Counter-Strike 2 weapon specifications
| Property | CS2 value |
|---|---|
| Buy price | $1,700 |
| Magazine / reserve | 150 / 300 rounds |
| Damage | 35 |
| Fire mode / rate | Automatic · 800 rounds per minute |
| Reload time | 5.7 seconds |
| Armor penetration | 71% |
| Penetration power | 200% |
| Accurate range | 13 m |
| Running speed | 150 units/s · 75 while firing |
| Kill reward | $300 Competitive · $150 Casual |
Hitbox damage
| Hitbox | Unarmored | Armored |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 140 | 99 |
| Chest and arms | 35 | 24 |
| Abdomen and pelvis | 43 | 31 |
| Legs | 26 | 26 |
Recoil buildup and suppression
The Negev’s strength is sustained fire. It carries 150 rounds in its magazine and 300 in reserve, fires at 800 rounds per minute and deals 35 base damage. Its movement is slow: 150 units per second while running and 75 while firing. That combination makes it a prepared defensive weapon rather than a rifle for fast rotations. The 5.7-second reload is especially risky with the weapon’s heavy ammunition supply; reload from safety.
The Wiki describes a distinctive recoil change after the first 15 rounds: recoil settles and the bullets concentrate toward the upper right of the crosshair. A player using sustained fire can learn to account for that later pattern, but should not expect the first shots to behave identically. The listed 13-metre accurate range also makes a Negev less suited to a conventional long-range duel. Its role is to deter a push through a constrained route and keep pressure on opponents who have to cross the firing lane.
Holding a route and using the economy
The Negev is available to both teams. The source describes it as particularly useful for a Counter-Terrorist defending a Bomb Defusal approach or a Terrorist defending a Hostage Rescue route, because suppressive fire can make a key area difficult to cross. A player should set up with cover and a retreat path; firing from an exposed position at a distant rifle gives the opponent time to reposition or trade.
Its large magazine can support a force-buy plan or an extended defensive hold, but it is not free value: the $1,700 purchase competes with armor and utility. Movement while firing is only 75 units per second, and the heavy weapon takes time to reposition. Teammates should cover a flank so the Negev player can focus on the main route. Use Smoke Grenade to break a sightline or make opponents hesitate, but remember that smoke also obscures the defender’s information.
CS2 ammunition changes
On March 18, 2026, Counter-Strike 2 changed magazine-fed reloading. A completed reload discards any ammunition remaining in the Negev’s current magazine and supplies a full replacement from reserve; the interface shows reserve magazine counts and the current fill level. With such a large drum, even a partly depleted magazine represents a substantial amount of ammunition, so reload timing should be deliberate.
The Negev’s current CS2 weapon record is separated from its older matchmaking history. Earlier CS:GO updates temporarily removed it from Competitive matchmaking and later restored it; that history is not a statement about CS2 availability. The weapon is listed in the CS2 purchase roster for both sides.
September 27, 2023 Counter-Strike 2 launch update
The September 27, 2023 CS2 launch added a bullet belt to the Negev model. This is a visible weapon-model detail and does not change the machine gun’s ammunition capacity, fire rate or handling. The belt helps distinguish its presentation while the weapon is equipped or inspected.