Sawed-Off

The Sawed-Off shotgun stands as the ultimate embodiment of raw, uncompromising point-blank brutality for the Terrorist faction in Counter-Strike 2. Created by lopping off the barrel and stock of a standard 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, the Sawed-Off trades all semblance of range and projectile velocity for catastrophic close-quarters impact. Exclusive to the attacking faction and priced at an accessible $1,100, the Sawed-Off is designed for high-risk bombsite breaches, close-range ambushes, and explosive post-plant site defense where engagement distances are measured in inches rather than yards.

From a ballistic perspective, the Sawed-Off discharges 8 massive pellets that output 32 base damage each, yielding a staggering 256 total potential base damage per shell—the highest raw single-shot damage potential of any shotgun in the game. Backed by a 75 percent armor penetration rating, a direct point-blank blast will instantly obliterate any opponent regardless of Kevlar vest, helmet, or current health status. The tubular magazine holds 7 shells, with 32 shells in reserve, cycling its pump mechanism at 71 rounds per minute.

The defining operational reality of the Sawed-Off is its extreme damage falloff and wide pellet spread. Beyond four to five meters, the pellets disperse widely, causing damage to drop off dramatically. Consequently, the Sawed-Off cannot be used to contest open areas or long corridors. In tight, confined spaces, however—such as crouching inside Mirage Underpass, tucking into Inferno Apartments, or camping inside Nuke Vents—the weapon is completely lethal. Furthermore, like the Nova, it features individual shell reloading, allowing the operator to load one or two shells and immediately fire if caught in the middle of a reload.

Financially, the Sawed-Off is priced at just $1,100 while granting the lucrative $900 shotgun kill bounty. On Terrorist eco rounds or budget force-buys, an aggressive player can invest in a Sawed-Off, lurk in a tight corner, ambush an unsuspecting Counter-Terrorist holding a close angle, collect $900 in bounty cash, and immediately steal their fallen M4 rifle to take into the bombsite.

While seen less frequently in professional play than its CT counterpart, the Sawed-Off has produced legendary tournament moments. Aggressive in-game leaders like Dan "apEX" Madesclaire and North American stars have occasionally unleashed the Sawed-Off to break open close-quarters defensive setups on maps like Inferno and Vertigo, catching CTs completely off-guard with instant point-blank eliminations.

In the skin collection community, the Sawed-Off features several beloved and artistic finishes. The Sawed-Off The Kraken from the Operation Vanguard Case is a standout collector favorite featuring tentacles wrapping around the receiver. Other popular finishes include the vibrant Devourer, the clean Wasteland Princess with its post-apocalyptic graffiti, the radioactive Limelight, the sleek Serenity, and the luxurious Copper. The Sawed-Off remains a formidable monument to point-blank Terrorist destructive power in Counter-Strike 2.