Counter-Strike 2 weapon specifications
| Property | CS2 value |
|---|---|
| Buy price | $2,900 |
| Magazine / reserve | 30 / 120 rounds |
| Base damage | 33 |
| Fire mode / rate | Automatic · 666 rounds per minute |
| Reload time | 3.1 seconds |
| Ammunition | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Armor penetration | 70% |
| Penetration power | 200% |
| Range modifier | 0.97 |
| Accurate range | 28 m |
| Running / walking speed | 225 / 117 units per second |
| Crouch-walking speed | 77 units per second |
| Competitive / Casual kill reward | $300 / $150 |
| Purchasable by | Counter-Terrorists |
Damage by hitbox (CS2)
| Hitbox | Unarmored | Armored |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 131 | 92 |
| Chest and arms | 32 | 23 |
| Abdomen and pelvis | 41 | 28 |
| Legs | 24 | 24 |
Hitbox damage
| Hitbox | Unarmored | Armored |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 131 | 92 |
| Chest and arms | 32 | 23 |
| Abdomen and pelvis | 41 | 28 |
| Legs | 24 | 24 |
Counter-Terrorist rifle choice
The M4A4 is purchased by Counter-Terrorists for $2,900 and is available through the assault-rifle slot in the Buy Menu. Its magazine holds 30 rounds with 120 in reserve. Unlike a grenade or armor purchase, selecting it occupies the team’s M4 rifle choice: the M4A1-S is the alternative in the same loadout slot, not a second rifle that can be carried at once. The M4A4’s larger ammunition pool favors players who expect to hold a lane, fire several bursts or trade multiple opponents before reloading.
Its 666-round-per-minute automatic fire and 33 base damage make repeated hits important against protected targets. The hitbox table separates armored and unarmored damage: a head hit is 131 without armor and 92 with armor, while chest and arms deal 32/23. Abdomen and pelvis hits deal 41/28; a leg hit deals 24 regardless of armor. These are per-hit CS2 values, so the table helps explain why accurate follow-up fire matters.
Firing, accuracy and reloads
The Wiki describes the M4A4 as accurate with moderate recoil. Short bursts or single taps give the player more control at longer ranges; automatic fire is more practical at close range, where a brief spray can place several rounds on a target. The listed accurate range is 28 metres and the range modifier is 0.97, but those figures do not remove recoil or guarantee a hit through cover. Stop before taking a deliberate long shot and account for the rifle’s upward recoil when a burst continues.
A 3.1-second reload takes the rifle out of the fight, so use cover and check the remaining magazine before starting it. The reserve of 120 rounds supports repeated engagements, but does not make an exposed reload safe. When holding an approach, coordinate with a teammate who can cover a second angle or trade a duel. Utility such as a Smoke Grenade can restrict a sightline; the rifle itself remains a standard firearm and has no M4A1-S suppressor.
When the M4A4 fits
Choose the M4A4 when the team values its larger magazine and reserve for sustained defensive fire. The M4A1-S is the other CT rifle option and has a suppressor with a different capacity and firing profile. Compare the $2,900 M4A4 with the Terrorist AK-47 and lower-cost FAMAS while considering armor, utility and the remaining Economy. A rifle purchase is strongest when it still leaves the team resources to contest space and support a retake.
Counter-Strike 2 update history
During the Counter-Strike 2 Limited Test on August 15, 2023, sticker sizes on the M4A4 were adjusted so stickers no longer overlapped; the StatTrak position was also unified on both CS2 M4 models. On May 23, 2024, the M4A4 price fell from $3,100 to $3,000. On January 28, 2025, it fell again from $3,000 to $2,900, the price shown in the current specification table.
An August 14, 2025 update improved the M4A4 deploy animation. On March 18, 2026, CS2 changed magazine-fed reloads: a completed reload discards rounds left in the magazine and takes a full magazine from reserve. On September 22, 2026, players gained a slower silent-reload option by pressing and holding the reload key. These dated changes distinguish item presentation, price and ammunition handling.
Burst timing and defensive use
The Wiki characterizes the M4A4 as accurate with moderate recoil. At long range, tap or burst instead of relying on a long spray; in medium or close fights, a torso-level spray can deliver several shots before the opponent leaves the angle. Crouching can compensate for the early part of the spray, but it also makes the player a steadier target, so use it from cover rather than as a universal response.
A headshot remains a worthwhile aim point even though the M4A4’s listed armored-head damage is not always lethal. It can finish an already injured opponent, or set up a body-shot follow-up. Its larger magazine and 120-round reserve compared with the M4A1-S support a longer defensive hold; the player still needs a safe reload window.
Sticker size on the M4A4
The August 15, 2023 Limited Test update adjusted sticker sizes on the CS2 M4A4 so stickers no longer overlapped. It also unified StatTrak placement across the M4 models to preserve sticker visibility. These adjustments affect weapon-finish presentation only, not M4A4 combat performance. See Stickers and M4A1-S.
Deploy animation update (August 14, 2025)
The August 14, 2025 update improved the M4A4 deploy animation. The note does not identify an inspect change for this rifle or alter its firing statistics. This entry records how the weapon is presented when drawn, separately from the M4A4’s combat characteristics.