Sniping in Counter-Strike has always been a pivotal element that can decide who takes home the gold. Look at any competitive eSports team and think of their best player. Which player comes to mind when I mention the teams EnVyUs, Luminosity, or Natus Vincere? Most people would point out players like KennyS, FalleN or Guardian. The answer as to why most people think of these incredible athletes is simple; their ability to take over a game and make things work for their team in the worst possible situations. Aggressive AWPers, such as these players, have the potential to change the outcome of any round with their quick reactions and positive decision making. Today, we're going to look at what makes this playstyle a viable and important part of any sniper's arsenal. Take a deep breath, this is where things get interesting.

The first thing that needs to be said is, despite the fact that aggressive sniping is vital to any team's success, its use must be limited. For example, overaggression can be deadly, with usually more risk than reward being involved. It is the greatest samurai that allows his sword to grow rusty in its sheath. Basically, don't get cocky, because one mistake can end up with your death and the loss of a $5000 weapon that the enemy may gain control of. Every single round should not start with a test to see if you can get an early pick. Positive decision making and knowing exactly when and where to peek are the most crucial aspects to aggressive sniping. Let's use an example in-game; imagine you're a Terrorist in a 1v3 situation, defending the bomb at A site on Dust II. You've got enemies coming from CT, Catwalk and Long. What do you do? Make a decision in your mind which fight you should take first. Take the enemies off guard and encourage long-range aim duels. Take the CT coming from Catwalk first; if he gets too close, it'll be an easy kill for him. Peek him and fire before he has a chance to move any closer. Your next target should be the enemy coming from CT. This is when you should take your time with the peek; await the sound of his footsteps from ramp, and peek while he's still moving. The idea is to take fights only when you have the advantage; never allow your opponent the chance to gain his footing, or to react to your plays. After the CT defender has been eliminated, speed will be your ally. Peek instantly into Long A after another bullet has been chambered, and take him out at long range. Speed, decision making, and keeping calm under pressure separates the men from the boys in aggressive sniping.

Be ready to quickly change between targets, and use audio to the best of your ability to see where the next enemy could be lurking.

The second thing that should be noted is overall confidence. Without the mentality that with every peek you make you can always land the shot, you will never gain the ability to make it happen. Every single shot you take should be backed with the confidence that it will find its target. Of course, no one is perfect, and no one will ever hit every single shot they take. But you should have the mindset to where you can miss a million shots and yet still be confident enough to peek again. Nothing can beat confidence, and with aggressive sniping, there is no counter to an on-fire AWPer. Play every single game like it's your last. Even if you mess up, don't regret attempting something new; you'll never learn without making mistakes. Confidence is everything.

The third and final thought to remember is keeping calm under pressure. Aggressive peeks are mind-boggling, as most of the time you'll push into places you would never normally be on the Counter-Terrorist side. Imagine pushing into A main on Cache, getting a teammate to flash you in. You breach through the opening, and you only have time to react as three enemy Terrorists stand there, blind yet present. You have only a few milliseconds to act, but this is where heroes are made. You should be psyching yourself up before you even leave CT Spawn, because when you're face to face with three enemy AK-47s, you'll need the patience and calm to react. Choose one enemy at random, stutter-stepping to ensure you keep moving yet receive the most accuracy possible, and go to work. After the first pick, fall back and smoke yourself off. You've done your job successfully, and this is the time to stop and play it safe before the enemy has a chance to trade you out.

In conclusion, aggressive sniping is an important and volatile option to consider in your personal playstyle. While it remains one of the most dangerous and risky traits to work with, it can also give your team crucial advantages in any round. Practice makes perfect, but mental health and keeping calm are what makes the difference between a newbie and a legend. Remember to remain confident, and never shy away from trying something new; it could mean the difference between winning or losing.

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