We go through some handy tips to help master CS:GO’s lurking role.
One of the things that every CS:GO player needs to understand is that there are different kinds of in-game roles. Even though many people don’t follow those roles in the lower rating brackets, professionals always keep them in mind.
There is no arguing that the AWPer is one of the most popular and exciting roles in the game because you have to use one of the most potent weapons in the game. However, not everyone can become a top-rated AWP player because it requires a specific set of skills. Hence, some people opt for a different role, such as Lurking.
Unlike all other roles requiring players to coordinate their movement with the team, Lurkers are different. Their job is to make sure they kill as many opponents as possible by taking advantage of their bad decisions.
Becoming a good Lurker is never easy and it usually takes a lot of time. Fortunately, this guide should speed up this process and show you all of the things you need to know.
The Basics
Becoming a good Lurker is easier said than done, and it will require you to play a lot. Generally speaking, your role is to learn more about the enemy’s setup and use it to your advantage. In other words, most Lurkers become more successful after the first couple of rounds.
The fact that you know the opposite team’s rotations and how they play allows you to exploit their weaknesses. However, this usually comes at a cost because most people who do that play too aggressively. While it is true that playing aggressively has its benefits, there are some cases where it is better to take a step back and be careful.
Knowing when to be aggressive will make a huge difference and it is one of the few things that differentiate good and bad lurkers. This will depend on your opponents, the map you’re playing on, and whether you’re winning the given game.
The lurker’s role as CT and T
One of the things that people might be interested in is whether being a lurker is worth it as a Counter-Terrorist. The short answer is no, there is no need to take this role when you are on the CT side. Although there might be some cases where it might work, generally speaking, this will put your team at a disadvantage because you won’t be able to help them.
In other words, if you are interested in this in-game position, you should use it when you are on the T side. Study your opponents’ movement and rotation around the map and use it to your advantage to get kills. Don’t forget that your primary job is to make sure none of the CTs will push and kill your teammates.
Keep track of all the important info
One of the most important things you need to do if you want to become better at lurking is to keep track of every important piece of information. Once you learn how to read the game, you can use everything to your advantage and surprise your opponents.
The fact that you can predict their movement and what will happen in the next couple of seconds allows you to play more aggressively. There is nothing worse for an enemy team when they have to face a lurker who makes them feel uncomfortable. Keep that in mind, and always try to use it to your advantage.
Speaking of getting more information about different things, you have to keep track of the enemy’s utility items and what they’ve used. Since you are usually not with your team, you are the only player in the game from the T side who has access to this info. Once you share it with your teammates, they can use it to their advantage.
Don’t forget that many professional players will try to fake their rotations and utility usage. Doing this gives the “lurker” false information, which already gives them an advantage if the team decides to push the given site.
Communicate with teammates as much as possible
Regardless if you are a lurker, AWPer, or something else, having good communication with your team will help you a lot. If you know what you’re doing, your team should have a specific tactic you need to follow. Needless to say, you need to take it into account when you decide to start “hunting” for your opponents.
Speaking of the devil, Lurking too much is also not a good idea, especially versus people who are good. Once will be able to kill a few enemies once or twice, but once they learn you are in this role, they will be more cautious. What’s more, they can use this to their advantage and pressure the other members of your team.
To sum up, you need to be ready to adapt and switch your role when required. For example, you may become the entry fragger or even the team’s AWPer. Once a few rounds pass, you can try to switch to your original role and surprise your opponents.
Watch how the pros do it
Similar to Dota 2 and other big esports titles, becoming good at CS: GO is not easy. In fact, it will take thousands of hours until you learn everything you need to know to be successful. Regardless of the position that you’re playing at, there are certain things that you can only understand once you start playing.
Even though you should play as much as possible, there is one thing that can help you become a better player – watching replays. We can’t stress enough how important it is to watch some of the best players in action. This gives you access to unique tips & tricks that will usually take years to learn.
Since we’re on the topic of lurking, there are all sorts of players you can watch. Besides people like GeT_RiGHt, you can also keep an eye on players like flusha. These two are one of the best lurkers in the game and know the ins and outs of this position.
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