You can turn on aim through the console only on your own local server: enable the console in the launch options, start a map with the map command, type sv_cheats 1, add and freeze bots, then aim at a bot's head and enter ent_fire !picker addoutput "modelscale 0". After that, every hit on that bot counts as a hit to the body part you picked. This is a CS:GO-era trick: the server and bot commands also work in CS2, but the modelscale trick itself is not guaranteed to work in the new game, so test it on your own server.
Aim is a cheat that automatically snaps your crosshair onto an opponent. It is banned in competitive matches because it gives an unfair advantage. We strongly advise against using any cheats in official modes and recommend following Valve's rules; otherwise your account gets banned, most likely for good. The method below only works on a local server with cheat commands enabled and is meant for experiments and fun.
Precautions
A word first on why cheating in official modes is off the table.
In an official match on Valve or FACEIT servers, cheat commands in the console do not work: that option is locked for players. Dishonest players download third-party aim programs, but we will not tell you where to find them: we support fair play and do not promote cheating. Everything in this article is acceptable only on your own server or an unofficial community server where the owner allows such commands.
Fooling the system in official matchmaking will not work either. Aim is easy to spot from unnaturally twitchy crosshair movement and headshots in nearly every duel: even the best pros land headshots far less than 100% of the time, so hitting only the head all the time without cheats is impossible.
Getting ready to enable aim in the console (part 1)
First you need to turn on the console itself, since that is where you will type the commands. If your console already works, skip this step. In CS2 you can also enable it in the game settings; see our guide on how to open the console in CS2.
To do it through the launch options:
Open Steam and go to your game library.
Find Counter-Strike 2 in the list and right-click its name.
Select Properties in the menu.
On the General tab, find the Launch Options field.
Type -console into the field and close the window; the setting saves automatically. Other useful flags are collected in our list of the best launch options for CS2.
Done: the console will be available once the game starts.
Getting ready to enable aim in the console (part 2)
The next step is to create your own local server. Open the console (the ~ key by default) and type map followed by a map name, for example map de_dust2, then press Enter. Any official map works for this; a compact one loads quickly and keeps the bots within easy reach, which makes the next steps faster.
Aim still will not work at this point, even on your own server, because cheat commands have to be allowed first. Open the console again on the running server and type sv_cheats 1. Now you can use commands that are blocked on regular servers. A full list of useful commands is in our article on CS2 console commands.
There is one more condition. The aim command only works if your crosshair is placed exactly on a bot when you enter it. If you enter it while aiming at a bot's stomach, every bullet afterwards goes to the bots' stomachs. So if you want headshots, enter the command while your crosshair is on the bot's head.
Getting ready to enable aim in the console (part 3)
Now you need bots to use as targets for the aim setup. Like many things in Counter-Strike, this is done through the console.
To spawn bots, type bot_add_t for the Terrorist side (one T bot appears) or bot_add_ct for the Counter-Terrorist side (one CT bot appears). Repeat the command until you have as many bots as you need. If you only want targets, add all of them to the side opposite yours so they do not end up as your teammates.
Another handy command is bot_place, which puts a bot wherever your crosshair is pointing. It is convenient to bind it, for example bind N bot_place (pressing N places a bot under your crosshair) or bind O bot_place. Any key will do.
Turning on aim
With the bots in place, you are at the final step.
First, freeze the bots: open the console and type bot_stop 1. The same command with 0 instead of 1 lets them move again (if your bots stand still without it, see our guide on why CS2 bots stand still). Then walk to the enemy spawn or place a bot next to you with bot_place.
Walk up to the bot and put your crosshair on the body part where the bullets should land. Keeping the crosshair still, enter ent_fire !picker addoutput "modelscale 0".
If it worked, the bot turns transparent and only dark spots remain visible on it. The command affects one bot at a time, so to make aim work on every opponent you have to apply it to each of them. To check the result, fire a few shots at the bot's legs or chest: if the trick is active, those shots should register as hits to the body part you picked.
Useful aim commands
These commands are for evening the odds or simply having fun on your own server. You do not need to aim at a bot to use them.
If you want opponents to have aim against your character too, type ent_fire !self addoutput "modelscale 0". Now any enemy who spots you and fires in your direction is guaranteed to hit your head. The match turns into either a very fast shootout or a careful stealth game. It is worth trying at least once.
If you want every player on your server to have aim, type ent_fire player addoutput "modelscale 0".
These commands cannot be bound to a key, so there is no one-button way to toggle them. For honest aim practice, aim maps in CS2 and other Workshop training maps are a better fit.
