Best Pistol in CS2: Full Guide

Here’s a simple and honest answer: the best pistol in CS2 is the one that you get the most kills with. Like almost everything in Counter-Strike, it largely depends on your individual preferences and playstyle.

Still, some pistols have a clear edge over the others, either because of their power, accuracy, or another quality altogether, so finding some objective top picks is definitely possible. We won’t keep you waiting: we’ll start with the top four best pistols in CS2—one terrorist-exclusive, one CT pistol, and two available to both sides. But we’ll discuss the others at the end, too, just to give you the full picture. Number 1 shouldn’t come as a surprise…

1. Desert Eagle

Known for its high damage and accuracy, the Desert Eagle is capable of killing with a single headshot, even against armored opponents. Its high armor penetration makes it a powerful choice available to both Ts and CTs, albeit with a small magazine and slow rate of fire.

Damage	53	Clip size	7
Armor penetration	93.20%	Max ammo reserve	35
Accurate range	24.6 m	Reload time	2.2 s
Rate of fire	267 RPM	Price	$700

In many ways, the Desert Eagle is the best pistol in CS2. An accurate headshot will kill an opponent even through a helmet; alternatively, 2–3 body shots are usually enough to take down anyone in your path. And data doesn’t lie: looking at the stats, it objectively has the best balance between damage, armor penetration, and magazine capacity.

In terms of pure damage, only the R8 Revolver offers higher damage per shot, but that’s with a much, much lower fire rate, and with several other drawbacks (like the severely limited ammo). On top of all that, the Desert Eagle has a better accuracy than most pistols, putting it firmly in the top spot.

That said, the Deagle is not without its cons: it has a relatively slow fire rate, for instance, although that may be just as well, since the spray pattern for this gun is all over the place. Getting consistent results with the Deagle requires careful aiming, especially with the relatively small mag. It will also slow you down considerably—it’s one of the heaviest pistols in the game, second only to the R8. And it’s definitely not for those looking to play it sneaky: it’s super-loud and sure to give your position away in an instant.

All of the above means that the Deagle can be incredibly powerful… in the right hands. To make the most of what the Desert Eagle can do, you need to be confident of your skills, with a rapid and highly accurate aim. All in all, it’s the best pistol in CS2 for experienced players, well-worth its high price.

Check out the best Desert Eagle skins in CS2

2. Tec-9

The T-exclusive Tec-9 is a rapid-fire, semi-automatic pistol. It has a high rate of fire and a large magazine, and it’s most effective at close range. The Tec-9 is especially useful in eco rounds and force buys, where its firepower and speed can overwhelm opponents.

Damage	33	Clip size	18
Armor penetration	90.2%	Max ammo reserve	90
Accurate range	13 m	Reload time	2.5 s
Rate of fire	500 RPM	Price	$500

The Tec-9 is a versatile pistol, suitable for a range of playstyles and ability levels. The high rate of fire makes it a just-about-viable choice for rushing and run-and-gun tactics, although it’s worth noting that its crazy recoil makes it hard to handle past the first couple of shots, especially at mid- to long-range distances. At the same time, the high armor penetration means that at close range, it can one-shot armored opponents, provided you score a headshot. Used in short bursts, it can do some serious damage.

Check out the best Tec-9 skins in CS2

3. P250

The P250 is the best cost-effective choice, with a good balance between firepower and affordability. It performs well in close-range combat due to its quick firing rate and manageable recoil—up close, it can deal significant damage, and is capable of one-shot headshots against unarmored opponents.

Damage	38	Clip size	13
Armor penetration	64%	Max ammo reserve	26
Accurate range	14 m	Reload time	2.2 s
Rate of fire	400 RPM	Price	$300

The P250 has decent damage for a pistol, and at 400 rounds per minute with 64% armor penetration, it’s another versatile option. Add the good clip size and manageable recoil to the mix, and you end up with a very balanced pistol that’ll do okay in most situations. Its main drawback is that it’s not very accurate at longer ranges. And since it’s kind-of-good at everything, it’s not excellent at anything in particular—it’s hard to specialize in playing with the P250, like you could with a Deagle.

Although it no longer one-shots helmeted opponents, as was the case in earlier versions of the game, the P250 can get you an instant headshot kill on an unarmored target. It’s also relatively cheap, which makes it a good choice for upgrading the spawn pistols on a budget.

Check out the best P250 skins in CS2

4. USP-S

The default suppressed CT pistol excels in medium-range engagements and is particularly effective for headshots. The silencer gives an obvious advantage to players who prefer a stealthy approach, and the recoil is very manageable.

Damage	35	Clip size	12
Armor penetration	50.5%	Max ammo reserve	24
Accurate range	22 m	Reload time	2.2 s
Rate of fire	352 RPM	Price	$200

The USP-S is perfect for playing it sneaky, and not just because of the silencer. It’s highly accurate even at medium ranges, and it can kill an unarmored target with a single headshot. So, if you’re into (and good at) being stealthy, tactical gameplay in CS2, the USP-S can help you take out opponents unnoticed with a single, well-placed shot, not necessarily at a very close range.

The USP-S also has the most manageable recoil of all pistols in the game: its spray pattern goes straight up, with no sway, making recoil compensation a simple affair. That said, the low clip capacity and ammo reserve requires careful shot management (especially in comparison to the other CT default, the P2000), so you’ll rarely take several shots in a series, especially if you’re trying to be sneaky.

Check out the best USP-S skins in CS2

Other Pistols in CS2

So, those were our top picks for the title of the best pistol in CS2! Now, here are the other pistols in the game, just to give you the broader picture. Every pistol could turn out to be the best for you, after all!

5. Glock-18

glock-18-gamma-doppler cs2 skin — Glock-18 | Gamma Doppler

The Terrorist starting pistol is, fittingly enough, best for aggressive playstyles. It’s the only pistol in CS2 with burst-fire mode, which is effective at very close ranges. The Glock has a relatively high rate of fire and enough damage output for one-shot headshot kills against unarmored opponents. Although its damage and accuracy are low, it’s a viable choice for close-quarters combat and when mobility is key.

Damage	30	Clip size	20
Armor penetration	47%	Max ammo reserve	120
Accurate range	20.1 m (semi-auto) 7.4 m (burst)	Reload time	2.3 s
Rate of fire	400 RPM (semi-auto) 1200 (burst)	Price	$200

Check out the best Glock-18 skins in CS2

6. Dual Berettas

The Dual Berettas offer a high rate of fire with a large magazine size of 30 bullets, but at the cost of damage per shot and accuracy. They may be a good choice for players who are still working on their aim—they’re much better for rushing than for precision shots. Despite the Dualies’ drawbacks, their rapid fire rate and dual-wielding capability provide a significant volume of fire.

Damage	38	Clip size	30
Armor penetration	57.5%	Max ammo reserve	120
Accurate range	16.93 m	Reload time	3.77 s
Rate of fire	500 RPM	Price	$300

Check out the best Dual Berettas skins in CS2

7. Five-SeveN

The CT-exclusive Five-SeveN features very high armor penetration and a large magazine size of 20 bullets. It is effective in mid-range combat and excels at dealing damage to armored opponents. However, its lower accuracy at long range and higher price make it a more situational choice that can rarely be afforded.

Damage	31	Clip size	20
Armor penetration	91.15%	Max ammo reserve	100
Accurate range	14 m	Reload time	2.2 s
Rate of fire	400 RPM	Price	$500

Check out the best Five-SeveN skins in CS2

8. CZ75-Auto

cz75-auto-emerald cs2 skin — CZ75-Auto | Emerald

The CZ75-Auto stands out with its automatic fire mode, delivering a high rate of fire and substantial damage per second. It’s incredibly effective for close-range surprise attacks but suffers from several major drawbacks, like the small magazine size, challenging recoil control, long reload time, and poor long-range accuracy. This makes it a specialized tool, useful in specific scenarios where rapid fire is crucial.

Damage	31	Clip size	12
Armor penetration	77.7%	Max ammo reserve	12
Accurate range	11.4 m	Reload time	2.8 s
Rate of fire	600 RPM	Price	$500

9. P2000

The P2000 is the other default CT pistol, offering high accuracy and a slightly larger magazine size (13 bullets) with more reserve ammo compared to the USP-S. It lacks a silencer but provides slightly more reliability in sustained firefights, making it a solid choice for medium-range engagements.

Damage	35	Clip size	13
Armor penetration	50.5%	Max ammo reserve	52
Accurate range	22 m	Reload time	2.2 s
Rate of fire	352 RPM	Price	$200

Check out the best P2000 skins in CS2

10. R8 Revolver

R8 Revolver | Fade CS2 skin — R8 Revolver | Fade

The R8 Revolver delivers very high damage per shot and armor penetration, making it capable of killing with a single body shot at close range. However, its extremely slow fire rate, difficult handling, slow movement speed, and small magazine size severely limit its versatility, making it a rare sight in the game. You really have to make every shot count with this one, especially considering that it costs $600.

Damage	86	Clip size	8
Armor penetration	93.2%	Max ammo reserve	8
Accurate range	18.9 m	Reload time	2.3 s
Rate of fire	85 RPM	Price	$600

Best Pistol in CS2: Stats Comparison

In case you haven’t seen enough tables today, let’s wrap things up with a final stats comparison, so you can see at a glance how the pistols compare to each other in various aspects.

Pistol	Damage	Fire rate (RPM)	Armor penetration	Accurate range	Clip/Reserve	Price
Desert Eagle	53	267	93.2%	24.6 m	7/35	$700
Tec-9	33	500	90.2%	13 m	18/90	$500
P250	38	400	64%	14 m	13/26	$300
USP-S	35	352	50.5%	22 m	12/24	$200
Glock-18	30	400 (semi-auto) 1200 (burst)	47%	20.1 m (semi-auto) 7.4 m (burst)	20/120	$200
Dual Berettas	38	500	57.5%	16.93 m	30/120	$300
Five-SeveN	31	400	91.15%	14 m	20/100	$500
CZ75-Auto	31	600	77.7%	11.4 m	12/12	$500
P2000	35	352	50.5%	22 m	13/52	$200
R8 Revolver	86	85	93.2%	18.9 m	8/8	$600

As you can see, most pistols in CS2 have a specific strength or two, balanced out by weaknesses in other areas. When choosing a pistol, remember to also consider the round you’re in. For instance, if you’re doing an anti-eco, you don’t necessarily need a weapon with high armor penetration. (Read more about rounds in our CS2 economy guide.)

Your other weapon choices are also important, as your sidearm should compliment the rest of your loadout. For example, if your primary weapon is a shotgun, which is a short-range weapon, it makes sense to choose a longer-range pistol like the Deagle to be better prepared for various scenarios.

So, that’s it for your guide! Do you agree with our top picks? What’s the best pistol in CS2 for you? Let us know on our socials, and while you’re here, open some cases to win new skins for your favorite pistol. Have fun on Key-Drop and see you in the next post!