Is FACEIT level 10 better than global?
As a CS:GO player and content creator with over 5,000 hours invested into Valve‘s iconic tac-shooter, this is a question I‘ve thought a lot about. And in my opinion, yes – reaching FACEIT Level 10 represents attaining the absolute highest skill level in Counter-Strike.
See, many players consider Global Elite to be the penultimate CS rank. But having played ESEA Rank G and FACEIT Level 10, I can safely say Valve‘s matchmaking doesn‘t hold a candle to the environment and competition FACEIT provides. Grinding through FACEIT‘s elo-based ladder teaches you CS fundamentals at a much deeper level compared to matchmaking.
Let‘s analyze the key differences:
The Path to Glory: FACEIT‘s Elo Rating
Elo rating systems calculate relative skill levels between competitors. Developed for chess rankings, Elo assigns you a numerical skill representation. Win games consecutively against highly rated foes, and your Elo skyrockets accordingly.
To reach Level 10, you‘ll need to steadily climb FACEIT‘s Elo ladder through a gauntlet of 2,500+ Elo point gamers. In contrast, competitive matchmaking uses a more opaque skill algorithm less correlated to your actual ability. It takes most serious players thousands of hours to attain Global Elite. Yet plenty of FACEIT 9s and 10s sit at Gold Nova or MG in Valve MM.
Comparing the Player Bases
The wider skill spectrum across FACEIT‘s playerbase also demonstrates their competitive pedigree. According to statistics aggregated by Leetify in 2020, only around 2% of CS:GO competitors reach Global Elite. However in NA FACEIT, just 0.4% of players attain Level 10.
The sheer quantity of high-elo gamers breeds an ultra-competitive environment. Matching into a pug and seeing nine 2.5k+ Elo talent is my nightmare fuel. But it’s also where I’ve learned the most about playing CS at the highest level.
Infrastructure Advantages
Besides the player base, FACEIT‘s infrastructure affords a more true-to-life competitive environment. 128-tick servers provide double the bandwidth of 64-tick matchmaking, meaning vastly superior hit registration. League integration allows playing scheduled seasons alongside teammates. FACEIT‘s FBI system incentivizes good behavior via Elo deductions for toxicity.
Most importantly, FACEIT‘s anti-cheat solution sets it miles apart from matchmaking. Battling hackers is virtually inevitable grinding Global Elite. Contrarily, FACEIT‘s AC caught over 4 million cheaters last year. And their detection rate will surely keep improving with Machine Learning advancements. Players can focus purely on out-skilling their opponents.
Level 10 Skills Transfer to Pro Play
But here’s the kicker: attaining Level 10 means you possess the abilities to compete with professional and semi-pro players. FACEIT hosts the FPL circuit: an invite-only league where talent scouts recruit standout puggers.
Many current pros like Twistzz, ropz, XANTARES, and ZywOo first made names via FPL before signing to prominent teams. Much like high school athletes earning college scholarships, Level 10 grants opportunities to play Counter-Strike for a living. Global Elites possess nowhere near the requisite talents to hang with the big boys.
I‘ll never forget the feeling of joy hitting Level 10 myself. But the grind never stops. I still learn new smoke execute lineups and refine my mechanics daily. That joy of growth and mastery keeps me hooked on CS despite 5,000 hours logged. And I’m stoked to see how high I can push my Elo running the FACEIT gauntlet this year.
So for those pushing for CS glory themselves, I hope this breakdown has framed your path forward. Dream big, grind hard, and get creative with your progress. Counter-Strike has endless skill expression allowing unique playstyles to shine. Maybe I’ll see some of you warriors in FPL someday!
