In the intervening time, there’s just one title on the lips of each CS2 fan – donk. After changing into the youngest-ever participant to win IEM Katowice and match MVP on his first try, 17-year-old donk has the Counter-Strike neighborhood dazzled, along with his aggro “Maintain W” playstyle permitting him to place up probably the very best Tier 1 LAN efficiency of all time.
However what precisely is it about donk that makes him so good at CS2? We’re looking at how he performs, to see simply what makes him arguably essentially the most thrilling expertise of all time.
God-like gamesense
If we confirmed you a donk demo, you may assume he’s dishonest. Now that he’s executed it on LAN, there’s completely little doubt about it – donk’s gamesense is the true deal. He appears to have a cerebral understanding of how Counter-Strike works, with excellent timing in virtually each state of affairs. It’s not a talent simply taught. For many, you both have it otherwise you don’t. In donk’s case, he simply will get a sense for a state of affairs, and acts on an instinct that’s normally appropriate. Check out this second from the Grand Last of IEM Katowice 2024:
The flexibility of donk to achieve a bonus for his workforce from nothing is sort of unmatched. His two kills by way of the smoke with no data aren’t all the way down to luck – he is aware of they can be there, and whereabouts they need to be in the event that they are there. Importantly, he trusts his intestine and takes the prospect to shoot within the second. That’s not luck – that’s gamesense. That is the issue that may actually cease groups from countering donk sooner or later – the power to adapt to any mid-round state of affairs.
Good intention and spray management
At its core, Counter-Strike 2 is a sport about capturing enemies within the head. Through the years, the stratbooks have been fattened by groups in search of each aggressive edge attainable, however when all is alleged and executed, video games are received and misplaced by the power to successfully dispatch opponents. On this, donk is second to none. He’s a grasp of the basics, with excellent crosshair placement and memorable spray management. This clip from the Grand Last perhaps exhibits it finest:
Certain, FaZe are on eco, however as they cost donk down, he exhibits no nerves to gun down everybody that faces him. It’s too straightforward, as if recoil doesn’t even exist for donk. His command over this space of the sport permits for another fascinating issue – his positioning.
Usually, donk isn’t a participant who abuses soiled angles to get his kills. It’s fairly the other, in actual fact. As a result of his mechanics are as near excellent as you could possibly hope for, you’ll typically discover donk broad within the open, taking any gunfight attainable. It’s actually gung-ho Counter-Strike, permitting him to take positions most would contemplate poor because of his god-like mechanics.
No concern about subverting the meta
In his early matches, donk has been hailed because the “CEO of Maintain W Gaming,” and with good motive. This child simply doesn’t cease. Irrespective of the state of affairs, donk is sort of glad to run you down initially of the spherical and take a look at your intention. And guess what? As a result of he can use his gamesense to discover a timing and believes in his personal means to out-aim his opponent, most aren’t anticipating it! This clip from Nuke is a superb instance:
It’s the beginning of the spherical, and FaZe are attempting to ascertain presence outdoors on Nuke. Moderately than permitting that, donk pushes as a substitute, catching three gamers off-guard. Even after killing the primary two, it takes extra pushing ahead for donk to complete the triple-kill. For this phenomenon, holding W is the important thing to success.
In aggressive CS2 for the time being, the meta relies on sluggish, methodical play. Actions, adopted by reactions. However donk doesn’t look after that – he’ll go in quick and first, placing an finish to rounds which have barely even begun. Due to this, donk is a participant who dies quite a bit, but it by no means deters his unwavering self-belief. Such lack of ego is uncommon in a younger participant, and will make a fantastic teammate for years to return.
Hindsight is a humorous factor. The concept donk could be nerfed by latest adjustments to peeker’s benefit in CS2, in addition to his adaptation to the large stage, have been very actual worries, and the very fact he really carried out higher after these have been floated is ludicrous.
Perception from his workforce
If there’s one factor that actually defines this Spirit roster, it’s a limitless perception in each other, irrespective of the state of affairs. It looks as if an entire “no unhealthy concepts” surroundings, so long as they do every part collectively, giving 100%. This enables them to show performs that appear unimaginable on the floor into round-winners. Take this clip, for instance:
Naturally, because the star participant, donk advantages massively from this angle. When you’ve a participant as in tune with the sport as donk, “no” merely isn’t in your vocabulary. If he desires to run mid on pistol spherical on Mirage full-aggro, Spirit IGL chopper is rarely going to disagree if donk could make it work. Within the clip above, he makes it work by killing three pushing mid on CT-side. A worse participant dies and offers FaZe the benefit – donk successfully ends the spherical.
That’s all on donk for now. The thrill for this participant is like nothing ever seen earlier than, and we will’t wait to see the place his ceiling actually is. He’s subsequent in motion on the PGL Main Copenhagen 2024 European RMR B, kicking off on February nineteenth. Will donk be on the first-ever CS Main? Tune in quickly to seek out out!