, it’s the most experienced gamer in a squad who typically takes an IGL position. The good news is that even if an enemy manages to eliminate an in-game leader, the player can still coordinate his team’s actions. Gamers also tend to combine the positions of support and IGL due to the overlapping responsibilities between the two roles. As a final piece of trivia, the role is actually as old as the game itself, and a CS2 IGL is required to do pretty much the same job his CS:GO or even 1.6 counterparts did.
Main Responsibilities of IGL in CS2
During any competitive match (especially in professional Counter-Strike), a leader must guide his team to victory. Plus, the IGL role in CS2 is essential for pulling off any complex strategic maneuvers (and those, as you probably know, win games). If you want to become an excellent in-game leader yourself, you should learn your major responsibilities:
Strategic planning
If you want to learn how to be an IGL CS2, start by mastering the “art of war.” Yeah, the Sun Tzu one. A victory in a match is impossible without a well-developed plan. A creative approach to strategy may give you an advantage even over more skilled opponents, which is essential if you want to ever increase your rank.
You must know when to rush and retreat, collect battlefield data from your teammates, and predict your enemies’ movements. Plus, as an IGL, you should be able to identify any weaknesses your opponents might show and use those to your team’s advantage.
For instance, imagine playing on the Dust II for the T-side and discovering that only 1 CT has gone to defend the B-side. Your task as IGL will be to coordinate the actions of your teammates as they rush the least protected area of the map.
Communication
Keeping the team informed and motivated is another one of IGL's primary responsibilities. This player should know how to provide clear instructions and express their thoughts under pressure. Even if you’re eliminated during the match, you still can support your team with valuable tips and comments.
Plus, the IGL should know how to conduct a pre-game briefing. It’s important to highlight your strategy, define each player’s role in it, and give your buddies some idea of what to expect from the enemy team.
Decision-making
We all know that Counter-Strike 2 is a highly dynamic game. Making the right decisions in challenging situations is difficult, but getting those right is the only way to win a match.
First of all, a good IGL should be able to manage the team's economy. This means that this player should know how to predict the enemies’ budget and properly react to their most likely actions.
Also, IGL makes decisions about rotating to different bomb sites or saving the guns if you see it’s impossible to win the round. Of course, it may be challenging to adapt to each situation in the heat of the match, but given enough time, you can get a hold of it.
In-game analysis
If you aspire to play in a professional CS2 team, you should get used to analyzing your opponents even before the match starts. Try to identify the most dangerous player as well as the weakest link in the chain. Pay attention to how their AWPer plays so your team can avoid their tricks during the game.
When the match starts, you should continue to analyze your opponents' tactics. They may have a hidden ace, so one of your main tasks is to guess their moves using the available information.
Finally, you must review your team's performance when the game is over. This is a sure way to improve results and fix mistakes. During this analysis, try to point out the moments when your teammates have been on top as well as the situations that have led to serious mistakes.
What Loadout Should an IGL Have?
Taking into account the CS2 IGL meaning, this role has no fixed loadout. Nonetheless, don’t forget that players often mix this position with the Support’s responsibilities. Due to this, in 90% of cases, IGLs don’t have impressive statistics. Moreover, you should be ready to sacrifice your money for getting your AWPer their favorite toy as soon as possible so they can start racking up their kill count. Sacrificing personal glory does not come easy to all of us, so try to remember that as an IGL your reward is not opponents slain but matches won.
The choice of your gun and utilities depends on the team’s strategy. If you decide to attack while playing as Ts, opting for cheap but efficient Galil will be a good idea. You may even purchase a cheaper MAC-10 or UMP-45 if you don't have enough money.
If you play on the maps with many narrow corridors, such as Inferno or Office, it’ll be a good idea to choose a shotgun. Good old XM1014 is the option we recommend for such situations. Talking about pistols, the most attractive guns for IGL are probably the trusty Tec-9 or, you know, a Desert Eagle.
In case you play for the CT side, you should hold the defensive positions, so don’t forget to invest in armor and several nades. It’s also a good idea to purchase a shotgun or a medium-range weapon, such as MP9 or UMP-45. Also, opt for pistols, including Five-SeveN or, surprise surprise, Desert Eagle.
Tips to Become a Pro IGL
Want to know how to be a good IGL in CS2? Here are some simple tips to improve your performance.
Work on your confidence
You simply won’t be able to lead a group of your teammates if you lack confidence. You must know how to direct others and make them listen to what you have to say. The good news is, if you want to become an IGL role despite how challenging it is, you probably already have the character traits the role requires. All you need is enough practice.
Learn the game
More than any other member of the team, it’s essential that you have a profound understanding of the game’s mechanics. You must be familiar with each map and know everything about its callouts, wallbangs, nade lineups, etc.
Create your own game style
The higher your ranking is, the more dangerous and skillful opponents you face. Thus, if you want your team to progress, you should start developing unique and creative tactics to surprise your rivals and get an advantage.
Provide good energy
As the heart of your team, you should take care of your teammates’ spirit. You’ll likely have to deal with aggression between your buddies, so learn a thing or two about how conflicts work. Additionally, never bully them for their mistakes. It’s way more efficient to guide them and offer a helping hand. And by all means, stay unbiased.
Learn to say “no”
Finally, you should be ready to receive lots of ideas from your teammates, and decide which of those are worth the team’s attention. Your task is to listen to a person (remember, you need feedback and battlefield info) and politely refuse their offer if there is a more efficient alternative.
Conclusion
So, what is IGL in CS2? Now, you know that’s one of the (if not “the”) most important roles in the game. It requires outstanding knowledge of CS, amazing communication skills, and lots of creative thinking. Focus on these, practice lots, believe in yourself, and with any luck there’s no limit to how good you can become.
