Spray control in CS2 is one of the most important, yet underrated, skills in competitive play. Whether you’re full-spraying with rifles or bursting with SMGs, understanding CS2 recoil patterns can instantly boost your aim consistency.
This guide breaks down how CS2 spray mechanics work, recoil behavior for popular guns (including the tricky MAC-10 spray pattern), and the best routines to build long-term accuracy.
1. What Are Spray Patterns in CS2?
A spray pattern is the trajectory bullets follow when you continuously fire a full-auto weapon.
Each weapon has a unique recoil path — straight up, side-to-side, or a complex combination.
Recent CS2 updates made recoil frame-independent, meaning your spray consistency no longer relies heavily on FPS. This brings CS2 recoil closer to CSGO’s classic 128-tick behavior.
If you’re struggling with recoil feeling inconsistent, first ensure you have proper input settings. You can read more in this guide on CS2 raw input & mouse settings.
2. Why Recoil Compensation Matters
If you don’t compensate for recoil, your spray climbs higher and drifts off target.
By pulling down and adjusting horizontally, you keep your bullets in a tight cluster, leading to:
- more headshots
- fewer wasted bullets
- more consistency in clutch fights
- better duel outcomes
Learning recoil control is also a key part of ranking up — more here.
3. Key Spray Patterns to Know (With Control Tips)
Here’s a breakdown of the most important spray patterns in CS2 and how to compensate for them.
| Weapon | Recoil / Spray Behavior | How to Control It |
| AK-47 | Strong vertical climb for 7–10 bullets, then sharp left-right motion. | Pull straight down early, then mirror the sideways curve. |
| M4A1-S | Smooth vertical recoil + gentle sway later. | Pull down + small controlled horizontal adjustments. |
| M4A4 | Higher fire rate than M4A1-S; more aggressive horizontal swings. | Steady vertical pull, then stabilize sideways drift. |
| SG 553 | Mostly vertical with mild side sway. | Pull down; best used in short to medium sprays. |
| FAMAS | Tight and predictable vertical pattern. | Pull down consistently; great for controlled bursts. |
| MAC-10 | Extreme fire rate, heavy climb, and fast horizontal wobble. | Pull straight down; keep sprays short; excels at close range. |
For deeper weapon stats, you may find this guide useful.
And for weapon tier relevance.
4. CS2 Recoil Patterns vs CS Spray Patterns — What’s the Difference?
- CS2 recoil patterns = modern Counter-Strike 2 recoil behavior
- CS spray patterns = generic term often referring to CSGO or legacy patterns
The fundamentals stay the same:
learn the pattern → compensate → repeat until automatic.
If you’re transitioning from CSGO or other games like Valorant.
5. Why the MAC-10 Spray Pattern Is Special
The MAC-10 is notorious for:
- blazing fast fire rate
- hard-to-control upward recoil
- rapid left/right shaking
This makes it difficult at mid/long range but extremely powerful in close combat.
How to master it:
- practice vertical recoil first
- use short, controlled bursts
- only spray long at <5 meters
- don’t overcorrect — tiny movements matter
If you want pro inspirations for movement/spray, try watching configs such as:
YEKINDAR CS2 Settings
6. How to Train Spray Control in CS2
Training is where real improvement happens. Here are the best methods:
Custom Workshop Maps
Use recoil trainers or wall targets.
For loading workshop maps easily.
Routine Drills
- fire 5–7 bullet sets
- reset → repeat
- practice close, mid, long range
- alternate between controlled bursts & full spray
Crosshair Awareness
Your crosshair MUST stay readable during movement and spraying.
Learn to apply one using this guide.
Or copy pro crosshairs directly.
Match-Like Simulation
Practice in deathmatch, retake, or community servers.
7. Game Settings That Help With Spray Control
The right settings make recoil control much easier.
Mouse Sensitivity
Lower sensitivity (1.0–2.0) helps stabilize vertical pulls.
Crosshair
A static, simple crosshair helps you track recoil drift.
Guide: CS2 Crosshair Guide
Visual Clarity
Turn off motion blur and distracting post-processing.
Practice Mode Commands
Practice tools are essential when learning spray patterns.
8. Common Spray Mistakes & How to Fix Them
| Mistake | Fix |
| Spraying too far | Switch to burst or tap fire. |
| Not resetting recoil | Pause briefly between bursts. |
| Overcorrecting horizontally | Move mouse smoothly—no jerky motions. |
| Using high sensitivity | Lower sens for smoother vertical control. |
| Using wrong movement keys while spraying | Counter-strafe or stand still when spraying. |
If your sprays feel inconsistent or jittery, also check your FPS and stuttering issues:
CS2 Freezing Guide
If recoil feels delayed or off-timing, learn about tick rate impacts:
CS2 Tick Rate & Sub-Tick Explained
9. Realistic Expectations & Mindset
Spray mastery takes time — even pros miss bullets.
Focus on:
- repetition
- muscle memory
- crosshair placement
- small daily drills
- tracking your improvement
If you’re new to the game, this beginner-friendly guide can help build fundamentals:
The Ultimate CS2 Beginner Guide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are spray patterns in CS2?
Spray patterns are the predictable paths bullets follow when you continuously fire a weapon. Each CS2 gun has its own recoil pattern, which you can learn and counter-steer to keep your bullets accurate.
2. Are CS2 spray patterns the same as in CS:GO?
CS2 spray patterns are similar but not identical to CS:GO. After updates, CS2 recoil became frame-independent and now behaves closer to the old 128-tick CSGO patterns—but with slight differences in horizontal randomness.
3. How do I practice recoil control in CS2?
You can practice on Workshop maps, in deathmatch, or using CS2 practice commands. Recoil training maps (like Recoil Master) help visualize bullet spread so you can build muscle memory.
4. Why is the MAC-10 spray pattern so difficult?
The MAC-10 fires extremely fast, causing rapid vertical climb and unpredictable sideways drift. Because of this, long sprays are harder to control—short bursts and close-range engagements work best.
5. What sensitivity is best for spray control in CS2?
Most players find low sensitivity (1.0–2.0) with raw input enabled offers the best recoil control. Raw input ensures consistent mouse movement.
Conclusion
Mastering CS2 spray patterns isn’t about mindlessly holding mouse1 — it’s learning recoil behavior, applying proper compensation, and drilling patterns until they’re automatic.
Focus on high-impact weapons like the AK-47, M4 rifles, and MAC-10, build strong habits, and use the right settings and practice maps. With consistency and the right approach, your aim will get tighter, duels will feel easier, and your overall performance will climb
