Astralis' new aiming habits might be key to the team's success
Astralis is one of the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams in the world, and the recently won yet another major title at the 2019 StarLadder Berlin Major. It’s not just the size of their trophy case what sets them apart from other teams. It’s also their style of aim.
Reddit user
IWillFindAWayToDoIt highlighted Astralis’ aiming habits and how it gives them an advantage over other teams.
In CSGO, taking down the enemies as quickly as possible constitutes a big advantage, and to do so, players aim to get headshots. A headshot is a more effective way to take out an enemy, but it’s not necessarily the most consistent. Astralis, as pointed out in the post, prefers to aim lower and go for body shots instead much of the time.
Aiming lower might be just a habit for the Danish players, but it gives them the upper hand when they are outnumbered. For starters, players are more likely to hit their enemies if they’re aiming for the chest. This is especially true in vital choke points that could see quick and chaotic skirmishes. The first shot slows down the enemy, increasing the possibilitu of hitting the following shots and disrupting the opponent’s momentum.
Trying to explain Astralis’ success through aim techniques
In a fight, the player aiming for the headshot could shoot at least three times before hitting a target, all of this while the player aiming for the chest hits them at least once. Even if the first player couldn’t finish the job, another teammate can step in and finish that job after the enemy has been more reliably damaged.
Contrast this with missing a headshot opportunity, which will often leave the opposing player unscathed.
Spamming smoke into one spot and aiming at the body will also get better results than aiming high enough for headshots. This strategy is similarly effective against enemies that are crouching or just barely peeking.
Aiming for the body may not be the flashiest strategy, but it certainly is more efficient when done correctly.
But if this is more efficient, why aren’t more players using it? A contributor answered the question by saying “people are stubborn and set in their ways”.
The redditor also included a list of examples of Astralis’ new aiming technique that you can watch
here.
Read Also
Counter-Strike
PGL Astana 2026: Teams, Format and Prize Pool Distribution
Owen Harsono
PGL Astana 2026 is the next Counter-Strike event to look forward to, not only because of its massive prize pool, but also because we'll likely see a new trophy winner this year. This event will not feature the likes of Team Vitality and NAVI, giving other top teams a chance to bag their first win. Our PGL Astana 2026 preview will tell you everything you need to know. Like almost ...
Counter-Strike
Team Vitality vs NAVI: BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 predictions and odds
Owen Harsono
We have another grand final matchup between Team Vitality and Natus Vincere. The former is looking to extend their reign of dominance, while the latter is looking to deny it. Here are our Team Vitality vs NAVI BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 grand final predictions. Tournament: BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 Stage: Grand Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best of 5 Betting tip: Team Vitality demolished NAVI 3-0 in their previous grand ...
Counter-Strike
Team Vitality vs GamerLegion: BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 predictions and odds
Owen Harsono
Team Vitality are looking to extend their era at BLAST Rivals Spring 2026, but they take on an unlikely opponent in the form of GamerLegion. This is a BLAST Paris Major grand final rematch happening years later. Here are our Team Vitality vs GamerLegion BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 predictions. Tournament: BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 Stage: Semi-Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: GamerLegion could catch Team Vitality ...
Counter-Strike
NAVI vs FaZe Clan: BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 predictions and odds
Owen Harsono
Counter-Strike 2 fans are in for a treat, as we're getting the classic NAVI vs FaZe Clan matchup in the semi-finals of BLAST Rivals Spring 2026. The former are looking for their second trophy of the year, while the latter are trying to make an impression with their new roster. Here are our NAVI vs FaZe Clan BLAST Rivals Spring predictions. Tournament: BLAST Rivals Spring 2026 Stage: Semi-Final Game: Counter-Strike ...
Counter-Strike
This is everything to know about the AT&T Annihilator Cup 2026
Khizar Mundia
The sixth edition of the AT&T Annihilator Cup is almost here, with dates, matchups and teams all now officially confirmed. The AT&T Annihilator Cup 2026 is a multi-week esports tournament where teams made up of content creators will battle each other across multiple games. Each round will be held once a week, with a different title being played each time. Team performances will determine the points, and each game will ...
Counter-Strike
Senzu joins BC.Game Esports active roster on loan
Hannan Mundia
BC.Game Esports has announced that Senzu will join the team’s active roster on loan from The MongolZ, playing alongside the likes of s1mple. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that BC.Game Esports is one of the most controversial CS2 teams currently. The team has powerhouse players such as s1mple and electroNic, but has failed to really win any significant tournament since its inception despite showing promise. After a series ...
Counter-Strike
Team n0thing Wins Ludwig CS Minor Streamer Event
Owen Harsono
Popular streamer Ludwig Ahgren just pulled off his first Counter-Strike 2 event, and it’s safe to say it went pretty well. The Ludwig CS Minor brought together former pros, content creators, and streamers for a very fun and action-packed day of Counter-Strike. Here’s what happened at the event. Ludwig’s tournament featured four teams, which were each led by a captain. Former Counter-Strike pros and content creators n0thing, shroud, fl0m, and ...
