The CS2 Armory Pass was added to Counter-Strike Oct. 2, 2024, and it provides access to more than 100 new cosmetic items, including gun skins, charms, stickers, and cases. But there’s a catch: you can’t spend money to unlock rewards. Instead, you’ll need to invest time and effort to earn them through regular play.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Armory Pass, including how it works, the best ways to earn Armory Credits, and a detailed look at available rewards.
CS2 Armory Pass
What Is The CS2 Armory Pass?
The Armory Pass resembles a battle pass you may be familiar with from other games like Fortnite and Dota 2, but it focuses heavily on cosmetics. It’s available for $15.99 on Steam (via the app or web) exclusively for accounts with Prime Status. Once activated, players must join matches on official servers to gain XP, which can then be converted into Armory Credits.
Armory Credits (sometimes called “stars”) can then be redeemed for an assortment of cosmetic items listed on the Armory Pass store page. It’s important to mention that there’s no guarantee that CS2 players will get a specific item, as the pass uses a randomized rewards system.
How Do You Earn Armory Credits In CS2?
Armory Credits can only be earned via XP by playing Prime Status matches in CS2 and are separate from the weekly profile XP. Importantly, players won’t earn Armory Credits if they leave the game early or if they (or a member of their party) cause it to be canceled due to irregular gameplay.
At any given time, you can earn a maximum of 40 Armory Credits per Armory Pass. Each pass will have 1 star but you’ll need to gain the remaining 39 stars by playing CS2 matches. Armory Pass progress is otherwise constant, meaning you’ll earn the same number of stars each time you play.
Note: You cannot trade or sell Armory Passes and Armory Credits on the Steam Community market. The only way to earn Armory Credits is by earning XP with an active Armory Pass in CS2.
How Does The Armory Pass Work In CS2?
The CS2 Armory Pass is quite different from previous loot-based reward systems. This is because there’s no mission-based progression. You also can’t just pay money for a chance to unlock new items. Instead, the Armory Pass in CS2 requires actual gameplay for progression.
Specifically, CS2 players are incentivized to actively engage with the game to unlock the rewards. However, you can speed up the process by activating up to five passes simultaneously, which means you can earn XP across all of them as you play (more on that later).
Does The Armory Pass Expire?
No, the Armory Pass does not expire, so you’ll have ample time to roll as many CS2 weapon skins as you like. Best of all, the Armory Pass currently features more than 100 different CS2 weapon skins, stickers, and gun charms, all of which are non-tradeable and non-marketable.
The only exception is Limited Edition skins, which are available only for the duration shown on the tile in the Armory. For example, the Heat Treated Deagle is available until Jan. 14, 2025. While it’s not yet clear, Limited Edition skins probably won’t return to the Armory Pass, giving them huge potential investment value!
What Rewards Are Available In The Armory Pass?
The Armory Pass features three weapon collections, a new case, two sticker collections, two charm sets, and a Limited Edition item. Each requires a different amount of stars to roll for a random reward. So, if you’re aiming for a specific item, you’ll need to play plenty of games to get enough stars for multiple attempts.
Here’s a breakdown of the Armory Pass offerings in CS2:
- Gun Charms (3 credits)
- Missing Link Charms
- Small Arms Charms
- Weapon Collections (4 credits)
- Overpass 2024 Collection
- Graphic Collection
- Sport and Field Collection
- Stickers (1 credit)
- Elemental Craft Stickers
- Character Craft Stickers
- Cases (2 credits, requires that you buy a key to open it)
- The Gallery Case
- Limited Edition Item (25 credits)
- Heat Treated Desert Eagle
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Armory Credits In CS2?
The best way to rack up Armory Credits quickly in CS2 is through the Deathmatch game mode. It lets you earn XP rapidly because you can constantly respawn and farm points without waiting between rounds. You’ll earn stars equal to your score divided by 5.
To put this into perspective, if you play Deathmatch for around 30 minutes, you can expect to accumulate around 560 XP. This is significantly more than what you’d earn in a Premier or Competitive match, which takes a similar amount of time but only rewards around 360 XP.
The second-best option is to play Casual Mode. It offers a 4x multiplier on points, making it a great way to quickly earn Armory Credits for your Armory Pass.
XP Earned Per Game Mode
You can see a complete breakdown of the XP you’ll gain in the different CS2 game modes below.
- Casual Matches: You’ll earn credits equal to the number of points multiplied by 4.
- Competitive Matches: You’ll earn credits equal to the rounds won multiplied by 30.
- Premier Matches: You’ll earn credits equal to the rounds won multiplied by 30.
- Wingman: You’ll earn credits equal to the number of rounds won multiplied by 15.
- Arms Race: You’ll earn credits equal to the match points earned.
- Deathmatch: You’ll earn credits equal to your score divided by 5.
You can also intentionally end rounds quickly by using Molotovs or grenades to eliminate yourself and your teammates. Some CS2 players use this troll tactic to end games faster and rack up Armory Credits in record time. However, it could result in penalties as it disrupts the game for others.
Is The Armory Pass Worth Buying?
Yes, we certainly think so. The Armory Pass could be a good investment in the long run, especially if you want to sell Limited-Edition items like the Heat Treated Deagle. With the pass costing about $16, there’s potential to make your money back by selling these in-game items on the marketplace once the trade ban is lifted.
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