Many video games, especially online shooters, have different terms for a Smurf. But whether you’ve played CS2 or any other multiplayer video game, you have more than likely encountered one. What’s a Smurf? Definitely not the small blue kind we know from the popular cartoon series. Smurfs are people hell bent on ruining the game for new players. Here's what you can proactively do to avoid experiencing them.
What is Smurfing in CS2?
Smurfing is a term used for an experienced player who creates a brand new account for a specific first-person shooter multiplayer game to just troll on new players (it doesn’t need to always be an FPS, but they’re most commonly found in them). Since they’re a new player, they have a non-existent rank, or a very low one, which means that they get matched up with other players of similar rank. Since the Smurf is of a much higher skill level and experience, they'll be at a much better advantage compared to the players they'd be facing in those lower ranked game lobbies. There is obviously the benefit of the doubt where from time to time, players may lose access to their account and have to create a brand new one, but in the majority of Smurfing cases, those accounts are created on purpose just to take advantage of the lower ranked players.
Back in the CS:GO days, Smurfing became such a regular occurrence within the game that it was recognised as one of the biggest issues within the CS:GO community. Many players were vocal about how this behavior impacted the game and how many of the ranked games were dominated by Smurf players. This issue had a long lasting effect on the community overall, especially new players who were provoked by them. This is one of the likely reasons as to why the Prime Status in CS2 has to be paid for now, to cut down on Smurfing players taking advantage of the free-to-play system.
How To Avoid Smurfing In CS2
As there are no official systems in place to prevent this type of behaviour, Smurf players are tricky to avoid. However, getting the Prime Status sooner than later will ensure a much nicer gaming experience with a significantly smaller percentage of Smurfs in your CS2 lobbies. Unlike CS:GO, where players had to get to level 21 for their free Prime access, that option is no longer available for CS2 players. You can buy Prime Status directly from the Steam store, immediately after launching the game for the first time. Since it’s a one-time purchase, it’s one of the better ways to avoid Smurfs in your future games.
Can you Tell if a Player is Smurfing?
It can be almost impossible to tell for certain if a player is Smurfing, but there are a few things you can do that may clue you in if they are. The first thing to do is to check the player’s gaming statistics and their Steam profile. If CS2 is the only game they’ve downloaded and they have less than 50 hours played on CS2, then you’re likely dealing with a Smurf player.
One other way to identify a Smurf is if their gameplay is unlike any other you’ve seen. Are they able to hold and carry the whole team on their back? In some cases, players are inherently good at FPS games, but if it’s a brand new account and they have the most headshots in your team’s combined amount, then you may possibly be dealing with a Smurf account.
Smurfing isn’t cool in CS2 or any competitive game. It ruins the experience for everyone and scares off genuine new players. Let’s keep the community fun and fair - don’t be that person!
