Gun game is a varient on counterstrike that is mainly found on community servers, but there is also the official version of "arms race." The object is to make a kill using every weapon in the game. More ofthen than not, the last kill is made with the knife. The first player on either terrorist or counter-terrorist to do this wins the game.

There are lots of options available for gun game such as instant respawns, throwing knives, multi-kill powerups, single/double kill weapon advancement, etc. In other words, there is a gun game somewhere to suit you :)

As achievements are active through gun game, it is also a fun way to earn some of them.

BIND !GIVE
The single most useful command in all of gun game. By pressing the "q" key you can auto reload your weapon. I cannot stress how important this is! If you don't like "q" then alter the text below to a key/mouse button that suits your play-style.

NOTE: Some servers will restrict the number of times that this command can be used, others will auto bind it to your reload key ("r" default) when you join their server.

• Enable dev console in Help & options -> game settings
  
• Press the "~" key (next to number 1)
  
• Type in this command
  bind "q" "say !give"
  (note: you may need to press a vowel on your keyboard first to keep console open - weird bug)

- This option is not available in arms race -

TEAM KILLS
If friendly fire is on and you kill a team mate, enjoy that last weapon you were on because you are about to lose a level and use it again! This can be very frustrating when you have to get a nade kill, in which case, plan your nades into enemy territory carefully!
Some servers will actually reverse damage of team kills too, so that damage that would have killed your team mate will instead be inflicted on you and only you will die (as well as lose a level). Take that Griefers and trolls!

KNIFE KILLS
In all varients of gun game, a knife kill will instantly progress you to the next weapon. In many cases, it will also take away a level from your victim! In servers where you are required to get 2 kills to progress to the next weapon, a knife kill will usually progress you to the next weapon as if you had killed twice! On the rare server that hosts the throwing knife, a shot to the head will result in instant kill.


KNIFE FIGHTS
On servers that do not grant instant respawn, the last surviving terrorist and counter-terrorist will usually be offered a knife fight. In the knife fight your health is restored to 100% and your armour is either stripped to 0% or restored to 100%. Your weapons are also removed. There is usually a period of invulnerability where you and your opponent are "beaconed" and able to find each other. The winner of the knife fight will advance a level and the loser will lose a level. Although you have the option to not knife fight, not doing so it not very gun game of you, so just accept it and get some knife practice :)

CUSTOM TEXTURES/SKINS
It is common to have to wait for a server to send you all of their custom skins, and textures. This can be fun, usually more sound effects, clever skins, and even free access to really expensive weapons skins on the marketplace for your duration of the game.

Unlike vanilla counterstrike, you are not really in a team. You don't owe your team anything, nor will they likely help you in any way. You are on your own! Your clever flash bangs and smokes won't apply here either. All that counts is getting the kills! Remember a stolen kill is a kill, find those wounded enemies and claim your prize.

RAMBO
This is best for those who like to get up close and personal. It is not suited for many of the larger maps, but for small maps with instant respawn, it is perfect! Know a few things about weapons for this style:

• Pistols - strafe (A-D-A-D), aim at head, spam left click
  
• Autos - Aim at head, hold down left click, strafe and move aim to groin (= head shot!)
  
• Snipers - Always stand completely still when firing or you will shoot nothing at all

KNIFE JERK
This is often the strategy for when you can't seem to get a kill on a certain weapon (scout and mac10 seem to be a common problem). Though many people seem to just enjoy being that knife jerk. Tuck your weapon into your belt and pull out that expensive karambit you purchased from the marketplace. This is especially effective when the other team are still on snipers as they tend to all be looking down their scopes at the time. Wait in corners, hide in bushes, travel in a pack of your team mates and finish a wounded enemy! Level up quick and annoy the other team.

HAPPY CAMPER
It speaks for itself. Most maps offer a dark place, leafy bush, hard to reach perch, or just a corner in enemy spawn that serves as a nice camping spot. Though this won't make you the most popular player, it is quite an effective strategy. It is worth keeping in mind however that respawned opponents can't be killed until a couple of seconds after respawn.

MR. TECHNIQUE
This is the guy (or girl) who has spent a minute or two learning how to stutter step, tap fire, burst fire, etc. Getting that timing down just right to get the perfect shot to land where they are actually aiming. It is best employed on maps that don't offer instant respawns and have a bit of distance to them as a little patience will help. Although this gives a slight advantage, it really only helps for auto weapons at a distance. Once close quarters starts, go Rambo!

At the end of the day, this is what it is all about. I won't be saying much new in this section to seasoned players, but it is pretty obvious that you need to know each weapon's strengths and weakneses to get those kills.

Each weapon has its own spray pattern (each round will fire in a slightly different direction to the round before it. Usually a tad higher up) and recoil reset (the time after each shot before the weapon shoots straight again).

Use "!give" everytime you are nearly out of ammo, or out of ammo!!!!!

Pistols
Spamming left click whilst aiming for the head and strafing (A-D-A-D) is best. If you spam click very fast, it is a good idea to lower your aim to the torso after the first shot goes off to compensate recoil.

SMGs
These are horrible at a long distance, but if you are forced into it, try to stutter step and let off a round or three at someone's head. Best strategy is to close the distance and spray at their face, strafe (don't let go of left click), spray at their groin.

Shotguns
These are easy kills! Just get up close, aim, fire. Remember that shotguns are somewhat accurate when you jump as well. This can be handy for that jump and shoot surprise shot around a corner.

Auto Rifles
These are the favourite all-rounder weapons. Stutter step when at a distance, or in some occasions crouch and shoot at head is best. If up close, use the same strategy as SMGs - Aim at face, hold fire, strafe, aim at groin.
FAMAS - at a distance switch to burst fire for added accuracy on the stutter step, standing still, or crouching.

LSWs
For the negev and Para at a distance, crouch and aim at head with small 3 rounds bursts. Try to pull down slightly towards the body as you shoot.
Spam fire, close distance, Start at face, quickly aim at feet and watch the bullets fly. You should be able to adjust the height of the aim, but it is often putting the crosshair on the ground in front of your target.

Snipers
Loosely aim, scope aim, shoot! Just remember not to move when you take your shot or you may as well have not shot at all. Close quarters, no scope at point blank works well, or just knife enemy.

HE nade
Sometimes you have to get a nade kill to progress to knife. There are a few stategies that work, but usually throwing at several targets in a cluster works well as at least one should die in the blast. Otherwise, try to throw at an enemy BEFORE your teammate starts to shoot them. They will wound them and your nade will finish them off! It is also nice to find a camping enemy as your nade is often more accurate than your team's aim!

Final knife
Three main strategies here (r-click in back for 1-hit kill):

• Hide in a corner, bush, dark place until enemy comes past - stabby stabby
  
• Travel in a group of respawned team mates, let them wound enemy - stabby stabby
  
• Try to make your way covertly to enemy spawn, follow a new spawn target - stabby stabby

Know your knife!!

• Left Click - fast swipes, low damage
  
• Right Click - Slow stabs, high damage
  
• Right Click in back - instant kill

In most cases either a stab in the back or 2 stabs with right click are best!

Collision off
This is when you have the ability to run through your opponent like a ghost (same as casual). In this case, the best strategy is to run through your opponent, turn around and right click for that one stab kill in the back. It takes a little practice to get the timing right.

Armour off
In the servers where your armour is stripped for a knife fight, the left click does more damage than usual and is fast. The best strategy is to left click, then right click straight away for a quick 2-shot kill.

Bunny hopping
If you know how to bunny hop, chances are, you know how to knife fight. Just use the speed to surprise your opponent and get them with a right click in the back. If you face a bunny hopper (you will know them as they look like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh), learn their timing and do your best to judge when they will attempt their kill. Turn around (this prevents the knife in the back) and right click. They have now lost speed and are evenly matched with you, chances are you both have lost half your health. You now have one more right click left, only practice will get your timing right here.

Duck and stab
This is a useful technique as most people don't aim down when they knife fight. Just as you get close to your enemy, crouch down and r-click stab them in the legs. You can usually get in a cut without any damage to yourself. The benefit of this is obvious...

Throwing knives
Throwing knives generally travel in an arc, so you will need to learn to aim above the head to get a head shot. If the server offers the throwing knife, I personally like to wait for the other person to throw their's, dodge it, and then throw my own. The distance you are from your opponent affects your arc, so further away means aim higher!

Sudden Death
This is where both of you are stripped to 1% health. Left click is the clear winner here. Just time it right!

Gun game is fun, but requires a slightly different skill set to vanilla counter strike. It is uber casual and is a great way to boost those stattrak weapons' counters. Main things to remember are:

• Don't be afraid to die (rounds are very fast!)
  
• Don't conserve ammo, that's what "!give" and unlimited lives is for
  
• Aim for head, strafe and spam, aim for groin will work for most weapons
  
• Try not to get knifed!!!
  
• Try to knife when possible!!!
  
• Have fun :D