If you’ve played League of Legends or even watched a pro match, you’ve likely seen players and commentators throw around the term CS. It might seem like a minor stat compared to kills or towers, but in reality, CS can make or break a game. So what exactly does CS mean—and why is it so important?
CS = Creep Score
CS stands for Creep Score, which is the total number of minions and neutral monsters a player has last-hit during a match. Every time you deal the final blow to a minion, jungle monster, or summoned unit (like Zyra’s plants), you gain one CS.
CS is often referred to as “farming,” and it’s one of the most reliable and consistent ways to earn gold in the game.
Why CS Matters
Gold is power in League of Legends. The more gold you have, the faster you can buy items—and the stronger you become. Since kills and objectives aren’t always guaranteed, CS is the most stable source of income throughout the game.
Consider this: a single kill gives around 300 gold, but a wave of minions offers nearly the same amount—and waves spawn constantly. A player who farms efficiently can quietly gain a huge lead even without participating in many fights.
In pro play and high-elo ranked games, it’s not uncommon to see players with 200+ CS at 20 minutes. That’s not a flashy stat—but it means they’ve earned thousands of gold just from clean, disciplined farming.
What’s a Good CS Score?
While there’s no perfect number, players often aim for:
- 7–9 CS per minute as a solid target
- 10+ CS per minute as ideal, especially in pro or high-level play
- below 5 CS per minute as underperforming for a solo laner
Junglers tend to have slightly lower CS due to split map time, while supports usually have the least CS since they’re not last-hitting minions.
CS vs. KDA: What’s More Important?
It depends on the situation, but consistent CS is often more valuable than a high kill count. A 5/1/0 mid laner with poor CS might still be behind in gold compared to a 1/0/0 laner with perfect farm. Kills are explosive. CS is steady. The best players know how to do both—but farming is the foundation.
Final Thoughts
CS may seem like just a number, but it’s the core of League’s economy. Behind every flashy play or item spike is a player who spent time farming minions to gain that power. Whether you’re learning the game or climbing the ladder, mastering your CS will always be one of the fastest ways to improve.
It’s not just about killing enemies. Sometimes, greatness starts with just last-hitting a cannon minion.
Written by:
Christian