“Perfect for close-range ambushes and enclosed area encounters, the single-shot x27 Zeus is capable of incapacitating an enemy in a single hit.”―Official description
The Zeus x27 is a piece of equipment available in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2.
Overview
The Zeus x27 is an electroshock weapon inspired by the real-life Taser M26 model. Players can purchase it from the Equipment menu, and it occupies the melee weapon slot along with the knife. Unlike most equipment, the Zeus x27 is available for purchase in Deathmatch mode. Initially, it could not be dropped, but a later update introduced this feature.
This weapon fires a single, short-range, high-damage hit-scan projectile. After firing, it recharges for thirty seconds before it can be used again. Its range is very limited, similar to the knife. Within 183 hammer units, it can kill an enemy instantly, regardless of their armor. Between 183 and 230 hammer units, it inflicts significant damage but won't kill instantly, potentially allowing the target to survive depending on their health and distance. Beyond 230 hammer units, the Zeus is ineffective. Unlike other weapons, kills with the Zeus x27 do not award any money. The weapon has low inaccuracy while running but high inaccuracy when jumping.
Firing the Zeus creates a loud electric crack and a visible flash of electricity. Victims emit a distinct, sharp scream, akin to the sound hostages make when harmed.
Tactics
Never rush with the Zeus x27 due to its short effective range, which is similar to that of a shotgun. Enemies equipped with even basic pistols can easily kill you at a distance, making it difficult to reach them when rushing. Use ambush tactics instead: stay silent and hide around corners to catch enemies by surprise. The taser is most effective in enclosed spaces or near entryways and airducts. When an enemy is in close proximity, they typically won't have time to counter your attack.
Using smoke grenades or flashbangs can help you get close to disoriented enemies, though there are usually better weapons to use with these tactics. Practice aiming with the Zeus since you only get one shot every thirty seconds, making each shot critical. Economically, the Zeus is an unreliable investment. While cheap, its utility is limited. Although it can instantly kill an unsuspecting enemy, providing an opportunity to claim their weapons, knives and pistols are free and offer monetary rewards for kills.
In Danger Zone mode, the Zeus can be used to open a crate immediately, making the 30-second recharge worth the wait to acquire a primary weapon quickly.
Bugs Switching quickly from another weapon to the Zeus x27 can produce an electric arc visual effect instead of the normal bullet arc. This effect is purely visual and does not confer any advantages.
Trivia
- The name "Zeus x27" is a reference to Zeus, the Greek god known for throwing thunderbolts to earth.
- In Party mode, firing the Zeus causes party sounds to play and confetti to burst into the air.
- From August 25, 2015, to September 3, 2015, the price of the Zeus was lowered to $100 to promote its use during the commemoration of ESL One Cologne 2015.
- The Zeus x27 is based on the Taser x26, which is used in real life for law enforcement and civilian self-defense. The x26 is less-than-lethal.
- The Zeus x27 has a dark gray finish and green highlights. The Taser x26 (police-issued variant) has a black finish and yellow highlights.
- The Taser x26 can shoot dart-like electrodes capable of traveling up to 35 feet (10.6m) (15 feet (4.5m) for the civilian version), much farther than the effective range of the Zeus x27. This difference may have been implemented for game balancing reasons.
- It is implied that the Zeus x27 has a strong current because of its one-hit-kill capability, whereas a real Taser only has enough strength to stun most targets.
- Although recorded as a kill and removing the player from the current round or forcing a respawn in Deathmatch, the "dead" player model sometimes twitches on the ground, suggesting the "kill" is actually incapacitation.
- Bots do not purchase the Zeus x27. However, they may pick it up in some custom maps and can use it, provided that they are restricted from using other weapons. Interestingly, they will fire the taser at any range, resulting in generally low accuracy.
Behind the Scenes
In early versions of Global Offensive, the Zeus was referred to as the x41. The name changed to x27 with a texture update upon release. In the beta, hitting a target with the Zeus x27 caused visible blood, a feature removed in the retail version. Bots do not purchase the Zeus x27 but can pick it up and use it on some custom maps, albeit with generally low accuracy as they fire it at any range.
