Eco
Teams play an eco when they cannot afford good weapons. Instead of buying cheap gear that will probably lose anyway, they accept a likely loss, collect the loss bonus and come back stronger next round.
Example: a team loses the pistol round and has about $1,900 each. It plays round 2 with default pistols, then buys rifles in round 3.
An eco is not giving up. Players often stack together and try to win a fight or two to pick up enemy weapons. Winning an eco round is a big swing, because the richer team loses its expensive guns.
The opposite choice is a force buy. The rich team playing against an eco is in an anti-eco round.
Learn more in CS2 Economy Explained.
Related guides
CS2 Economy Explained: Money, Loss Bonus and Buy RoundsHow money works in CS2: $800 to start each half, $3,250 for a round win, a loss bonus from $1,400 to $3,400, kill rewards by weapon and the $16,000 cap.
Force buyA force buy in CS2 means spending all your money on whatever you can afford instead of saving. When teams force, why it is risky and how it can pay off.
Anti-ecoAn anti-eco is a round where a well-equipped CS2 team plays against an opponent on an eco. Why the rich team should win and why losing one hurts so much.
Reviewed by the R1GG team