Counter-Strike 2 equipment record
| Property | CS2 value |
|---|---|
| Buy price | $200 |
| Weapon slot | Melee slot, alongside the knife |
| Magazine | 1 shot |
| Fire mode | Single shot |
| Recharge interval | 30 seconds |
| Running speed | 230 units/s |
| Damage | 500 listed; effective result depends on distance |
| Kill reward | $100 Competitive · $50 Casual |
| Effective range bands | Under 183 units: lethal hit · 183–230: heavy but not guaranteed · beyond 230: no damage |
Role & availability
The Zeus x27 is purchased from the Equipment section of the Buy Menu and occupies the melee slot alongside the player's knife. It can be bought by Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, including in Deathmatch, and a later CS2 rule permits it to be dropped. The item has one shot; after firing it begins a 30-second recharge before it can be used again. The recharge is a wait between uses rather than a supply of reserve shots.
CS2 lists a $200 purchase price, 230 units per second running speed, and one-round magazine. The short-range hit-scan projectile deals very high damage. At less than 183 hammer units it can kill with one hit regardless of hitbox and ignores armor. From 183 through 230 units it deals heavy damage but is not a guaranteed instant kill; the target's remaining health matters. Beyond 230 units it deals no damage. The practical range is therefore close to the reach of a Stock Knife, rather than a substitute for a conventional firearm.
The Zeus has very low running inaccuracy but substantial inaccuracy while jumping. Its recharge sound can be heard by nearby teammates and opponents even while the weapon is unequipped. Firing creates a loud electrical crack and visible flash; a struck opponent emits a distinctive scream. These effects can reveal the shot and its location to nearby players.
CS2's April 25, 2024 update set the kill reward to $100 in Competitive and $50 in Casual, and raised maximum player speed to 230. The February 6, 2024 update made the Zeus available in all game modes with a 30-second interval between uses. These are CS2 values; older-edition figures are not used here.
When to use it
The Zeus works best when the user can close distance without crossing a watched lane. Hurrying straight at an opponent is unreliable: even a pistol can defeat the approach before the Zeus reaches its short effective range. An ambush around a corner, inside a confined route or near an entryway gives the target less time to react once it appears at close range.
A Smoke Grenade or Flashbang can help a player approach a disoriented opponent, although those grenades are often more valuable when supporting a rifle or the team as a whole. Because the Zeus provides only one shot followed by a long recharge, choose a target and distance carefully; missing or firing outside the effective range leaves no immediate second attempt.
The low price can make a successful ambush attractive, especially if the player can recover the defeated opponent's weapon. It remains a situational purchase: Loadout space, the team's Economy and a free knife or pistol all affect whether the opportunity cost is worthwhile. A player should not treat the Zeus as a dependable replacement for a primary weapon.
Workshop submission support (June 15, 2023)
The June 15, 2023 Limited Test update added the Zeus x27 to the weapon list available for Workshop submissions. This concerns the authoring/submission interface and does not by itself mean that Zeus weapon finishes became available or that the weapon’s in-match behavior changed. The same update listed a visual improvement to the Taser, the Zeus x27’s appearance, but did not specify the exact change or indicate a gameplay effect.
Movement, attack range and kill reward (April 25, 2024)
The April 25, 2024 CS2 gameplay update increased Zeus x27 movement speed from 220 to 230 units per second and narrowed its attack cone, reducing firing range from 190 to 120 units. The two adjustments affect different parts of its use: the movement value changes how quickly its carrier moves, while the shorter range requires the target to be closer for the electrical attack to connect. The range reduction makes careful approach and close positioning more important; the speed increase does not make the Zeus a long-range weapon.
The same update changed the kill reward for a Zeus x27 elimination from $0 to $100, or $50 in Casual. This gives the single-use close-range weapon a defined economy return when it secures a kill. The Casual reward is separately listed because mode rules differ. These values describe the April 25, 2024 update and should be read as a dated balance record rather than a timeless guarantee. The change did not state a new ammunition count or alter the weapon's one-shot consumable role.