List of Danger Zone Ranks in CS:GO and How to Boost Your Danger Zone Rank

The Danger Zone is one of the newest and most unusual game modes in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. That is a mix of two classics: Counter-Strike mechanics and shooting with last-to-survive Battle Royal mode.

Still, even experienced CS:GO players may get confused about the ranks in Danger Zone mode, which have different icons and names. That is why this mode requires additional attention and some explanations.

In this short guide, we will discuss when and why this mode appeared and why players like it. We will also explain CS:GO Danger Zone ranking system and ways to boost them fast, which will be especially useful for beginners.

CS:GO Danger Zone Mode Ranks

While the new mode was released in late 2018, Danger Zone ranks in Counter-Strike were added only in the summer of 2019. Contrary to the Competitive and Wingman modes, it has unique icons and names. All the ranks are presented in the table below:

Image	Rank
	Rat 1
	Rat 2
	Hare 1
	Hare 2
	Scout 1
	Scout 2
	Scout Elite
	Fox 1
	Fox 2
	Fox 3
	Fox Elite
	Timber Wolf
	Ember Wolf
	Wildfire Wolf
	Howling Alpha

Game fans surely noticed that Danger Zone ranks mirror the traditional CS:GO 15-stage ladder. Thus, Rat 1 equals MM’s Silver, with Howling Alpha referring to Global Elite. The color gamut is quite unusual as it includes red and purple colors, but the smooth gradient transitions of colors and depictions are saved.

How Does the CS:GO Danger Zone Ranking System Work?

The ranking system remains the same for all Counter-Strike: Global Offensive modes — kill more, die less, and grab as many in-game points as possible. However, gaining CS:GO ranks of Danger Zone are something a bit different since there are more than two teams on the battlefield. So, if you or your team have finished the survival in the middle of the list with a positive kill/death ratio, you won’t be downgraded. Usually, the next rank comes up if you finish 3–5 maps in a row with a minimum of 5 kills and a K/D ratio of 1.5 to 2.0, but that is more an assumption than a rule.

At the same time, you can see all CS:GO Danger Zone rank players together on the same map. It ruins the classical skill-group approach (which is, honestly speaking, already broken in MM or Wingman), but it is aimed at decreasing smurfing, which is a problem in traditional 5x5. Thus, everyone can meet anybody on the map, which can be an issue for low-skilled players.

What Do Ranks in the Danger Zone Affect?

Considering the previous section, it seems that Danger Zone ranks in CS:GO have little to no impact during the squad forming for the poisonous map. In reality, the situation is a bit different as ranks were created to make the competition fairer, and they have an effect, although hardly visible.

Thus, one of the signs that Valve has prepared for the problem with ranks is the number of players thrown on the battlefield. There are only 18 participants compared to similar games like PUBG, where up to 100 players fight on one map. Valve developers assumed that players wouldn't be ready to abandon original game modes and dive into the Danger Zone, so they limited their numbers. So, ranks still matter BUT DO NOT GUARANTEE righteous opponents because of limited attention to this mode. Besides, developers prefer a faster map start over the fairer combination of attendants. Well, it has some logic, at least.

Tips on How to Play Danger Zone and Increase Your Chances of Rank Up

Even if you don’t believe in the fairness of the CS:GO Danger Zone ranks, having one of the Wolfs near the icon may be worth the effort to get it. And here are a few tips on how to rank up faster:

Learn Danger Zone Features

When you earn some stable skill group in official matchmaking and want to get a different experience and switch your brain, it’s better to start with some theory. You should read about the major scenarios, how to use a tablet, where to earn money, and what can be bought for them. Also, special missions are something out of the box for CS (not to kill enemies but collect or find something), but they can help at the very end with better weapons or specific abilities. Actually, no problems if you want to learn and improve all this stuff in the battling conditions, but don’t expect a fast ranking up in the skill-group ladder.

Tablet and Drones

While the weapon in Danger Zone is identical to the ones in other CS:GO modes, tablets, and drones are the major additions to the survival scenario. You should master the usage of the tablet, which can help to define sectors with enemies or help to cooperate with a teammate. Drones are also vital for this mode and can be used in different ways. Thus, you can request new ammo or another useful drop to your point, and the delivery device will arrive fastly with the case. At the same time, a near-flying drone is a nice indicator that enemies are close and try to catch them off-guard.

Play in a Team at First

Another trick with this mode is that you can play it in a team of 2 or 3 players — now the strange amount of players set at 18 looks much more logical. You can play with your friends or check on forums for a teammate. You can play with your friends or check on forums for a teammate. Maybe you'll even find an experienced player who can do half of your job, like faster orientation on the map or covering you while collecting the perks on the ground. Even if your teammate is only an aim-master, his ability to save limited ammo can be a huge bonus in the skirmish. After learning some basic things in a team, you will feel much more comfortable playing a single mode, increasing the rank faster.

Conclusion

The release of Danger Zone added a popular Battle Royal mode to the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and made the game more flexible in terms of joy. This new scenario also presented a new ranking system with its own unique names and icons, which, however, still mirrors the usual for CS:GO 15-stage ladder. But remember, while it's cool to have a Howling Alpha rank to brag to your friends, the most important thing is to enjoy the game and not invest all your efforts and time into climbing the ladder.

FAQ