Video: Pros comment on AWP and M4A1-S changes

30-11-2022 16:28

HLTV asked players and analysts for their thoughts on the recent balance changes brought by the latest patch.

Valve tuned down the AWP and the M4A1-S in their most recent update by reducing the sniper rifle's magazine bullets from ten to five while the CTs' favored weapon was weakened in its medium-to-long range capabilities.

The nerfs sparked a debate in the community as was the case with the map pool changes, so we took the opportunity to ask some of the players and analysts attending BLAST Premier Fall Final for their thoughts on the update.

Is the AWP nerf significant enough? Will professional players now switch to the M4A4? Or will we see more variety when it comes to the CT rifles purchased? Nick "⁠nitr0⁠" Cannella, Nemanja "⁠huNter-⁠" Kovač, Håvard "⁠rain⁠" Nygaard, Richard "⁠Xizt⁠" Landström, Hampus "⁠hampus⁠" Poser, Robin "⁠ropz⁠" Kool, and Mathieu "⁠Maniac⁠" Quiquerez answered these questions in the video above.

You can see more of HLTV.org's video content, interviews, the HLTV Confirmed podcast episodes, latest news, the Counter-Quiz and more on our YouTube channel.

Most 50/50 it's ever been for the two

2022-11-30 16:29

12 replies

2022-11-30 16:38

imo, i prefer playing with the a4 now, the a1 is kinda strange tbh, it was better at long range but now its lost its thing, and close range, well a4 is just better with the fire rate, i dont think its 50/50, probably 55/45 or 60/40 a4 but surely the closest those two have ever been

2022-11-30 17:23

5 replies

I don't think it's a complete 50/50 i was just saying it's never been so close for the two ever in the past. I still use the M4A1-S but i might change if succeed with the A4 more

2022-11-30 17:24

3 replies

Actually it was really 50/50 when m4a1s first became 2900, with the same 5 shots on body and lower fire rate, ive been using m4a1 since then and never understand why buffing its damage.

2022-11-30 18:14

2 replies

cuz it attracts people's attention to it to try, same with the aug and krieg

2022-12-01 01:22

1 reply

and then they revert the changes, people don't stop using it so they nerf it to oblivion

2022-12-01 13:36

none cares your opinion

2022-12-01 00:47

- 200$, knowing the importance of CT economy and of flashbangs - no tracers, knowing the importance of smokes at a good/pro level and the number of kills through them - so better spray control, easier to kill - still better at close range, were most duels occur (think about retakes also) - silencer Imo it's obvious most pros will stay on M4A1s, apart those like Karrigan which already used M4A4 when the previous change occured, just to say "how look how genius and different I'm with my calculation MA4A is the best choice" before switching back to A1s. For the few specific usages like long range line to keep --> they will use AUG like in the past. Now there is some blabla to say it's a good change, which is as it will a bit helps T side, but won't change much tbh.

2022-11-30 23:41

4 replies

bombsite anchors are shooting themselves in the foot if they switch to a1s. maps where a4 should be considered are mirage, overpass (a), inferno (a)

2022-12-01 06:10

They're not really "switching" since they already use it atm. As I said, there is AUG for such specific job if they really consider A1s too weak now, which I'm not even sure they will with all the others advantages left to this gun. AKs were already 1 shooting anchors bef4 the update anyways.

2022-12-01 13:18

Why buy aug when m4a4 gives the exact same potential for 200 dollars cheaper?

2022-12-01 23:10

Long range I said. The zoom.

2022-12-02 10:04

NICE

real

nitro god

2022-11-30 16:30

it's not really too strong m4 but csgo map design compared to 1.6 is ct favoured and smokes are too strong

2022-11-30 16:31

1.6 was even more ct favoured if you ask me. Maps like train and nuke was very hard for Ts to play.

2022-11-30 18:19

Exactly, its just that smokes were useless and molotovs did not exist

2022-11-30 19:25

Flashes where insane however!

2022-11-30 20:25

flashes in 1.6 make me want to throw my computer out the window they’re legit unavoidable

2022-12-01 03:36

You can throw it out, grab a snack and watch some netflix, quick wank, go out get ure computer, plug it in and you will still be white from that flash.

2022-12-01 03:51

its feel weird 5 bullets!

2022-11-30 16:34

9 replies

it should not have that big of a difference rarely awpers go over 5 withour reloading. they should really just remove molotovs and make smokes weaker, much like 1.6 smokes. now the utility just slows down gameplay massively and everybody just hates using smokes and molos. it's not proper cs players just sit and wait while utility slows down gameplay for no reason

2022-11-30 16:43

8 replies

this the worst take ive seen in a while

2022-11-30 16:45

Having played cs 1.x for 20 years and just came to cs:go last year, I would miss molotov and the current smoke... in 1.6 smoke was a joke (8bit). Sure, 1.6 was more about pure aim, but I like the change with the more tactical, slower approach in go after some months of adjusting.

2022-11-30 16:52

1.6 and GO are simply not the same game. The Molotov argument came up almost 10 years ago when they were first introduced. Smokes would be useless in GO if they were like 1.6. The issue with smokes isn't their opacity. It's that GO indicates all sounds, so a close scope or a pin pull means someone can anticipate actions through smoke. Also saying it's not proper CS to sit and wait is hilarious. That's literally what old school CS is. GO is, if nothing else, a more active game.

2022-11-30 16:57

They are not the same game but everyone agrees 1.6 gameplay was better. Play a pro level tournament without smokes and molotovs, only flashes and hegren allowed i guarantee both players And spectators would love it. The rounds become so much more fast phased and more about skill that how proper tactical fps should always be. Now it's just a utility fest where ct tries to delay round time by utility use which is absolutely horrible for gameplay and any fps never should be like that

2022-11-30 17:01

I wouldn't say "everyone agrees" with that sentiment. I don't even think it's fair to compare the two at this point. 1.6 is a more unique game. CS was always kind of a utility-heavy game. Watch 2009 fnatic CT setups where they hold counter utility and angles in sites for when the other team executes after spamming corners for 45 seconds (Nuke especially). The rounds are longer in GO to account for utility, it's why the game feels longer, but people didn't just 100% run and gun in 1.6. Also the teamplay in GO is at absurd levels. The cool mind tricks that used to work aren't nearly as effective anymore because the level of play has increased so dramatically. You don't see people faking smokes as flashes to get a kill, or hiding in utility to surprise the other team. I remember watching olof toss a smoke on banana to hide sandbags because, at the time, people would expect the smoke was to buy time. He got a 3k as the other team ran past him. But try that today and a good team will simply clear the angles regardless. My point is, I've played CS since it first came out and thinking that removing utility would really improve it is silly.

2022-11-30 17:11

''Everyone agrees'' Oh boy would you be surprised if you realise how wrong you are lol

2022-11-30 21:34

Smokes in 1.6 were easily abusable and didn't really smoke anything off as soon as playing realised how to break smokes. GO actually used smokes for their intended purpose.

0/8 take

2022-11-30 20:24

what the fuck did hanpus say? ding+2 bullets?

dink

2022-11-30 16:35

at long ranges m4a1-s needs 1hs +2 body shots to kill

2022-11-30 19:16

Hampus is shit with every weapon , who cares about his opinion

2022-11-30 16:44

So true. He should stick to A1 to be able to spray.

2022-11-30 17:28

lol

2022-12-01 00:24

what xD

2022-12-01 14:57

Based rain "What do you think about awp nerf" "I'm happy!"

2022-11-30 16:49

maniac lol the awp needed the nerf badly, happy he isnt a "pro" player anymore so his input doesnt matter

2022-11-30 16:54

5 bodyshots at mid and long ranges are ok, but dink and 2 bodyshots for kill at long range makes it garbage, valve should fix it

+1 feels like fucking famas now.

2022-11-30 20:09

Best take ever.

2022-11-30 20:16

Damn they nerfed the awp that badly? Kappa

2022-12-01 13:28

yep, famous awp dink i meant

2022-12-01 14:21

agree

2022-12-01 14:58

the fact that the m4 can still kill you with 1 hs and 2 body shots at any range is worrying.

2022-11-30 17:47

yeah it should never be able to kill you you should have to cause damage with m4 and switch to another gun to finish off an enemy

2022-11-30 19:15

Always takes half of the opponents HP. 100-50-25-13-7-4-2-1. Then you can fire the pistol

2022-11-30 20:04

Only knife should make a 1tap kill

2022-11-30 21:02

M4 should heal teammates as well.

2022-12-01 13:29

Switch M4 and A1 prices and then they're balanced. A1 still too strong upclose

2022-11-30 18:08

5 bullets is fine actually long overdue change. They should have done this long before they changed movement speed when scoped in, or anything else.

2022-11-30 18:18

why does nitro look like jeffrey dahmer

2022-11-30 18:44

Will still use the a1 until the price drops for the a4. That extra money is worth alot when the famas is so bad

why is viedos all times "error can not be shown" on this website?!?!!

Honestly, I thought the A1-s with the same damage as the A4 and 25 bullets but switching prices would be the perfect balance. Slower TTK but better at long range.

2022-11-30 19:39

M4should be both 3000£ with the same damage and silencer 25 bullets....you have 5 less bullets+slower fire rate for no tracers

2022-11-30 21:05

M4 better

2022-11-30 21:14

Arctic Warfare Police (AWP) Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO Action: Bolt-action Overall length: 1180 mm Barrel length: 610 mm Weight (empty magazine): 6,5 kg Magazine capacity: 10 rounds Muzzle velocity: 850 m/s Effective range: 800 m 10 rounds not 5!

2022-11-30 21:15

smh devs forgot to update awp irl

2022-12-04 15:26

AWP should have had a fire rate nerf imo, not ammo nerf.

2022-12-01 00:42

They should have reduced the noscope accurace range further from 1.88 meters .. it's stupid that awpers can consistently take out opponents at close range without even scoping. It's supposed to be weaker than rifles at close range.

2022-12-03 12:07

That's part of what make a game though. Little details and out of context use of things that wasn't meant to be used that way. Suppressing them would hurt the game's lore

2022-12-03 16:51