Skill Acquisition Journey through Competitive Gaming

For a while, I couldn’t play VALORANT consistently. My new computer was stuttering so badly that the game felt unplayable. At first, I worried this would stop me from practicing my mechanics altogether.

Instead of putting training on hold, I switched to Counter-Strike 2. To my surprise, it was a good choice. CS2 offers a wide range of training scenarios, and honestly—it’s fun. Reps feel faster, cleaner, and more focused.

Still, I didn’t want to abandon VALORANT. So I asked ChatGPT a simple question:
“Are the skills from CS2 transferable to VALORANT?”

The answer was yes. But what really caught my attention was ChatGPT’s reasoning. According to its breakdown, CS2 places a stronger emphasis on raw mechanics: crosshair precision, movement discipline, recoil control, and first-shot accuracy. These skills form the foundation of every tactical FPS. If you refine them in CS2, you bring that sharpness straight into VALORANT.

Even more surprising, ChatGPT suggested I should spend more time in CS2—at least when the goal is to perfect mechanics. VALORANT remains crucial for ability timing, team coordination, and map knowledge, but CS2 accelerates the grind on fundamentals.

For now, my plan is simple:

• Train mechanics in CS2.
• Apply them in VALORANT.

It feels like a win-win: VALORANT remains my main game, but CS2 gives me a stronger foundation to bring back into it.

(Update 10-24-2025) After expericiencing for a few months now, I can confirm CS2 is more mechanicaly demanding than valorant.

The movement is faster, the stopping time longer as CS has a bit of a slide feeling before stopping, the recoil is more hectic and the practice feels more needed in order of acquiring deeper appropriate mechanics skills.

11/12/2025: I have stopped refrag training for a while now and I think I can notice a drop in my reflexes time and first accuracy shots (flicks). Back from the winter vacation, I will experimebt with using the tool as training improves the reaction time overall.