CS2 Recoil Patterns

Master weapon recoil and spray control

AK-47

Rifle
Difficulty
Hard

Recoil Pattern

Moderate upward climb with slight rightward drift. Requires counter-strafing and crosshair placement.

Spray Tips

First 5 shots are predictable, then becomes erratic. Use burst fire or single fire.

M4A4

Rifle
Difficulty
Easy

Recoil Pattern

Very predictable with consistent upward pattern. Slight left-to-right movement.

Spray Tips

Easy to control. Can spray full magazine with practice. Mirror AK-47 for opposite spray.

M4A1-S

Rifle
Difficulty
Easy

Recoil Pattern

Even more controlled than M4A4. Very vertical with minimal horizontal deviation.

Spray Tips

Best precision weapon. Pull down consistently for spray control.

Galil AR

Rifle
Difficulty
Medium

Recoil Pattern

Moderate recoil with slight upward pull and right drift.

Spray Tips

Pull down and left for control. Good eco weapon.

Famas

Rifle
Difficulty
Medium

Recoil Pattern

Tight spray pattern but requires perfect counter-strafing.

Spray Tips

Best used in semi-auto or short bursts. Very mobile weapon.

AWP Dragon Lore

Sniper
Difficulty
Medium

Recoil Pattern

No spray pattern - one shot, one kill. High recoil between shots.

Spray Tips

Pre-aim and relocate. Crosshair placement is everything.

UMP-45

SMG
Difficulty
Easy

Recoil Pattern

Moderate upward recoil with slight rightward drift.

Spray Tips

Good at close range. Vertical pull for spray control.

MP9

SMG
Difficulty
Easy

Recoil Pattern

Very manageable, mostly vertical with minimal spread.

Spray Tips

Fast fire rate makes it predictable. Good for eco rounds.

Deagle

Pistol
Difficulty
Hard

Recoil Pattern

Extremely high recoil. Requires spacing between shots.

Spray Tips

Single fire only. Tap fire with crosshair placement.

P250

Pistol
Difficulty
Medium

Recoil Pattern

Moderate recoil. Decent accuracy for a pistol.

Spray Tips

Eco weapon. Use in bursts at medium range.

Recoil Control Techniques

Tap Firing

Single shot then release. Most accurate method. Used for long-range engagements.

Burst Firing

3-4 shots in quick succession. Balance between fire rate and accuracy. Ideal for medium range.

Spray Control

Hold down fire and counter the recoil pattern. Requires practice and muscle memory. Best at close range.

Counter-Strafing

Press opposite movement key to stop instantly while maintaining accuracy. Essential for advanced play.

Practice Tips

  • Use aim maps in community servers to practice spray control without pressure
  • Record demos and review your spray patterns to identify inconsistencies
  • Practice with one weapon at a time to build muscle memory
  • Start with burst firing before attempting full spray control
  • Focus on crosshair placement first, spray control second
  • Play death match to get comfortable with recoil in real matches
  • Most importantly: counter-strafe to stabilize before spraying

Frequently Asked Questions

What is recoil in CS2?

Recoil is the upward/downward movement of your crosshair when firing a weapon. Different weapons have different recoil patterns that must be learned and controlled.

How do I control spray recoil?

Spray control involves pulling your mouse in the opposite direction of the recoil pattern. Practice in aim maps to develop muscle memory.

What is counter-strafing?

Counter-strafing is pressing the opposite movement key while moving to instantly stop. Combined with recoil control, it's essential for accurate spraying.

Is spray control necessary?

For professional play, yes. For casual play, burst firing and tapping are often more effective than trying to control full sprays.

Related Tools