How to move correctly in CS:GO? Strafes and counter-strafes
Yuriy SheremetDespite the importance of aim in the game, if you do not know how to move correctly. Moreover, we are talking not only about timely tactical movements on the map and fakes, but also in the literal sense of movements - running, small strafes and jumps. The strafe technique in CS:GO seems complicated in theory, but in fact it is quite simple to learn.
Strafes
Movements to the left and right are called strafe, as soon as you feel when the model stops during your movement, you can accurately shoot, the more your movements are verified, the less chance your opponent has.
Every experienced multiplayer shooter player uses short strafes to make it difficult for the enemy to aim and not become an easy target for him to stay in one place. Agree, getting into the head of a moving enemy is a much more difficult task than hitting an evenly standing single target.
Beginners make one big mistake if they see an enemy and don't hit him the first time, just crouch and keep firing in short bursts. This technique is not effective because the player is at a disadvantage, just sitting in front of the enemy's sight. In addition, the speed of movement in a crouch does not allow you to quickly change position or use cover to destroy the enemy, and the time to get up and leave the line aiming will no longer be.
Strafe Basics
In theory, everything looks quite simple, but in practice it turns out to be very difficult, because strafe has several components that need to be perfected to the ideal for a long time. The main difficulties are the length of the run and the stop. You need to strafe to the sides in short and fast jerks, because while you are on the run, the accuracy of the weapon leaves much to be desired. Also, do not hesitate to shoot after stopping. A short press of the opposite key to stop the character, the weapon is stabilized and ready for the next accurate shot.
In addition to the fact that the player must adjust his aim and keep it on the enemy, the distance of the strafe and the speed of the stop of the player model should be kept in mind. Professional gamers can capture these moments so clearly that from the outside it may seem that the shooting is absolutely non-stop, but it is not. When running, the spread of the weapon does not allow you to accurately hit and all bullets, as a rule, go in an arbitrary direction past the enemy.
Strafe training
It is best to train your strafe on special maps. Now there are many maps specifically designed for training shooting and aiming.
The mechanics of strafes is not easy to understand from theory alone - you need to experience it yourself. Before training in this aspect, go to CS:GO and take a few seconds to understand for yourself how exactly the character's momentum works. Walk left and right, releasing the movement keys from time to time. This will give you a feel for how the strafe and momentum mechanics work.
The simplest training with counter-strafes can be done on any map. Just stand close to the wall, mark two points close to each other for yourself and strafe between them, counter-strafe and shoot. After a couple of trainings, you will understand how the mechanics work, and you will act the same way in matches.
For training prefires with strafes, Yprac cards are ideal (there are several cards of this type in the workshop). There you can practice strafes on real maps from the map pool, while the bots will resist you. Try to pass these cards not for a while, namely using strafes and hiding behind covers after each frag.
Counter-strafe
Counter-strafe is a much more interesting term, meaning stopping the player's model during a strafe. Such a technique is necessary for accurate shooting, because with ordinary strafes it is impossible.
To shoot more accurately, but at the same time not to constantly stand still, counter-strafe is used. To perform it, you must press the run key in the opposite direction when you perform a normal strafe. So the player model will not run by inertia, but will stop much faster, and you can immediately shoot right at the target. If you do short strafes, then when you counter-strafe, the character will instantly stop. If the model runs in one direction for a long time, then a small inertia will still remain, although the counter-straight will significantly reduce it.
How to use in game
There are several ways to use the strafe and counter-strafe mechanics in CS:GO.
Strafe for a lunge. The classic way to counter-strafe. The player jumps out from behind cover, while at the right time pressing the run button in the opposite direction. The model stops, and the shooting immediately becomes accurate. This is the most popular way to strafe - you've probably used it without knowing much about the mechanics.
Strafe with a squat. It is performed in the same sequence as a regular counter-strafe, but with the addition of a squat. This method allows the player not only to instantly reload the scope for shooting, but also to shrink the model, making it harder to hit. The disadvantage of such a strafe is that when sitting down, the player loses mobility, so it will be more difficult for him to leave the battlefield.
Shoulder strafe. A very cautious form of strafe in which the player quickly and carefully peeks around the corner to get information about the location of opponents. Also, this technique is often used against snipers to breed them for a shot.
The main use of strafes is one - they are used to dodge enemy shots and, in principle, make it difficult for enemies to aim. Although some types of strafe are also used to obtain information and even reprisals against opponents.
The strafe technique in CS:GO seems complicated in theory, but in fact it is quite simple to learn. As soon as you work on your movements and get a feel for how the inertia and stopping of the model works, then it will be much more convenient for you to play CS:GO. And after a little work on counter-strafes and pre-fires, you will start not just moving mindlessly around the map, but doing it thoughtfully and many times more clearly.
Yuriy Sheremet – Expert in mobile gaming and esports among shooters and MOBA games.
At EGamersWorld, Yuriy, as in 2020 when he joined the portal, works with content, albeit with adjustments to his area of responsibility.