CS2 Armor & Helmet Guide
Everything you need to know about how armor works in Counter-Strike 2, including damage reduction, armor penetration, buy strategies, and when to skip helmet.
How Armor Works
Armor in CS2 reduces incoming damage to protected hitboxes (head, chest, stomach). The amount of reduction depends on the weapon's armor penetration value. A weapon with 77.5% armor penetration deals 77.5% of its normal damage through armor — meaning the armor absorbs 22.5% of the damage.
Kevlar protects the chest and stomach. Adding a helmet extends protection to the head. Legs are never protected by armor, which creates interesting dynamics where leg shots can outperform chest shots against armored targets when using low armor-pen weapons.
Armor Cost and Buy Strategy
Kevlar vest costs $650 and kevlar + helmet costs $1000. If you already own kevlar and it is above 0%, adding a helmet only costs $350. Armor durability decreases as it absorbs damage, but you generally do not need to repurchase if it is above roughly 50%.
Damage With vs Without Armor
How much damage popular weapons deal to chest with and without armor at point blank range.
| Weapon | Armor Pen | Chest (No Armor) | Chest (Armor) | Damage Blocked | Head (No Helmet) | Head (Helmet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glock-18 | 47% | 30 | 14 | -16 | 120 | 56 |
| USP-S | 50.5% | 35 | 17 | -18 | 140 | 70 |
| P250 | 63.5% | 38 | 24 | -14 | 152 | 96 |
| Desert Eagle | 93.2% | 63 | 58 | -5 | 252 | 234 |
| MAC-10 | 57.5% | 29 | 16 | -13 | 116 | 66 |
| UMP-45 | 65% | 35 | 22 | -13 | 140 | 91 |
| Galil AR | 77.5% | 30 | 23 | -7 | 120 | 93 |
| AK-47 | 77.5% | 36 | 27 | -9 | 144 | 111 |
| M4A1-S | 70% | 38 | 26 | -12 | 152 | 106 |
| AWP | 97.5% | 115 | 112 | -3 | 460 | 448 |
When to Skip Helmet (CT Side)
On CT side against a full T buy with AK-47s, the helmet does not prevent one-shot headshots from the AK. Some players skip helmet to save $350 for utility. However, helmet still protects against Glock force buys, SMG flanks, and pistol rounds. In most situations, buying helmet is the safer choice.
Armor Penetration by Weapon Class
Armor penetration varies significantly between weapon classes. Rifles and the Desert Eagle have the highest values, while pistols like the Glock-18 and SMGs like the PP-Bizon have very low armor pen, making them much less effective against armored opponents.
FAQ
How much does armor cost in CS2?
Kevlar vest costs $650 and protects chest and stomach. Kevlar + Helmet costs $1000 total. If you already have kevlar, adding a helmet costs only $350. Armor does not need to be repurchased if it is above 50%.
Does armor affect movement speed?
No. Unlike some other games, buying armor in CS2 does not affect your movement speed at all. There is no reason to skip armor for mobility.
When should I skip helmet on CT side?
When the enemy team has a full AK-47 buy, helmets provide less value because the AK one-shots through helmet anyway. However, helmets still protect against incidental pistol and SMG headshots from flankers, so many players still buy full armor.
What does armor penetration percentage mean?
A weapon with 77.5% armor penetration deals 77.5% of its normal damage to armored hitboxes. The remaining 22.5% is absorbed by the armor. Higher armor pen weapons are more effective against armored opponents.
Do legs have armor protection?
No. Leg shots are never reduced by armor. This means against weapons with very low armor penetration (like the Glock-18 at 47%), shooting legs can actually deal more damage than shooting the chest of an armored opponent.