Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) players have found a unique way to farm XP for The Armory, even though Valve has cracked down on these shenanigans. The Armory recently received over 100 weapon skins and charms in an update, prompting all kinds of XP farming shenanigans, most notably on the Dust 2 map.
At first, Molotov cocktails and grenades in a single location was the most efficient way for players to farm XP. By using this method they gather up to 40 stars for the pass, which you can stack up to five times (for a total of 200 upon completion). But Valve immediately took action, tweaking the XP score counting of Casual, Competitive and Wingman modes to disregard any sort of knife or utility damage — hence temporarily shutting the door from the old-fashioned XP farming means.
True to form, the CS2 community regrouped and with due haste traded their primary weapons for pistols as they ventured forth into new fields of XP farming. XP farming continued to take place with the same basic idea in the same location, but players managed to move a little bit slower as they were technically making their way through speedruns. That resolve showcases the determination within the community to capitalize on their potential Armory pass rewards.
Attempts by Valve to clamp down on XP farming in-game have led to some controversy in the community. There are those who say that these tactics will damage the competitive integrity of the game, while on the other hand others consider it to be a useful trick to quickly access unlocked content. It also serves as a reminder of the ever evolving game of cat-and-mouse between Valve and the players surrounding their unending hunt to abuse in-game advantages.
With Valve continuing to plug holes in these farming methods, the response from the community is anyone’s guess. But for now XP farming on Dust 2 with pistols is the fashion, ensuring that the CS2 community remains relevant and as inventive as ever when it comes to progression.
CS2 Players’ Ingenious XP Farming Tactics Despite Valve’s Crackdown
How Counter-Strike 2 Players Adapt to Valve’s Anti-Farming Measures
