Eco, Force Buy, Half Buy and Full Buy in CS2
The four buy types
| Buy | What players get | Rough cost per player | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco | pistol, maybe light armor | $0 to $1,000 | not enough money for a real buy |
| Half buy | SMGs or budget rifles, armor, few grenades | $2,000 to $3,500 | want a chance now and a full buy next round |
| Force buy | whatever all the money buys | everything in the bank | round too important to give up |
| Full buy | rifle or AWP, armor with helmet, full grenades, kit | $4,000 to $5,500 | team has enough money |
The costs are rough ranges, not fixed prices. Weapon prices are set by Valve and change with updates.
Eco: save now, buy next round
On an eco, the team spends little or nothing. It will probably lose, but it collects the loss bonus and can afford a full buy next round. Players usually play close together and look for a lucky fight that lets them pick up an enemy rifle.
Half buy: a real chance on a budget
A half buy is a middle way: SMGs or cheaper rifles with armor. SMG kills pay $600 instead of $300, so a half buy that wins a few fights also earns money. The team keeps enough cash to full buy next round even if it loses.
Force buy: all in
A force buy spends everything. It is common right after a lost pistol round or when a team is one round from losing the map. If it works, the economy swings; if it fails, the team is broke for the next round as well.
Full buy: the normal round
When both teams can afford it, everyone buys a rifle (or an AWP), armor with a helmet, a full set of grenades and, on CT side, a defuse kit. Most rounds in a close pro match are full buy against full buy.
When a full-buy team plays against a team on an eco, it is an anti-eco round.
How teams decide
The usual reasoning, simplified:
- Can we full buy? If yes, buy.
- If not, will we be able to full buy next round if we save? If yes, eco.
- Is this round too important to give up? If yes, force.
- Otherwise, half buy if the money allows, or eco.
Teams make this decision together, so all five players have good guns in the same rounds. Players with spare money often buy a weapon for a teammate, which is called a drop.
How to spot the buy as a viewer
- Scoreboard money before the round shows who is rich and who is poor.
- Weapons in the buy phase: pistols only means eco, SMGs mean a half or force buy, rifles mean a full buy.
- The broadcast often shows the total team equipment value next to the score. A big gap almost always means one team is saving.
The full money rules (round rewards, loss bonus and kill rewards) are in CS2 Economy Explained.
FAQ
What is an eco round in CS2?
A round where a team buys little or nothing to save money, so it can afford rifles and armor in the next round.
What is a force buy?
Spending all your money on whatever you can afford, even though it is not enough for a proper full buy. It gives a chance to win now but leaves no money if you lose.
How much does a full buy cost in CS2?
Roughly $4,000 to $5,500 per player for a rifle, armor with helmet, grenades and, on CT side, a defuse kit. An AWP buy costs more.
What is a half buy?
A cheaper buy, usually SMGs or budget rifles with armor, that tries to win the round while keeping enough money for a full buy next round.
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.
Pistol Round in CS2: Why the First Round Matters So MuchEach CS2 half starts with a pistol round: $800 each, pistols and light gear only. Winning it often decides the next two or three rounds. Here is why.
CS2 Rules Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Competitive Counter-StrikeHow competitive CS2 works: two teams of five, T vs CT, 13 rounds to win a map, the bomb, the economy and how pro matches are played as BO1 or BO3.
EcoAn eco round is when a CS2 team spends little or nothing to save money for a full buy next round. What it means, when teams do it and why it works.
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.
Sources
Reviewed by the R1GG team