With the new weapon loadout system in CS2, players have the option to use both the M4A4 and M4A1-S during a game. So what's everyone using?
What are we seeing?
- The M4A1-S is the more preferred M4 at every skill rating
- The M4A1-S is favored the most at the pro level
- No correlation between higher M4A1-S usage and skill rating
- The M4A1-S has become more popular in CS2 compared to CS:GO
Why is there an increased shift to the M4A1-S in CS2?
Although the characteristics of both guns haven't changed moving from CS:GO to CS2, other gameplay elements have.
The MR15 to MR12 change is likely the biggest reason for the increase. Now that each round matters more, using the cheaper M4A1-S is easier on the economy. Over the course of a half, the extra cash could mean more buy-rounds or additional grenades.
A smaller secondary reason is the ability to shoot out gaps in the smoke, which wasn't possible in CS:GO. Since the M4A1-S doesn't have tracers, players can use this mechanic more safely than with the M4A4.
Other considerations
- Map - Depending on the map, the usage split might be different. The layout of the map could dictate which M4 is more effective.
- Players who only use 1 M4 - If we separate players who use only one M4 or the other, we may arrive at a different conclusion on the usage split.
- Effectiveness - It's possible that the kill-death ratio using the M4A4 is higher than the M4A1-S. Comparing this may tell us which gun is actually more effective.
We haven't explored these angles yet, but digging into these points may help paint a clearer picture around the M4A1-S/M4A4 split.
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