Counter-Strike 2 weapon specifications
| Property | CS2 value |
|---|---|
| Buy price | $1,050 |
| Magazine / reserve | 8 / 32 shells |
| Pellets per shot | 9 |
| Damage | 26 per pellet · 234 if all pellets hit |
| Fire mode / rate | Pump-action · 68 rounds per minute |
| Reload | 0.7 s for the first shell · 0.5 s for each following shell |
| Accurate range | 3.2 m |
| Armor penetration | 50% |
| Range modifier | 0.70 |
| Kill reward | $900 Competitive · $450 Casual |
Damage per pellet by hitbox (Wiki weapon record)
| Hitbox | Unarmored | Armored |
|---|---|---|
| Head | 106 | 52 |
| Chest and arms | 26 | 13 |
| Abdomen and pelvis | 32 | 16 |
| Legs | 19 | 19 |
Nine-pellet spread and damage
Each Nova shell releases nine pellets. The 26-damage weapon field is per pellet; 234 represents the total only if all nine pellets connect before other damage effects. The hitbox table gives per-pellet values: 106/52 to the head, 32/16 to abdomen and pelvis, 26/13 to chest and arms, and 19 to the legs. Distance and spread determine how many pellets land, so the full-shot total is a ceiling rather than a guaranteed result.
The Nova has a comparatively tight, vertically oriented spread described as wishbone-shaped, with the central cluster tending slightly left. Its 3.2-metre accurate range and 0.70 range modifier keep it a close-range weapon, though its source describes the falloff and spread as more forgiving than some other shotguns. Center the target in the pattern and account for its leftward bias instead of aiming at an isolated head at a distance.
Shell-by-shell reload and purchase
The Nova holds eight shells and carries 32 in reserve. It reloads one shell at a time: the first shell takes 0.7 seconds and subsequent shells 0.5 seconds each. This lets the player interrupt a reload to fire if an opponent arrives, unlike a detachable-magazine shotgun. Reload from cover when possible and do not assume an interrupted sequence has restored the full capacity.
At $1,050, the Nova is a low-cost shotgun available to both teams. Its kill reward is $900 in Competitive and $450 in Casual, which can make a successful close ambush valuable in an economy round. It has relatively low per-pellet damage and weak armor penetration, so the player must land a dense pattern to defeat protected opponents. Compare the Counter-Terrorist MAG-7, Terrorist Sawed-Off and automatic XM1014 for different reload and close-range roles.