The Best Way to Level Up the Armory Pass in CS2: How to Quickly Earn New Skins
Author: Hawk Live LLC
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Counter-Strike 2 continues to please fans with updates: the recent release of The Armory Pass (also known as the Armory Battle Pass) allows players to obtain unique items—from new weapon collections to charms and stickers. However, the community’s main question is how to most effectively level up the Battle Pass and earn the stars needed to exchange for rare skins. Below is a detailed guide to help you understand why playing daily is important, which modes to choose, and how to get the maximum rewards in the least amount of time.
What the Armory Pass Is and Why It’s Worth Leveling
The Armory Pass is a mechanic similar to previous Operations, where a player can earn a special in-game currency (Armory Credits) by gaining experience (XP). These credits are spent on exclusive items: skins from the new collections (Overpass 2024, Graphic, Sport and Field), charms, stickers, and even a special Desert Eagle Heat Treated, available for a limited time.
One Armory Pass grants 40 credits.
You can activate up to five Passes at once, allowing you to accumulate up to 200 credits total (5×40).
Each Pass must be purchased separately, and it cannot be transferred, gifted, or sold.
Thus, the more Passes a player activates, the higher the total star (or credit) cap. However, to collect these credits, you need to play CS2, leveling each Pass in parallel.
Credit: Valve Corporation
Main Principles for Quickly Earning Stars (Credits)
1. Choosing the Right Game Mode
To maximize XP farming, both official sources and player experience agree that Competitive and Premier modes are the best choices. The reasons are clear:
Maximum amount of XP per match.
A large pool of active players, ensuring fast queue times.
Unlike Casual, there are no caps on experience gained, and each win (or loss) directly affects your progress.
2. Regular Play
CS2 does not require any specific “quests” to earn stars; simply playing will accumulate XP. Keep in mind:
Finishing the match guarantees you receive XP (provided you don’t exit prematurely).
Every minute spent in-game gets you closer to the next credit.
3. Leveling Multiple Passes Simultaneously
If you activate multiple Armory Passes (up to five), the same amount of experience will be credited to each one. In other words, if you earn 1,000 XP in a match, you’ll gain progress toward each active Pass.
For instance, with three Passes active, you can earn a total of 120 credits (3×40).
This parallel progress does not require any additional actions; it happens automatically.
How to Efficiently Manage Your In-Game Time
1. Minimize Downtime
To accumulate experience quickly, choose modes where downtime between matches is minimal. Premier and Competitive generally last about 30–40 minutes, but queue times there are much faster than in less popular modes.
2. Play in a Party
Playing with friends not only increases your chances of winning (and thus extra XP), but also reduces the risk of your team members leaving early. If one of your teammates quits, there’s a risk the match will be canceled and no XP will be awarded.
3. Study the Maps
Knowing the maps (especially updated versions of classic locations like Overpass) helps you secure more wins and earn maximum XP. Putting in a little extra preparation pays off twice: you farm XP faster and learn new gameplay tricks.
What to Spend Your Earned Stars (Armory Credits) On
Credit: Valve Corporation
The Armory allows you to exchange earned credits for several categories of items:
Gallery Case – costs 2 credits.
Random Charm (from two collections) – 3 credits.
Random Skin (from three collections: Graphic, Sport and Field, Overpass 2024) – 4 credits.
Random Sticker – 1 credit.
Limited Desert Eagle Heat Treated – 25 credits.
Particular attention should be paid to the Desert Eagle Heat Treated, as it’s available only for a limited time—about 100 days from the Pass’s launch. This item may become a costly rarity on the market. If your goal is collecting and long-term value, consider saving up your credits specifically for this Desert Eagle.
Additional Tips for Fast Progress
Keep an eye on in-game events. Valve occasionally hosts events or offers double XP, giving you a chance to speed up your progress.
Community tournaments and events. Some esports communities run events that may grant extra XP (albeit indirectly, by boosting your playtime and overall engagement).
Efficient sessions. Rather than hopping in for 10–15 minutes at a time, it’s more productive to play full matches for maximum XP rewards each session.
Why Buy Multiple Passes
Credit: Valve Corporation
For those who plan to fully dive in and collect as many rare skins as possible, it’s optimal to purchase multiple Passes. This way:
Your total “star” bank increases to 80, 120, 160, or even 200, depending on how many Passes you have.
You gain quicker access to a broader range of items—including sticker capsules, random charms, and skins.
Keep in mind, however, that you can’t buy credits directly—the only way to earn them is by playing on official servers with an activated Armory Pass.
Final Thoughts
The Armory Pass in CS2 opens up a wide array of possibilities for players: from bright new collections like Overpass 2024, Graphic, and Sport and Field to limited skins that could become genuine rarities in the future. To earn credits quickly, consider the following recommendations:
Choose Competitive or Premier Mode, where experience accumulates faster.
Play steadily and regularly, and avoid leaving matches prematurely.
Activate multiple Passes if you aim to collect the maximum number of unique items.
By following these tips, every Counter-Strike 2 fan can not only improve their in-game skills but also build an impressive collection of skins, charms, and stickers. After all, the main goal is to enjoy the gameplay—and the additional rewards in the form of bright and rare items only fuel the desire to dive deeper into the world of CS2.
