Every figure shows its source. Where a source is missing, the number is a placeholder — and it is never written as fact.

By GamGem ResearchLast updated 6 Oct 2026

No change to the Desert Eagle’s numbers in Valve’s file since May 2024.

CS2 weapon · Pistol · both sides Desert Eagle

Valve: “A lethal headshot at any range.” As expensive as it is powerful, the Desert Eagle is an iconic pistol that is difficult to master but surprisingly accurate at long range.

5 m20 m30 m40 m60 m
Target & armour
Buy Desert Eagle when…

You can take the first headshot inside 51 m — one helmeted headshot kills there.

Valve’s buy menu: “Consider in eco rounds.”
Buy recommended$700
$4,100 buys it with Kevlar and a helmet and leaves $2,400.
Price
$700
game data
Kill reward
$300
game data
Damage
53
game data
Armour pen
93.2%
derived
Fire rate
267 RPM
derived
Ammo
7 / 21
game data
Reload lock
2.20 s
game data
Run speed
230
game data
Penetration
2.0
game data
Accurate range
24.58 m
derived

Damage & kill outcomes @ 30 m

Hits to kill, by zone and armour
ZoneNoneKevlarHelmet
Head111
Chest344
Stomach333
Arms344
Legs444

Head vs Kevlar + helmet at 30 m: 131 damage per hit → 1 hit to kill · TTK 0 ms.

derived · damage × range modifier^(units ÷ 500) × zone × armour, rounded down

Armour breakpoints

Where head hits-to-kill change, 0–60 m
no armour
  • 0 m – 56 m1 hit
  • 57 m – 60 m+2 hits
Kevlar
  • 0 m – 56 m1 hit
  • 57 m – 60 m+2 hits
Kevlar + helmet
  • 0 m – 51 m1 hit
  • 52 m – 60 m+2 hits
Against Kevlar + helmet: 1 change between 0 and 60 m.

Damage over distance

  • Head · no armour
  • Head · helmet
  • Chest · Kevlar
  • Chest · no armour
Here: 131 damage per hit at 30 m.

1st shot spread

Sure to hit a 30 cm plate to24.58 m

At 30 m the first shot can land up to 19 cm from the crosshair.

derived · 0.1524 m ÷ (spread + inaccuracy) — Valve’s own 30 cm plate

Spray & firing mode

Phase
7 bullets · 1.35 s of fire at 267 RPM · the magazine is empty.

No set pattern — one tap from a full stop. source

Valve’s recoil inputs: kick 48.200001 ± 18 · direction variance 60.Valve’s file holds these inputs, not the path the bullets take — so no path is drawn here.

Firing mode guidance

Semi-automatic — one shot per click. Pace the taps: each shot widens the next.

Spread still varies shot to shot — a guide, not a guarantee.

What beats the Desert Eagle?

Weapon · edge30 m · headCost
Hits to kill from Valve’s file at your distance and armour — not win rates. Shotguns left out: pellets decide.

Economy context

  • Desert Eagle + Kevlar + helmet$1,700$2,400 left
  • Desert Eagle + Kevlar$1,350$2,750 left
  • Desert Eagle alone$700$3,400 left
  • Glock-18 + Kevlar + helmet$1,200$2,900 left
Kill reward $300 — 3 kills pay the gun back. Armour: Kevlar $650, with helmet $1,000 (Valve’s items_game.txt).

Counterplay tips

  • Fight it beyond 24.58 m: past its standing accurate range even the first shot is not sure to land.
  • Catch it moving: on the move its first shot is only sure within 3.04 m.
  • It needs 3 chest hits at 15 m against armour — trade it rather than duel alone.
  • It moves at 230 u/s — expect it to reposition quickly.
  • Drop its holder first: they lose a $700 gun, and each kill it makes pays them $300.

Yes — 131 damage to a helmeted head at 30 m.

Buy now or save now?with $4,100

If you lose0 kills1 kill2 kills
+$1,400after winsbuy$3,800 nextbuy$4,100 nextbuy$4,400 next
+$1,900a half’s first lossbuy$4,300 nextbuy$4,600 nextbuy$4,900 next
+$2,400buy$4,800 nextbuy$5,100 nextbuy$5,400 next
+$2,900buy$5,300 nextbuy$5,600 nextbuy$5,900 next
+$3,400the capbuy$5,800 nextbuy$6,100 nextbuy$6,400 next
rule · ours: buy when a lost round still leaves $1,700 for it with full armour. Loss bonus and kill reward: Valve’s source

Share this scenario

30 m · Kevlar + helmet · head1 hit to kill · 0 msBuy recommendedDesert Eagle
gamgem.com/counter-strike-2/weapons/desert-eagle#30m-helmet-head

Sources & evidence

Damage · armour · range
weapons.vdata · 10f3693c · 2026-09-23
Price · kill reward
$700 · $300
Fire rate · magazine
267 RPM · 7/21
Range modifier · penetration
0.85 · 2
Description · buy-menu lines
csgo_english.txt
Loss bonus · armour prices
gamemode_competitive.cfg · items_game.txt
Valve’s files, read 2026-10-06:weapons.vdataitems_game.txtgamemode_competitive.cfg

All the maths runs in your browser, from Valve’s weapon file (10f3693c, 2026-09-23).