shroud says CS2 is “easier” than Valorant

Professional FPS veteran Michael “shroud” Grzesiek has made a definitive declaration positioning Valorant as the current leading first-person shooter in the competitive scene.

Shroud’s journey through the competitive FPS landscape began with his professional Counter-Strike career, where he developed the foundational skills that would define his gameplay style. After five years competing at the highest level, he transitioned to full-time streaming where his content consistently showcases elite first-person shooter proficiency across multiple titles including Apex Legends, Valorant, and the Counter-Strike franchise. His brief professional stint with Sentinels in Valorant further solidifies his cross-game expertise.

Given his extensive investment of thousands of hours across both Counter-Strike and Valorant ecosystems, Shroud’s perspectives carry significant weight within the gaming community. His ability to analyze game mechanics from both casual and professional viewpoints provides a unique dual perspective that few content creators can match.

shroud gives his latest opinion on CS2

Following extensive competitive experience in both Valorant and Counter-Strike environments, Shroud initially reached the conclusion that Valorant presented a lower skill floor than its Valve-developed counterpart. However, recent developments have prompted a complete reversal of this assessment.

Through hands-on experience with Counter-Strike 2 prior to its official launch, Shroud has developed fresh perspectives on the ongoing competition between the established CS franchise and Riot’s vibrant challenger. His current position firmly establishes CS2 as the more accessible competitive experience without reservation.

“The community perception doesn’t align with competitive reality – if a player of s1mple’s caliber attempted to transition to Valorant, he would face significant competitive hurdles,” Shroud clarified during a recent streaming session where he addressed criticism from peers.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive built its reputation on pure mechanical execution and straightforward strategic depth, but Shroud has consistently noted CS2’s movement toward Valorant-like design philosophies. These evolutionary changes appear to have streamlined the mastery process for CS2, making it more approachable for developing competitors while preserving the core competitive experience that defines tactical shooters.

The fundamental difference lies in how each game approaches skill expression. Valorant’s character abilities create additional layers of strategic complexity that can overwhelm players transitioning from more mechanically-focused titles. Meanwhile, CS2’s refined movement and shooting mechanics provide a cleaner learning curve for developing core FPS fundamentals.

Advanced players should focus on understanding how CS2’s subtick system changes traditional peeking and engagement timing, while Valorant demands mastery of ability combinations and ultimate economy management. Both require significant time investment, but CS2 offers more immediate feedback on mechanical improvement.

The challenge of transitioning between these competitive ecosystems highlights their fundamental design differences. While raw aiming skill provides some crossover benefit, the games demand entirely different mental frameworks for success. This explains why even elite professionals like s1mple would face adaptation periods when moving between titles.

Common mistakes include attempting to apply CS movement techniques in Valorant’s slower-paced engagements, or underestimating the importance of ability usage in tactical situations. Players should allocate 2-3 weeks for basic adaptation when switching between games, with advanced mechanics requiring months of dedicated practice.

For those looking to improve in either title, focusing on fundamental positioning principles that apply across competitive shooters can accelerate the learning process. Understanding spacing, angle advantage, and economic decision-making provides transferable skills that benefit performance in both environments.

Shroud’s current assessment positions CS2 as the more accessible competitive experience — though this perspective remains subject to evolution as both games continue developing.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » shroud says CS2 is “easier” than Valorant Shroud's expert analysis reveals why CS2 is now easier than Valorant for competitive FPS players