No, you don't need Prime status to get a rank in CS:GO. However, having Prime status significantly improves your gaming experience and offers several advantages when it comes to competitive matchmaking.

I'll explain exactly how ranking works with and without Prime status. When playing CS:GO as a free-to-play player (non-Prime), you can still participate in competitive matchmaking and earn a rank. You'll need to reach Level 2 by playing casual games first, but after that, you can jump into competitive matches.

The main difference lies in the matchmaking quality. Without Prime, you'll be matched with other non-Prime players, which often means encountering more cheaters and smurfs. This can make your ranking experience less enjoyable and potentially more frustrating.

With Prime status, you'll get:

• Better matchmaking quality
• Access to Prime-exclusive matchmaking
• Fewer cheaters in your games
• Better overall competitive experience

To get Prime status, you can either:

• Purchase it directly from Steam
• Reach Level 21 in-game (this option was removed in June 2021)

While Prime status isn't mandatory for ranking up, I strongly recommend getting it if you're serious about playing CS:GO competitively. The improved match quality and reduced number of cheaters make it much easier to maintain and improve your rank in a fair environment.

Remember, regardless of your Prime status, your rank is determined by your performance in competitive matches, your MVPs, round wins, and the ranks of players you compete against.

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