CS-Nation

Covering the future of Counter-Strike
using silencers effectively
silencers rule!
This poor CT has no idea where I am, thanks to my silenced USP.
When it comes to using silencers, most people throw them on without giving it a second thought. Being on only three guns in the entire game (Colt, USP, and TMP), the silencer is not something people see as being tactical—just more of a pretty accessory. More than just adding to the "badass" factor, the silencer can be the only thing standing between you and another death.

Besides that badass effect, the greatest advantage to having the silencer on is that the enemy can't hear your gunfire. When you're the only one alive and camping in a corner, the silencer can be extremely useful. When your enemy starts taking fire and can't hear where it's coming from, it's very easy for you to get a kill even if you're using the TMP or USP. It also gives you some crucial time to aim for the soft, supple head.

Camping isn't the only situation when the silencer is critical for survival. We all know the "whole team rush the point" maneuver when someone gets the entire team to rush one way. More often then not, I find myself on the opposite end of the map, and my team-mates screaming into their mics, "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HELP ME THEIR ENTIRE TEAM IS RUSHING THE..." and radio silence. It is these times when I cynically laugh to myself and slap the silencer on my Colt. Flanking is the perfect opportunity to use the silencer. When you end up behind everyone on the enemy team with the silencer on, you can easily peek around a corner, cap someone in the head, and duck behind cover again. The enemy will think the shot came from the front, while you're in back picking more people off with ease. This same situation minus the silencer can lead to disaster. You peek around a corner, get a few shots off, and before you know it their entire team is riddling your dead corpse with an unnecessary amount of gunfire.

Sneaking and silencers can be a very deadly combo when you’re one of the last alive on your team. "Sneaking" is simply pressing the shift key while walking, making your footsteps invisible to the naked ear.... or.... something. With yourself not making any noise, you can pay attention to other people's sounds and easily judge where they are. This is especially useful when trying to decide whether to run out and fire, or to camp and wait. If they're coming toward you, hide behind a crate and waste them as they go by. If they're running away, pursue and cap them in the back—of course with your silenced weapon. Consider yourself a n1nj@.

While the silencer is great for being a stealthy ninja, it can also hinder performance. Especially with the USP, in close quarters combat it can give you the advantage to be able to hear your own gunfire. In the heat of battle, louder guns can mask the sound coming from your ever so silent USP, making it very difficult to hear if your gun went off just then, or if you clicked the mouse prematurely. With the USP, hearing your own gunfire can help you get a faster firing rate because you can hear when it is the right time to click the mouse. Even with the Colt, it is a good idea to leave the silencer off when in situations where you may end up attacking in close quarters. Also keep in mind that leaving the silencer off will give you a little more accuracy and power. Good for when sniping... or whenever you’re not trying to be stealthy.

Playing like a ninja can add an entirely new experience to playing CS. If you've never tried using the silencer in a tactical way, I'm sure you'll be impressed with how much fun it can be to pick people off without them knowing where you are.

-FiLDo