win.gg
Win.gg Counter-Strike Here’s what Valorant players do better than CSGO players

Here's what Valorant players do better than CSGO players

Fariha Bhatti
Fariha Bhatti Published 21/06/2021

The bitter-sweet relationship between Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Valorant isn’t as vague as it may seem. Both shooters are highly similar and Valorant players can teach a lot of things to the common FPS player base. 

Valorant dropped with a bang in 2020, triggering an incessant comparison with Valve’s classic shooter. During the beta phase, CSGO’s highly skilled player base found the game comparatively easier to play due to years of practice in shooting. While CSGO players may have an edge over others skill-wise, there are still tons that they can learn from newer Valorant players. 

Utility usage in Valorant is top-notch

Abilities and agent powers are the cornerstone of Riot’s shooter. They set the game apart from traditional FPS games with aim and gunplay as their bedrock. CSGO players at higher rank treat utility with more respect but most players forget to buy essential equipment. 

In Valorant, you can barely make it through a round without throwing a flashbang or two. All agents have some utility on them at all times, which proves that smokes, flashes, and other tools are a major part of shooter games. The power of post-plant lineups in Valorant also proves that your gun may not always be the answer in a game with a defusal concept. 

Most CS players, even at higher elo, heavily rely on their aim. The impeccable gunplay of CSGO automatically works in favor of a good aimer. But if you’re a new player, using utility the Valorant way may help you gain an edge over enemies. 

CSGO versus Valorant post-plants

Each player in CSGO can shop for an incendiary for the hefty price of $600. Mostly, players use the princely fire to slow down hard pushes or burn enemies out of predictable corners. All in all, a molotov has tons of uses in CSGO, but post-plant lineups aren’t usually one of them. You may see professional players burning off defusers in tournaments but casual players are adamant that guns are enough. 

In Valorant, post-plant meta has become so strong that the developer had to create a whole new agent to supress it. Fortunately, CSGO already has smokes that defuse off the fire, but players still don’t pay much mind to post-plant molotov lineups. Incendiaries can effectively bag round wins on the Counter-Terrorist side while making sure you take your weapon into the next round. 

Team play and coordination 

It’s challenging to win a game of Counter-Strike without the assistance of teammates and proper communication. Despite that, solo queue players barely use their microphone, which often makes winning a tall order. Conversely, team communication in Valorant starts from the outset when players are picking agents. In Valorant, every agent is equipped with a distinct power, which forces players to use their mics and chat.

CSGO players in lower ranks could learn that communication can be a gamechanger. While it creates a better team environment and helps garner intel, it also heavily impacts team economy. You won’t have to spend big cash on useless utility when you’re in contact with a rich teammate who could afford a full toolkit. 

Fariha Bhatti Fariha Bhatti
About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

View full profile
Read Also
IEM Cologne Major 2026 CS2 Stage 3 Pick’Em Predictions Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026 CS2 Stage 3 Pick’Em Predictions Owen Harsono It’s that time of the year again, as the next Counter-Strike 2 Major is right around the corner. The IEM Cologne 2026 Major is set to start on June 2, meaning you still have some time to lock in your Pick’Em predictions. The Pick’Em Challenge is one of the most exciting parts of the CS2 Majors, as it allows you to test your knowledge and predict which teams make it ...
Team Spirit concede just 10 rounds in Stage 2 of the IEM Cologne Major Counter-Strike
Team Spirit concede just 10 rounds in Stage 2 of the IEM Cologne Major Owen Harsono It was pretty weird seeing Team Spirit having to start the IEM Cologne Major from Stage 2, but they quickly proved why that was a mistake. With donk shooting on all fronts, the Eastern Europeans speed ran the competition to book their spot in Stage 3. With how they’ve been playing, it’s hard not to wonder whether they can actually win the entire thing. These boys can sometimes be known ...
BIG pull off 0-12 comeback to stay alive – IEM Cologne Major Stage 1 recap Counter-Strike
BIG pull off 0-12 comeback to stay alive – IEM Cologne Major Stage 1 recap Owen Harsono We’ve just witnessed arguably the worst choke in Counter-Strike Major history, and we’re only on the first stage of the IEM Cologne Major. If you didn’t tune into the Stage 1 matches, here’s what you need to know heading into Stage 2. Many fans tend to underestimate Stage 1 teams for fair reasons, but some survivors in this tournament look extremely promising. Two Eastern European teams, BetBoom Team and B8, ...
Who will win the IEM Cologne Major 2026? Counter-Strike
Who will win the IEM Cologne Major 2026? Owen Harsono If you’re looking to play it safe and back one team at the Counter-Strike 2 IEM Cologne 2026 Major, traders prediction markets platforms have a clear frontrunner – it’s Team Vitality. But if it’s not meant to be, there are a few other candidates that could lift the trophy. Here’s what traders on Polymarket and Kalshi think. If you haven’t been watching CS2 this year and are only jumping on ...
The 10 best CS2 players who have never won a Major Counter-Strike
The 10 best CS2 players who have never won a Major Owen Harsono In Counter-Strike, winning a Major immediately puts you into legend status. It’s an achievement that proves you won the game’s biggest trophy. However, there have been some really good players that could never get their hands on the biggest trophy that Counter-Strike esports has to offer. Here is WIN.gg's list of best CS2 players who have never won a Major. ScreaM is one of Counter-Strike's most famous players for one ...
IEM Cologne Major 2026: All the teams, favorites, and outright betting odds Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026: All the teams, favorites, and outright betting odds Owen Harsono Mark your calendars, as the IEM Cologne Major kicks off on June 2, 2026. We’re going to see the best teams in the world compete, but which ones are actually favored to take the title? This will be the first time in 10 years that IEM Cologne will return as a Counter-Strike Major, so the stakes this year are much higher than they’ve been in a decade. In this guide, ...
All IEM Cologne winners and rosters in Counter-Strike history Esports Betting
All IEM Cologne winners and rosters in Counter-Strike history Owen Harsono IEM Cologne is one of Counter-Strike’s biggest events, happening every single year. Some seasons, the event is labeled as one of Valve’s two Counter-Strike Majors of the year, but if not, still stands as one of the big events every player chases to win. With the IEM Cologne 2026 Major right around the corner, let’s take a trip down memory lane and check out every single winner of the tournament, ...