CS2 Trading & Refragging Guide
Master Trade Kills and Maintain Team Advantage
Complete CS2 Trading Guide
Trading (refragging) is the foundation of team-based CS2. When executed properly, trading ensures that even when your entry fragger dies, your team immediately gets the refrag, maintaining numbers advantage. Teams that trade effectively win rounds even when individual duels are lost. Poor trading turns won duels into lost rounds.
This guide teaches you trading fundamentals, positioning for trades, communication for trades, entry trading, defensive trading, and advanced trading concepts that separate coordinated teams from solo players.
What is Trading?
Trading (Refragging): When a teammate dies, immediately killing the enemy who got the kill. This maintains numerical equality or advantage despite losing a player.
Example: Entry fragger peeks and dies to defender. Second player immediately peeks and kills the defender. Result: 4v4 instead of 4v5.
Good Trade
Teammate dies, you immediately get refrag within 1-2 seconds. Maintains numbers.
- Quick refrag (enemy can't reposition)
- Clean 1-for-1 trade
- Maintains round momentum
- Denies enemy time to reset
Failed Trade
Teammate dies, no refrag follows. Enemy escapes, heals, repositions. Numbers disadvantage.
- Too far behind to trade
- Not ready when teammate engages
- Enemy gets multi-kill
- Lose round from one lost duel
Entry Trading (T-Side)
Entry trading is crucial for T-side site takes. Entry fragger goes first, trade fragger is right behind ready to refrag.
Perfect Entry Trade Setup
- Entry fragger leads: First player peeks aggressively to find defender
- Trade fragger follows 0.5-1 second behind: Close enough to trade, far enough to react
- Entry gets kill OR dies: Either way, info is gained
- If entry dies: Trade fragger immediately swings to refrag
- Result: Site entry with maintained numbers, regardless of first duel outcome
Entry Fragger Role
- Go first, create space
- Accept risk of dying
- Flash for yourself or get flashed in
- Wide peek to find enemies
- Trust teammate will trade
Trade Fragger Role
- Follow closely behind entry
- Watch entry's crosshair/angles
- Ready to swing immediately
- Pre-aim where entry dies
- Secure the refrag quickly
Pro Tip: Entry fraggers on pro teams often have negative K/D but huge impact. Their job is creating space and getting traded, not survival. Trade fragger's job is ensuring the entry fragger's death isn't wasted.
Defensive Trading (CT-Side)
CTs must also trade effectively when defending sites and retaking.
Site Defense Trading
When holding sites with multiple CTs, position for crossfire and trades:
- Set up crossfires - each CT covers different angle
- If one CT dies, other immediately swings to refrag
- Don't both peek same angle (get doubled)
- Position close enough to hear teammate's gunfight
- Communicate when peeking/fighting
Retake Trading
When retaking as CT, trade fragging is essential:
- Enter site together, not one-by-one
- Use utility to force Ts into predictable positions
- First CT clears angle, second is ready to trade
- If first dies, second immediately swings
- Even 2v2 retake becomes winnable with trades
Positioning for Trades
Good Trade Positioning
- Close proximity: 2-5 meters behind teammate
- Different angle: Don't stack on same angle
- Line of sight: Can see where teammate is fighting
- Cover available: Can peek and retreat
- Ready to swing: Positioned to immediately peek
Poor Trade Positioning
- Too far behind: Can't reach in time to trade
- Same angle: Get traded yourself or can't see
- Wrong side: Teammate blocks your shot
- No cover: Exposed when trying to trade
- Not ready: Looking elsewhere, reloading, etc.
Communication for Trading
Essential Callouts for Trading
- "I'm going/peeking/swinging" - Alerts teammates you're engaging
- "I'm lit X HP" - Tells team enemy is damaged, easy trade
- "Trade me!" - Actively requesting refrag
- "He's [position], low" - Enemy location after you die
- "I got the trade" - Confirms refrag secured
Important: Call when you're about to peek so teammates are ready. Dead silence then suddenly peeking = no one is ready to trade you. Communication enables trading.
Advanced Trading Concepts
Double Peek (Simultaneous Trading)
Both players peek at exact same time from different angles. Enemy can only shoot one - other gets free kill. Extremely effective but requires coordination.
Delayed Trade
Intentionally waiting 1-2 seconds after teammate dies before trading. Catches enemy off-guard when they think it's safe. Works once per game.
Flash Trading
Third player flashes as second player goes for trade. Trade fragger peeks into full blind enemy. Almost guaranteed refrag.
Smoke Trading
After teammate dies, smoke off the angle and reposition for safer trade. Enemy can't hold same angle.
Master the Trade
Trading is what separates team play from solo queue chaos. Perfect trades mean your team never loses numbers advantage even when losing duels. Entry fraggers can be aggressive knowing teammates will trade. Defenders can hold risky angles knowing backup will refrag.
Position close to teammates. Communicate when engaging. Be ready to immediately swing for refrag. Use utility to enable safer trades. Master trading and your team becomes far more than the sum of individual skill!