FACEIT levels in CS2 run from Level 1 (100 to 500 Elo) to Level 10 (2,001 Elo and up), and the top 1,000 Level 10 players earn the Challenger rank. You gain Elo for wins and lose it for losses, with bigger swings when the result is an upset.
This guide covers the full FACEIT Elo table, how Elo moves, how FACEIT seasons and placements work, and how FACEIT compares with Premier. It is current as of October 2026, during FACEIT Season 9. For Valve's own ladder, see our CS2 Premier rating explained guide.
What are the FACEIT levels and Elo ranges in CS2?
FACEIT splits players into ten skill levels by Elo. The ranges below come from the FACEIT CS2 Elo and skill level support article, last updated in April 2025.
| Level | Elo range |
|---|---|
| Challenger | Top 1,000 players at Level 10 |
| Level 10 | 2,001 and above |
| Level 9 | 1,751 to 2,000 |
| Level 8 | 1,531 to 1,750 |
| Level 7 | 1,351 to 1,530 |
| Level 6 | 1,201 to 1,350 |
| Level 5 | 1,051 to 1,200 |
| Level 4 | 901 to 1,050 |
| Level 3 | 751 to 900 |
| Level 2 | 501 to 750 |
| Level 1 | 100 to 500 |
If you see a table where Level 1 runs up to 800 Elo and Level 9 starts at 1,851, it is the older general FACEIT table, not the current CS2 one. Level 10 has no upper limit, which is why FACEIT added Challenger to mark the very top. FACEIT does not publish an official level distribution, so we do not list percentages here.
What Elo do you start with on FACEIT?
Your starting point depends on your Valve account. Per FACEIT, new users who meet minimum requirements, including Prime status and a minimum number of Premier wins, have their Elo converted from their most recent CS2 Premier rating. Everyone else starts at 1,000 Elo, which sits in Level 4.
To play at all, you need a Steam account with CS2 Prime linked to FACEIT, and the FACEIT Anti-Cheat client running, per this scope.gg FACEIT setup guide. Some accounts flagged as suspicious must also verify their identity.
How is FACEIT Elo gained and lost?
Every win adds Elo and every loss removes it. FACEIT says the amount is tied to your team's perceived chance of winning before the match. In practice:
- Underdog wins: beating a team with a higher average Elo pays more.
- Favorite losses: losing when your team was expected to win costs more.
- Even matches: evenly matched games move Elo by a middle amount.
FACEIT does not publish a fixed number per match. Third-party guides such as scope.gg put a standard match at roughly 25 to 30 Elo, so moving one level in the middle of the table usually takes several net wins. Use the rank goal planner to map out a target without guessing.
Can you party with friends of any level?
Not always. FACEIT keeps party Elo restrictions in its paid queues. Its Season 8 FAQ gives the example that a Level 10 player cannot queue with a Level 3 player. Wide gaps can also come with penalties to the Elo you earn.
How do FACEIT seasons and placement matches work?
FACEIT now runs CS2 in seasons with a soft Elo reset and 10 placement matches at the start of each one. This began with Season 8 on April 22, 2026, per the FACEIT Season 8 FAQ. Your Elo stays hidden until you finish all 10 placements.
Season 9 started on August 5, 2026. According to the FACEIT Season 9 reset article, its reset is lighter than Season 8's and looks at recent form, not just your final Elo:
- Recent form: activity, win rate and FACEIT Rating over your last 50 games are factored in.
- Active players: those with about 20 or more wins and average results should see only a small change.
- Inactive players: fewer than 20 Season 8 wins brought an extra downward adjustment.
- Top end: players above 2,500 Elo usually start lower, because FACEIT compresses the top of Level 10.
- Placements: they move Elo more than normal games, but not by hundreds of points per match, and you see how each result changed your starting Elo.
FACEIT says the resets target inflation at the uncapped top of Level 10 and uneven games caused by returning inactive players, as Hawk Live reported when calibration was announced.
How do you reach Level 10 and Challenger?
Level 10 starts at 2,001 Elo. Challenger is not a separate Elo number. It is a rank shown on profiles and in match rooms for the top 1,000 players at Level 10. Because the top end is compressed each season, holding Challenger means staying active and winning consistently.
The habits that work on Valve's ladders also work here: a small map pool, clear roles with your team, and reviewing your own stats. Our CS2 stats explained guide shows which numbers to watch.
What is the difference between FACEIT and Premier?
Both are 5v5 ranked ladders for CS2, but they are run by different companies and use different systems.
| Feature | FACEIT | CS2 Premier |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | FACEIT, a third-party platform | Valve, inside CS2 |
| Rank display | Levels 1 to 10 plus Elo, Challenger at the top | Numeric CS Rating in colored bands |
| Placement | 10 placement matches each season | 10 wins to reveal your rating each season |
| Anti-cheat | FACEIT Anti-Cheat client required | Valve's in-game systems |
| Map choice | Map pick in the match room | Ten-player pick and ban vote |
| Cost | Free to play; paid plans add features like Super Match | Included with CS2 Prime |
Premier ratings use 5,000-point color bands, from grey under 5,000 to gold at 30,000 and above, per csdb.gg. For a deeper look at all three ladders, read Premier vs Competitive vs FACEIT.
Check your FACEIT level and Steam stats together. Search your account on the RankSurge CS2 stats page to see your FACEIT profile alongside your Steam data, then compare yourself with the pros on CS2 pro comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
What Elo is FACEIT Level 10?
FACEIT Level 10 starts at 2,001 Elo and has no upper limit, according to FACEIT's CS2 Elo and skill level support article. Level 9 covers 1,751 to 2,000 Elo. Because Level 10 is uncapped, FACEIT also shows a Challenger rank for the top 1,000 players at Level 10, and its seasonal soft resets compress the top end of the ladder so the highest Elo totals do not keep inflating.
How much Elo do you get per FACEIT match?
FACEIT does not publish a fixed amount. It says Elo changes are tied to your team's perceived chance of winning, so beating a stronger team pays more and losing to a weaker team costs more. Third-party guides such as scope.gg estimate a standard match at roughly 25 to 30 Elo. Placement matches at the start of a season move Elo more than normal games, but FACEIT says not by hundreds of points per match.
What Elo do new FACEIT players start with?
Most new FACEIT players start at 1,000 Elo, which is Level 4. FACEIT says that new users who meet minimum requirements, including Prime status in CS2 and a minimum number of Premier wins, instead have their Elo converted from their most recent Premier rating. Your first season also includes 10 placement matches, so your starting number can move quickly in the opening games.
What is FACEIT Challenger?
Challenger is a FACEIT rank for the top 1,000 players at Level 10 in CS2. It is not a separate Elo range; it marks the best players inside uncapped Level 10. FACEIT shows Challenger on player profiles and in match rooms. Because FACEIT compresses the top of Level 10 at each season reset and favors recent activity, staying in Challenger requires playing and winning consistently.
Does FACEIT reset Elo every season?
FACEIT uses a soft reset rather than a full wipe. Season 8 began April 22, 2026 with a soft reset and 10 placement matches for every player. Season 9 began August 5, 2026 with a lighter reset that also weighs recent activity, win rate and FACEIT Rating over your last 50 games. Active players usually see small changes, while inactive players and the very top of Level 10 see larger adjustments.
Is FACEIT harder than Premier?
FACEIT and Premier are separate ladders, so there is no official conversion between them. FACEIT requires its own anti-cheat client, uses levels and Elo instead of a CS Rating, and lets paying members use extra queues such as Super Match. Some players prefer FACEIT for its required anti-cheat client and stricter queue options, but neither ladder publishes a difficulty comparison. The best test is to play both and compare your own results.
Sources
- support.faceit.com/hc/en-us/articles/10525200579740-FACEIT-CS2-Elo-...
- support.faceit.com/hc/en-us/articles/26259323321244-FACEIT-Season-8...
- support.faceit.com/hc/en-us/articles/28898322786076
- scope.gg/guides/faceit-en/
- hawk.live/posts/calibration-will-be-added-to-faceit-like-premier
- csdb.gg/guides/ranks-guide/
