AK-47 Spray Pattern: Master the King of Rifles
Updated October 10, 2026 · MyCS2Guru crew
The AK-47 is the most important weapon on T side and probably in the whole game. It costs $2,700, fires 30 bullets at 600 rounds per minute, and one headshot kills through a helmet at any range. The catch? It has one of the hardest spray patterns in CS2. Learn it and you'll win fights other players don't even think are winnable.
The AK-47 pattern, bullet by bullet
The pattern breaks into four phases. Here's what each one does and how you counter it:
| Bullets | What the recoil does | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Very accurate, little movement | Aim at the head and click |
| 3 to 9 | Climbs sharply straight up | Pull down hard and smooth |
| 10 to 15 | Kicks hard to one side | Keep pulling down while countering sideways |
| 16 to 22 | Swings back across to the other side | Reverse your horizontal pull |
| 23 to 30 | Wobbles right then left | Small corrections, usually reset instead |
Think of the bullet impacts as a tall vertical line with a zig-zag tail. Your mouse movement is the mirror image: a long pull down, then a sideways correction one way, then the other.
Don't try to memorize directions from text alone. Use sv_showimpacts 1 in a private match and watch where your bullets land on a wall. You'll see the shape right away.
The most important part: bullets 1 to 10
Most fights end within the first 10 bullets. If you can land those in a fist-sized group at 10 meters, you'll win the majority of close and medium fights. Don't worry about bullets 20 to 30 until bullets 1 to 10 are automatic.
AK-47 by distance
- Close range (under 10m): Full spray if needed, aim at the upper chest and let the climb carry into the head.
- Medium range (10 to 25m): Burst 3 to 5 bullets, pause, burst again.
- Long range (25m+): Tap the head. Wait about half a second between taps so accuracy fully recovers.
14-day AK practice plan
| Days | Drill |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Wall sprays at 10m, first 10 bullets only, 5 min |
| 4 to 6 | Full 30-bullet wall sprays, 5 min |
| 7 to 9 | Spraying bots on Aim Botz at 10m and 15m |
| 10 to 12 | Spray transfers between two bots |
| 13 to 14 | AK-only deathmatch, 15 min |
Common AK mistakes
- Pulling down before the second bullet. The first shot is accurate. Don't drag it into the floor.
- Not stopping. AK accuracy while moving is terrible. Counter-strafe.
- Spraying at 40 meters. You'll miss bullets 5 through 30. Tap.
- Over-correcting the horizontal swing. It's a smaller movement than the vertical pull.
- Holding a death grip on the mouse. Relax, it makes the pull smoother.
AK tips from high-level play
- Pre-aim and tap: at medium range, a single tap aimed at a well-placed crosshair beats a spray.
- Crouch spraying: crouching slightly reduces inaccuracy, but it makes you a static target. Use it in long sprays when you're already committed.
- Reset often: if your first burst misses, strafe and reset instead of holding the trigger.
The AK pays off more than any other weapon you'll learn. Next, pick up the CT rifles: M4A4 and M4A1-S.
Final tip
Spend five minutes on the AK spray before every session for a month. It's the single best mechanical investment a T-side player can make.
AK-47 FAQ
- How many bullets should I spray? Depends on range. Close: full spray. Medium: bursts. Long: taps.