What Do CS2 Stickers Hide? Secrets, Easter Eggs, and References
Stickers in Counter-Strike hold a special place in the game. They receive a significant amount of attention from the community, and with the transition to Source 2, they have been given a new life thanks to the update that allows free placement. The unique aspect of stickers is that they cannot be transferred from one weapon to another. Once applied to a device, the only option is to either fully or partially erase it. This process is what we will discuss today. Designers have started hiding various secrets beneath the main design, which can completely change the sticker’s appearance or conceal a full story.
Sticker | Welcome to the Clutch — $1.11
One of the first stickers where the author decided to use this trick when erasing the sticker. At the time, it was a really cool solution and sparked a lot of positive discussion. To see the phrase “Welcome to hell” and replace the rainbow with skulls, you need to scratch the sticker until you are prompted to completely remove it.
Sticker | CS On The Mind — $1.10
Some CS players really love this shooter, having experienced several parts of the franchise, and don’t acknowledge any other games in this genre. They are often said to have “CS on the brain.” The sticker’s author must have heard this phrase before and decided to play on it. When scratched, most of the brain convolutions disappear, leaving only two that form the letters “CS.” Is this a hint from the author about the number of brain cells CS players have? We don’t support such notions!
Sticker | Silver — $0.37
The capsule with rank stickers appeared in November 2018. The content included stickers with the most popular ranks in the game and hid a few interesting Easter eggs. On the sticker with the lowest rank, scratching reveals an apology to more skilled players, saying “Sorry for this aim.” It’s an ironic story, but sometimes watching beginners play can indeed be very painful. We advise inexperienced players to stick this sticker on their default pistols and, after a poorly played moment, press the inspect button to calm the spectators’ anger. A picture is worth a thousand words!
Sticker | Gold Nova — $2.16
Once you’ve climbed out of the Silvers, your ascent among the stars begins. Few people play competitive rank mode in CS anymore; most have switched to Premier or farm ELO on Faceit. Getting the first star used to be a very important event for players, as it meant you were no longer just a Silver. The designer of this sticker definitely felt that sentiment and hid the text “MVP” right in the middle of the star.
Sticker | Master Guardian Elite — $0.18
Within the community, this rank was considered the starting point on the road to Global Elite. Rumors circulated that the gameplay at these ranks was tougher than at any other, and it was very hard to move up. Perhaps this stereotype inspired the sticker’s creator. After a few actions, the image of two AK-47s changes to an M4A4, and the terrorist turns into a counter-terrorist in a gas mask. Incidentally, the gameplay at these ranks was indeed quite toxic. Another reference decoded?
Sticker | Knife Club — $0.94
No guts, no glory – in Russian, there is a similar saying: “He who doesn’t risk doesn’t drink champagne.” A great motto for a knife club, as any knife kill in the game is a really risky decision, but the emotions are awesome when you manage to stab your opponent. Teammates won’t always appreciate such maneuvers and might consider them reckless, so it’s better not to tell anyone you love knifing in CS. “Don’t talk about Knife Club,” requests the sticker’s author, much like the main character in the movie “Fight Club.”
Sticker | Good Versus Evil — $0.35
The storyline of the struggle between good and evil is present in every sphere, and the Counter-Strike community is no exception. The author decided to capture this story on a sticker with a fighting demon and a fire-breathing dragon. Usually, good always wins, but if you scratch the sticker, scissors cutting paper appear where the purple demon was. Does that mean evil wins? That’s not to our liking, so we hit the “scrape” button one last time and remove the sticker from the weapon!
Sticker | Green's Problem — $0.16
Another integral part of almost any culture is memes. In the CS community, there are many local funny moments that have gone beyond their regions and become known to the entire community. This meme from Spanish streamer Tense’s broadcast exploded on the internet and even ended up on an in-game item. During a match, a player wanted to play solo on ramp and reacted quite emotionally when a teammate ignored his request. At the start of the round, he aggressively sought an answer, shot at his ally, and was kicked from the game for it. The Spaniard’s nerves snapped, and he trashed his gaming setup. This storyline is fully depicted on the sticker.
Sticker | Call Your Flashes — $0.19
Using a flashbang often implies teamwork. “Throw a flash” is heard in almost every round, and there are often situations where instead of the opponent, your own teammate ends up blinded. Admit it, has it ever happened to you?
Sticker | Kawaii CT (Holo) — $5.24
The last and most expensive sticker today, which would be a shame to erase. A cute art of a CT girl with beautifully shimmering wings. The sticker’s author can’t imagine erasing such a cool sticker and asks a question before hitting the “erase completely” button. Before the player wastes more than 5 dollars, the designer gives a chance to change their mind, changing the image from a happy girl to one almost crying. “Why are you scraping me?” she asks.