In Valve’s latest tactical first-person shooter, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), players take on several roles, from the AWPer using the Big Green to lurkers and support. There’s one role that isn’t necessarily dictated by playstyle or weaponry. The in-game leader (IGL) in CS2 is unique because it requires a confident personality and a unique skill set in each round of play.
Join us as we explain what it takes to become a great IGL in CS2 and provide tips and tricks for assuming that leadership role. We’ll close it out with our picks for the best IGLs in the series’ history, which fans may try to emulate on the server.
Remember to check out our CS2 betting odds on Thunderpick or have a look at our CS2 Betting Guide!
CS2 IGL Guide
What Is An IGL In Counter-Strike?
In CS2 esports, the IGL is a team’s leader or captain. The IGL decides which tactics their squad will use during each round of play. In professional CS teams, this player works closely with the coach to develop tactics and discuss team behaviors on each competitive map.
IGLs often face difficult decisions, such as when to do an eco round, which bomb site to attack on the T side, or which area to defend with more players on the CT side. When a loss occurs, IGLs take the brunt of the responsibility on themselves. This high-pressure role requires the player to learn specific skills that no one else on the team even needs to worry about.
How To Be A Good IGL In Counter-Strike
If you want to lead your team to victory on the server, we have five crucial tips to help future IGLs thrive.
Nailing The Basics
The first hurdle prospective IGLs must overcome is studying the basics, including callouts of each CS2 Active Duty map. Callouts are one-word indications of locations on maps; for example, the iconic Banana on Inferno. Knowing the callouts by heart will help you establish fast and clear communication with your team. Once you memorize all of the callouts, it’s time to study tactics.
Study & Develop Tactics
A good IGL must have several tactics for each Active Duty map, both on the Terrorist and Counter-Terrorist sides. On the Terrorist side, tactics that aim to breach a bombsite are called “executes.”
The best IGLs have at least two or three “execute” strategies for each Bomb Site on every map. When you have a handle on basic tactics for each map, we recommend developing some “pocket tactics” used sparingly to surprise your opponents and the enemy IGL.
Know Thy Enemy
When you know which teams you are going up against in an event, researching your enemy can make all the difference. For example, knowing enemy players’ favorite positions and communicating these positions with your team can lead to some nice double HE Grenade kills.
A great example of a pro IGL who always seems to know his enemy’s tactics is Finnish player Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen, of Natus Vincere. He continues to impress match after match with his knowledge of enemy behavior and tactics. Aleksib doesn’t have a crystal ball, by the way—it’s all about the research!
Stay Calm Under Pressure
As a CS2 IGL, you are the rock of the team, the anchor that keeps players grounded when the team is ahead and calm when you are behind. You may lead your team to a near-certain defeat if you’re overly excited about playing well or if you have a defeatist attitude when behind.
IGLs must stay calm under pressure, especially during live rounds. It is, however, one of the most challenging tips to follow. The reward is that your calmness can resonate with your teammates, giving them the best chance of success.
Winning Hearts & Minds
One of the differences between a great IGL and one of the best in the world is their ability to get the crowd and fans behind their team. A great example to follow is four-time Major winner Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander, whose personality and energy on LAN bring the crowd to life. A cheering crowd invigorates teammates and lifts their spirits if they are down a few rounds, and it can set your team up for a comeback.
The 5 Best IGLs In Counter-Strike History
Below are our picks for the five best IGLs in the history of competitive CS. Emulating these players, their mannerisms, and tactics may serve prospective IGLs well.
gla1ve
Many consider Danish legend Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander as the greatest IGL in the history of CS esports. Leading his team in what the community called the “Astralis era” in 2018 and 2019, gla1ve earned a record-breaking four CS Major Championship trophies.
pronax
There’s no doubt that Swedish IGL Markus “pronax” Wallsten was instrumental to the success of Fnatic’s glory days, leading his team to three CS Major Championships, including ESL One Katowice 2015, ESL One Cologne 2015 and DreamHack Winter 2013. Fnatic was unstoppable in 2015, winning six S-Tier events, partly due to pronax’s incredible leadership.
karrigan
Widely considered one of the best IGLs in the game’s history, Danish star Finn “karrigan” Andersen has dozens of trophies in his cabinet. He has led rosters such as Astralis, TSM, MOUZ, and FaZe Clan to victory.
At 32, karrigan became the first IGL to lead an international roster to a CS Major Championship win at PGL Major Antwerp 2022. That makes him the oldest player ever to win a CS Major Championship, and he shows no signs of slowing down with FaZe Clan.
Zeus
You can’t discuss the best IGLs in CS history without mentioning the legendary Ukrainian player Danylo “Zeus” Teslenko. Primarily with Na’Vi and Gambit, Zeus won more than 60 tournaments in CS and CS:GO in his career, which spanned 17 years (2002 to 2019). Zeus was an IGL that players would follow without question and made the tough decisions look easy.
FalleN
We still remember the crowd chanting Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo’s name at MLG Columbus 2016 when the Brazilian star led his team (Luminosity) to victory. He repeated the process months later, winning ESL One Cologne 2016 under the SK banner. FalleN stands out because he’s a fantastic IGL and one of the best AWPers of all time, an exceedingly rare combination.
Please note: The best IGLs in CS history are always the subject of a heated debate. Our list above reflects historical data alongside a healthy dose of the author’s opinion.
Lead Your Team To Victory!
Becoming an IGL in CS2 may be the most challenging role to take on, but it may also be the most rewarding for the right type of player. It requires not just incredible game skill, but also the type of confidence to lead a team without letting your emotions get in the way. Sure, you can feel the hype and play into it a bit, but not to the point you lose your cool—or get too cocky!
Beyond that, you also have to commit to a lot of studying, which definitely isn’t for everyone. But if you’re feeling up to it and want to lead your team to success, it may be time to give the IGL role a shot.
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