A CS2 team, just like in CS:GO, is built around five core roles: the AWPer, the support, the lurker, the entry fragger and the in-game leader (IGL). The AWPer holds key angles with the AWP, the support enables teammates with utility, the lurker works alone to catch rotations, the entry is first onto the site, and the IGL calls the strategy. Some lineups also name riflers and a second-entry player who follows the entry. Below is what each role does and which skills it needs.
These terms come up constantly in news about transfers and tournament preparation, so knowing the roles helps you judge what a roster change means for a team. A good team plays in sync, and the variety of jobs lets everyone pick a position that fits their style, including when you play CS2 with friends as a regular five-stack.
AWPer (Sniper)
An effective CS2 team is hard to imagine without an AWPer. This is the player most comfortable with the AWP; the main job is to pick off opponents at range and lock down key areas of the map. Teammates often save money so the AWPer can afford this deadly but expensive rifle. A good AWPer can swing a round, or a whole match, single-handedly. When the SSG 08 is the better buy is covered in our AWP vs SSG 08 comparison.
Support
The name says it all. The support player handles the helper tasks and will sacrifice themselves so others can reach the right positions. Most of the smokes, flashes and molotovs come from the support, so this role needs deep map knowledge and solid grenade lineups, good teamwork, and the ability to read teammates' intentions even when they are not said out loud.
Lurker
The lurker's job is to operate unseen, punishing enemies who split off from their team or end up in a weak position. Lurkers usually play away from their teammates, trying to get behind the opponents or catch them mid-rotation as they move toward the bombsite. A good lurker moves quietly and also knows the right moment to reveal themselves for a kill the enemy does not see coming.
Entry Fragger
The entry fragger is the first player onto the bombsite or any position the team is taking. The task is to kill defenders as fast as possible and open space for the rest of the team to execute the plan. Entries often die after taking out one or two opponents, which still gives the team the advantage. The key qualities here are fast reactions and sharp aim, which players drill on aim maps.
In-game leader (IGL)
The in-game leader, or captain, owns the team's overall strategy, makes the calls during a match and directs the other players: which site to hit, when to save, how to adjust the setup. Beyond mechanical skill, the role needs the right temperament: an IGL has to stay calm, think rationally and adapt quickly to whatever happens in the match.
Secondary roles
Some roles are not defined in every lineup. A rifler is a player who spends most of the game on rifles (AK-47, M4A4 or M4A1-S) and covers whatever the team needs in a given round; most rosters are built on riflers. Some teams also name a second entry, or playmaker, who goes in right behind the entry fragger, supports them and trades the kill if the entry falls.
Whatever role you pick, LIS-SKINS has skins for the weapons it relies on, from the AWP for snipers to rifles for riflers.
