CS2 weapon loadout slots
| Category | Slots per team | Selection scope |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Pistol | 1 | The side’s starting sidearm |
| Pistols | 4 | Side-appropriate purchasable pistols |
| Mid-Tier | 5 | Submachine guns and Heavy weapons |
| Rifles | 5 | Rifles, including sniper rifles |
Slot groups and team choices
The Loadout separates weapon choices into Starting Pistol, Pistols, Mid-Tier and Rifles. The Starting Pistol is one dedicated slot, while the four Pistols slots are additional options. Mid-Tier combines SMGs and Heavy weapons; the Wiki’s category includes shotguns and machine guns. The five Rifle slots cover rifles and sniper choices. Slot counts are per team, and Terrorist and Counter-Terrorist selections are configured separately because their available weapons differ.
A configured loadout determines which eligible weapons appear for that player in the Buy Menu. It does not purchase an item or guarantee that the player can afford it. Equipment and Grenades are bought under their own menu categories, outside these weapon-slot counts. A weapon picked up after another player drops it is a world item, not a change to the recipient’s saved Loadout.
Planning before a round
Choose slots around the weapons the team expects to use: a starting sidearm, affordable pistol options, Mid-Tier choices for lower-cost or specialized rounds, and rifles for stronger buys. Because the available list can be larger than the slot count, the player decides which options should be immediately purchasable. This preparation matters before matchmaking; during a round, the actual purchase still depends on side, money, buy rules and whether the player is in a Buy Zone.
Loadout configuration and purchase refunds solve different problems. The Loadout decides which choices the menu offers, while a refund can reverse an eligible unused purchase made in the current round. A refund does not save a weapon into a slot or alter the persistent selection. CS2 also blocks loadout changes while searching for Premier, Competitive or Wingman so the selection is settled before a match starts. See Buy Menu, Weapon Refunds and Economy.
Favorites, shuffle and dated interface changes
The September 27, 2023 CS2 launch update added the ability to favorite and shuffle loadout items. These controls help players manage configured choices in the interface; the patch note does not describe a combat bonus or additional weapon slots.
On September 3, 2025, CS2 received minor Loadout UI layout fixes for certain resolutions. The same update added an “Unfavorite for CT” action for trade-protected and rental items. These are dated interface changes; they do not change the weapon-group slot limits or side-specific purchase rules. Follow the current menu wording when using the controls.
Loadout and persistent inventory
The Loadout is an access list for match weapons, not the player’s complete inventory. Weapon finishes, stickers and other cosmetic properties attach to eligible inventory items and do not create extra weapon slots. Changing which rifle is available to buy is separate from selecting its finish. See Inventory and Weapon Skins.
This entry describes the Counter-Strike 2 table-based Buy Menu and dated CS2 interface updates. Earlier Counter-Strike buy-menu layouts do not define current slot counts.