How to Get the Service Medal CS2
Have you ever noticed those brightly colored icons on player profiles? Would you like to have one like this on your profile? If your answer is “yes,” then this article from MelBet Pick’em is just for you. We’ll explain in detail what CS2 service medals are, how they differ, and, most importantly, how to earn them. Here you’ll find all the requirements and straightforward advice so you can get started on getting your first CS2 service medal 2026 without delay!
What is a Service Medal in CS2?
The Service Medal in CS2 is an annual reward for active play and profile development. Absolutely anyone who has reached Rank 40 (Global General) and reset their profile during the current calendar year can receive it.
However, apart from its visual purpose, this badge does not provide any advantages. It also has no impact on matchmaking ranks. Moreover, unlike cases and skins, the service medal CS2 cannot be sold or transferred to another player; it is simply an indicator of experience and time invested.
CS2 Service Medal Requirements 2026
The requirements for earning the CS2 Service Medal don’t change over the years. There are essentially only two:
- Reach the maximum profile level – Rank 40 (Global General).
- Complete a voluntary rank reset.
How exactly you earn XP to reach this level doesn’t matter. Only the fact of reaching it is important.
Regarding the rank reset, the time you reset your rank determines which year’s medal you receive. Therefore, if you reset on January 31st, you’ll receive a different medal than if you reset on January 1st. Even the first second after the start of the next year will affect your badge.

Why Rank 40 Is Required for the CS2 Service Medal
Profile Rank 40 is the maximum account progression level within a single cycle. After reaching Rank 40, the system offers a profile rank reset, which:
- Resets the profile level to Rank 1.
- Saves all game achievements.
- Awards the current year’s Service Medal.
- Allows progression to upgrade the badge.
Resetting is only possible after reaching Rank 40 and only manually. If you don’t complete it, your rank simply won’t change, regardless of your experience gain.

XP Required to Reach Rank 40
Reaching Rank 40 requires 195,000 XP in one full progression cycle. This number is based on the standard CS2 progression model:
- Each level requires 5,000 XP.
- There are 39 total progression cycles.
Additionally, the Weekly XP Bonus affects progression speed. The first 5,000 XP per week are awarded with an increased multiplier. After this “bonus” is exhausted, a reduced multiplier (XP Overload CS2) is applied. The full list of required experience for each level is summarized in this CS2 profile ranks & XP table:
| Rank | XP per Level | Total XP (Cumulative) |
|---|---|---|
| Recruit (1) | 5,000 | 0 |
| Private (2-4) | 5,000 | 5,000–15,000 |
| Corporal (5-8) | 5,000 | 20,000–35,000 |
| Sergeant (9-12) | 5,000 | 40,000–55,000 |
| Master Sergeant (13-16) | 5,000 | 60,000–75,000 |
| Sergeant Major (17-20) | 5,000 | 80,000–95,000 |
| Lieutenant (21-24) | 5,000 | 100,000–115,000 |
| Captain (25-28) | 5,000 | 120,000–135,000 |
| Major (29-32) | 5,000 | 140,000–155,000 |
| Colonel (33-35) | 5,000 | 160,000–170,000 |
| General (36-39) | 5,000 | 175,000–190,000 |
| Global General (40) | N/A | 195,000 |
CS2 Service Medal Colors and Tiers
In addition to earning a badge, every player has the opportunity to improve it. The Service Medal CS2 system is built on the principle of a prestige system. This is a mechanic for repeatedly reaching the maximum level and subsequently upgrading the reward.
The system works so that each time a player reaches Rank 40 and resets their profile within a calendar year, the badge increases by one level. The total number of medal levels in a year is 6:
- Level 1 – Gray;
- Level 2 – Green;
- Level 3 – Blue;
- Level 4 – Purple;
- Level 5 – Pink;
- Level 6 – Red.

For convenience, we have calculated the XP requirements for achieving all 6 levels in a single year in the table:
| Level | Color | Rank 40 Resets Required | Total XP Required (Cumulative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gray | 1 | 195,000 XP |
| 2 | Green | 2 | 390,000 XP |
| 3 | Blue | 3 | 585,000 XP |
| 4 | Purple | 4 | 780,000 XP |
| 5 | Pink | 5 | 975,000 XP |
| 6 | Red | 6 | 1,170,000 XP |
Please note that medal progress from the previous year does not carry over. After January 1st, the system resets, and a new medal season begins from level 0.
History of the CS2 Service Medal (2015–2026)
The first CS2 Service Medals appeared in CS:GO in 2015. It was a successful attempt to introduce a tool to reward long-term player activity. Since then, the system has undergone several stages of evolution and has been carried over to CS2 without any major changes to its mechanics.
What has been and remains constant is that the CS2 Service Medal has always been tied to the calendar year. To add variety, the developers created a unique design for each new year. However, the basic color palette (Gray → Red) has remained unchanged.
| Year | Levels | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | First version of the system |
| 2016 | 7 | Maximum number of levels |
| 2017 | 7 | Expanded model retained |
| 2018 | 6 | Grind balance optimization |
| 2019 | 6 | Stable format |
| 2020 | 6 | No mechanical changes |
| 2021 | 6 | Final CS:GO model |
| 2022 | 6 | Transition preparation phase |
| 2023 | 6 | Final year of CS:GO |
| 2024 | 6 | First full version in CS2 |
| 2025 | 6 | Updated visual style |
| 2026 | 6 | Current active version |

Final Thoughts: Is the CS2 Service Medal Worth It in 2026?
It’s worth ending by saying that this badge system was and remains purely for the purpose of visually demonstrating player activity. It doesn’t reflect skill in any way; earning a CS2 Service Medal simply requires a significant investment of time. Therefore, if you’re willing to invest time in the game, you should definitely try to earn all six 2026 CS2 Service Medal levels.
However, if your goal is to play more professionally, don’t focus on XP. Focus on ranking up and learning grenade throwing, spray, and teamwork strategies. These are far more important than a visual medal on your profile!
FAQ
To get a Service Medal, you need to reach Profile Rank 40. This requires accumulating 195,000 or more XP and pressing the reset button. Immediately after pressing the reset button, you will receive a new medal or a new level of the old badge if you have already earned it this calendar year.
You can perform up to six profile resets in a calendar year, increasing the medal level each time. Each time, your medal level will increase until it reaches the maximum, red level.
No, resetting only affects your profile rating and accumulated XP. All other ratings in the game will remain unchanged. So, feel free to reset level 40 and get your badge!
No, you can only earn or upgrade a medal for the current calendar year. If you fail to obtain/upgrade a medal in a calendar year, you will never be able to do so again. The only option left is to earn a new medal for the current new year.
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