The radar in CS2 is set up with console commands: cl_hud_radar_scale controls the size of the circle, cl_radar_scale the zoom of the map inside it, cl_radar_always_centered keeps you in the center, and cl_radar_rotate makes the map turn with you. The main ones are also available in the game settings under the Game tab. Below are the default values, a breakdown of each command with recommended numbers and a bind that changes radar zoom mid-round.
A well-tuned radar shows more of the map and your teammates' positions without anyone having to ask in voice chat. Once you know the maps by heart, good radar settings give you a small but constant edge.
These are the default settings:
cl_hud_radar_scale "1"
cl_radar_always_centered "1"
cl_radar_icon_scale_min "0.6"
cl_radar_rotate "1"
cl_radar_scale "0.7"
cl_hud_bomb_under_radar "1"
Next, let's go through how to tune each value for yourself.
Fine-tuning to suit your needs
To make it more comfortable, we recommend immediately creating a game with bots, but not adding anyone to the enemy side. Or remove the bots from the map altogether. It’s much more logical to do calibration in the game — everything is clearly visible.
You must use console commands, through which you can assign sizes and positions in space.
First, enable the console in the settings, and then call it with the tilde (~) key (default). Basic commands to show and hide the radar (they come from CS:GO and may not work in CS2):
drawradar — enable;
hideradar — disable.
Now let's look at more subtle parameters.
CL_HUD_RADAR_SCALE
This and all other commands are written in lowercase letters in the console. Here we have highlighted them for clarity, so that you don’t miss them. This line is responsible for the size of the radar in the corner of the screen. Minimum value — 0.8, maximum — 1.3 accordingly.
We recommend choosing the maximum size if you play on a monitor with FullHD resolution and a diagonal of 22 inches or more. At a lower resolution, it is better to set the value to 0.9-1.0, otherwise the minimap will eat up too much useful space on the HUD.
The command looks like this:
cl_hud_radar_scale "1.3"
CL_RADAR_ALWAYS_CENTERED
As you might guess, this command either centers your position on the map or tries to show the entire diagram. At first glance it may seem that this is a useless solution, but if you set the value to "0" and disable centering, much more useful information will be placed on the screen. For an experienced player this is already a lot.
Two variables are available for selection:
cl_radar_always_centered "0" — disable;
cl_radar_always_centered "1" — enable.
Visually it looks like this.
In combination with sizes 1.2-1.3, you can deftly track all the body movements of the team and run to the rescue.
CL_RADAR_ICON_SCALE_MIN
This is more of a decorative command for the console, but it also helps set up the radar in CS2. You can vary the values from 0.4 to 1.0 to change the size of the markers on the map, achieving the best readability of a large number of objects. Our personal choice — 0.4, since in this case there will be no overlap of large objects in a tight space, which means you have much more useful data at your disposal for orientation in space.
The command call is as follows:
cl_radar_icon_scale_min "0.4" — minimum;
cl_radar_icon_scale_min "1.0" — maximum.
The interval between values is a multiple of 0.1.
Visually it looks like this.
Moving on.
CL_RADAR_ROTATE
A very controversial setting that still haunts many on the forums. Some believe that only the character marker should move on the map, while others place it on a static point with the player around whom the map rotates. This is how it looks visually.
As you understand, in the first case the command cl_radar_rotate "0" and the map is moved to a static position with the direction north. The marker moves according to the pattern, moving the field of view independently. A good option for beginners who cannot yet memorize objects in dynamics and navigate in space.
If you set cl_radar_rotate "1", the marker always points up and the map rotates around it as you turn. This is more convenient for some, but at first you get lost.
CL_RADAR_SCALE
Everything is simple here: the higher the value, the larger the map on the radar. And this is another good way to control objects that move chaotically across sites A or B.
cl_radar_scale "0.25" — minimum;
cl_radar_scale "1.0" — maximum.
You can vary the indicators as you like, but it is better to use a step of 0.05 to visually feel the difference. At maximum parameters, the map is practically unreadable, so we recommend staying at 0.4-0.5.
In this case, readability will be preserved, and maximum information will fit into the round area.
CL_HUD_BOMB_UNDER_RADAR
Useful command that includes the location of the bomb icon. The icon is shown both for the "carrier" himself and if C4 is in the possession of one of the team members. Anyone who has entered the following command can see the explosive device:
cl_hud_bomb_under_radar "1"
Looks like this.
And one more option.
CL_RADAR_SQUARE_WITH_SCOREBOARD
Actually a useless command, but someone might need it. If you enter cl_radar_square_with_scoreboard "1" in the console, the radar will jump out when you press TAB while viewing the scoreboard.
It is useful if you often open the scoreboard mid-round and want to see the whole map.
Dynamic change of radar
Fixed values are not always useful for the game. Therefore, you can always bind a small combination of keys that will dynamically increase or decrease the current size of the radar.
It is enough to write similar commands:
bind "KP_plus" "incrementvar cl_radar_scale 0.25 1.0 0.05" — increase;
bind "KP_minus" "incrementvar cl_radar_scale 0.25 1.0 -0.05" — decrease.
By default, we have assigned commands to "+" and "-" respectively. You can insert any buttons you want. For more on what binds are and how to make a bind in CS2, see our separate guides.
If you would rather not start from scratch, look at s1mple's radar and use it as a base. To keep your values from resetting, put the commands in an autoexec file, as described in how to install a config in CS2. More useful commands are collected in console commands for CS2.
We hope you now see the radar as a useful part of the HUD. Check the LIS-SKINS blog for more CS2 setup guides.
