USP-S

“A fan favorite from Counter-Strike: Source, the Silenced USP Pistol has a detachable silencer that gives shots less recoil while suppressing attention-getting noise.” ― Official description

The USP-S stands out as the initial weapon of choice for counter-terrorist units in Counter-Strike 2. The pistol was introduced into gameplay with the Arms Deal update on August 14, 2013, taking cues from the K&M .45 Tactical from earlier versions of the Counter-Strike series.

Review

Under the designation USP (Universale Selbstladepistole or “universal self-loading pistol”), there is a semi-automatic weapon created by the German company Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) from Oberndorf am Neckar. It was developed as a modern alternative to the P7 series pistols. In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and its predecessors, the USP model appears as the USP Tactical, where the "-S" symbolizes the presence of a suppressor.

As an alternative to the P2000, the USP-S takes its place among the entry-level counterterrorism weapons. Selecting this pistol in the inventory before the start of the match guarantees that the player will receive it at the start of the round under certain conditions: at the beginning of the half of the game, after dying in the previous round, or if the player did not have a secondary weapon at the end of the last round. Additionally, Counter-Terrorists can purchase it for $200 through the purchase menu at the beginning of the round if they have lost it.

Introduced as part of the Arms Deal update alongside the suppressed M4A1-S, the USP-S continues the tradition of weapons from past games in the series that were dropped at the start of Global Offensive. This time around, the USP-S acts as a modern equivalent to the original P2000.

The USP-S is equipped with a silencer by default, but players can control its availability using the secondary fire key. Leaving the suppressor on the weapon is preferable, as removing it will increase recoil and reduce accuracy, thereby reducing overall effectiveness compared to the P2000. Removing the silencer may be justified by the desire to shorten the length of the weapon for more covert movement.

Armed with a silencer, the USP-S guarantees high shooting accuracy and controlled recoil. In addition, the pistol is highly accurate when moving, but has a limited magazine capacity and ammo supply, as well as a low rate of fire. The pistol's damage output is impressive, but its ability to penetrate armor leaves much to be desired, making it an optimal choice for ranged combat in the early rounds and less preferable for later engagements.

The maximum distance at which a silenced USP-S can be heard is 800 units.

USP-S in numbers

• Damage 35
•  Armor penetration 50.5% 
• Rate of fire 352 rounds per minute 
• Accurate range (meters) 22 m 
• Reload time 2.2 seconds 
• Magazine capacity 12 
• Reserve ammo limit 24 
• Running speed (hammer units per second) 240 (6.096m/s) 
• Kill award $300
• Penetration power 100 
• Stopping power 50 
• Ammunition type .45 caliber 
• Firing mode Semi-automatic 
• Recoil control 19 / 26 (73%) 
• Range modifier 0.91 
• Other Counterpart Glock-18 
• Entity weapon_usp_silencer

Damage from USP-S in numbers

Tactics

Using the USP-S requires care and conservation of ammunition due to its limited magazine and ammo capacity. Players should avoid uncontrolled shooting by aiming for the head and avoiding multiple enemies at once. It is important to reload frequently so as not to find yourself in a critical situation with an almost empty magazine.

The muffler on the USP-S is your faithful ally. Removing the suppressor results in increased recoil, decreased accuracy, and louder shots, making the weapon less effective than the P2000. Leave the suppressor in place to maintain the benefits of stealth and accuracy.

The USP-S complements the M4A1-S perfectly, enhancing your stealth on the battlefield. However, remember to use cartridges sparingly due to the low magazine capacity. This weapon is not designed to be fired from the hip.

As a free starting pistol, USP-S can be a reliable choice for economically challenged teams. Its quietness and accuracy make the USP-S a valuable asset in the right hands, especially in the mid to late game when every bullet counts.

With a long muffler, you need to be careful not to give away your position by peeking around the corner. To remain undetected, move back and aim so that the silencer does not protrude beyond the cover.

Trivia 

• (items_game) incorrectly lists the cartridge type as .357 instead of the correct .45 ACP.
• The "S" in USP-S stands for "silencer" or "suppressed".
  
• The suppressor on the USP-S is modeled after the Knight's Armament HK USP-T .45 caliber suppressor, which can be identified by the groove in the middle and round holes.
  
• Unlike its predecessor, it is exclusive to counter-terrorists, while the original USP could also be acquired by terrorists.
  
• The original unsuppressed firing sounds are reused from the K&M .45 Tactical from Counter-Strike: Source. 
  
• All shooting sounds have been redesigned since the August 18, 2016 update.
  
• Initially, the game model did not have a protruding threaded barrel necessary for installing a silencer. This issue has been fixed.
  
• Under the cartridge ejection window there is the inscription "CAL. 233", which corresponds to the caliber of the rifle, not the pistol.
  
• Additionally, the model name for the first person view and the world model is incorrectly listed as "223".
  
• The noise reduction effect of the muffler is somewhat exaggerated. Although the game depicts silenced shots as an audible but quiet "clack-clack" sound, in reality the suppressed firearm still produces a noise level of 130-145 decibels, which is comparable to the volume of a Jackhammer.