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CS2 has three different systems players often call a “rank”: Premier’s numeric CS Rating, a separate Competitive Skill Group for each map, and an account-wide Profile Rank earned with XP. Which one applies depends on the mode and screen you mean. This guide explains all three and dates season-specific rules: the 2025 details below are historical, while the latest season information here is current through Valve’s July 8, 2026 Season Five update.
Which CS2 rank do you mean?
Valve separates rank into three displays. They differ by mode, scope, and how you earn progression.
| System | Where it applies | What it shows | How it is earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS Rating | Premier | A numeric rating for Premier matchmaking | Calibrated through Premier matchmaking |
| Competitive Skill Group | Competitive, separately for each map | A named group from Silver I to Global Elite | Win the required number of Competitive matches on that map |
| Profile Rank | Account progression | An XP-based level, up to Rank 40 | Earn match XP after matches in Casual and Competitive |
As Valve / Steam Support puts it, “Your CS rating is calibrated and assigned through Premier matchmaking only.” A Premier rating is not a Competitive Skill Group, and neither is the same as Profile Rank. Valve / Steam Support FAQ
All CS2 Competitive ranks, from Silver I to Global Elite
Competitive Skill Groups are assigned independently for each map, so you can have different groups on different maps. Valve describes them as predictions of a player’s skill, analogous to a chess Elo rating. The 18 groups, in ascending order, are:
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- Silver I
- Silver II
- Silver III
- Silver IV
- Silver Elite
- Silver Elite Master
- Gold Nova I
- Gold Nova II
- Gold Nova III
- Gold Nova Master
- Master Guardian I
- Master Guardian II
- Master Guardian Elite
- Distinguished Master Guardian
- Legendary Eagle
- Legendary Eagle Master
- Supreme Master First Class
- Global Elite
How a map gets its Competitive group
Win the number of Competitive matches shown for that map to earn its group. This is a per-map process rather than one placement that applies across the whole Competitive mode.
Why a Competitive group may disappear
Valve’s FAQ says a Competitive Skill Group can disappear after an extended break. Winning a Competitive match prompts reassessment. In Season Four, which began on Jan. 21, 2026, Valve adjusted the underlying per-map Competitive matchmaking rank values and expired existing map Skill Groups; they were displayed again after players obtained the required wins. Valve’s Season Four announcement
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How CS2 Premier CS Rating works
CS Rating is numeric and belongs to Premier. Valve says it is calibrated through Premier matchmaking, but its official FAQ and announcements do not publish a complete rating formula or a dependable public schedule of points gained or lost per match. Treat claims about fixed win/loss changes or exact hidden factors as unverified; there is no official universal calibration-match count established here.
A 2025 season transition is not a permanent rule
On Jan. 28, 2025, when Season Two began, Valve said players’ ratings were recalibrated based on Season One performance and that players had to win 10 matches to re-establish a rating. That is a specific Season One-to-Season Two rule, not evidence that every later season uses the same number of wins. Valve’s Season Two announcement
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Profile Rank and Service Medals
Profile Rank is account progression, not a matchmaking rating. It rises through match XP earned after matches in Casual and Competitive and tops out at Rank 40. Earning a Service Medal resets Profile Rank to Rank 1; it does not change a Competitive Skill Group or Prime eligibility. Valve / Steam Support FAQ
What changed after 2025?
The 2025 label in the original guide topic is historical: season rules and map availability can change, and the 2026 announcements document changes after that year.
- Season Four, Jan. 21, 2026: Valve adjusted underlying per-map Competitive matchmaking rank values and expired existing map groups until players earned the required wins again. Season Four announcement
- Season Five, July 8, 2026: Valve announced that Season Five had begun, Cache joined the Active Duty map pool, and Overpass left it. A 2025 map-pool list should not be treated as current after that update. Season Five update
Season Three Premier medal rules (2025)
These are dated Season Three details, not evergreen CS Rating or medal rules. Valve said the Premier medal’s color corresponded to the highest CS Rating reached during that season. Its bars represented wins, with one bar for every 25 wins up to five. Medal eligibility required an account in good standing, at least 25 Premier match wins, and an active CS Rating at season end. Valve’s Season Three announcement
Is FACEIT rank the same as a CS2 rank?
No. FACEIT has a separate Elo and skill-level system, not a conversion of Premier CS Rating, Competitive Skill Groups, or Profile Rank. FACEIT says its new-user placement uses a bespoke formula based on Premier rating, but the resulting FACEIT ladder remains distinct. FACEIT support: skill levels and placement
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