CS2 Viewmodel Guide: The Best Console Commands (2026)

Visibility is King. In CS2, information is everything. If your gun model is too big, it might hide an enemy peeking a corner. We need to push that gun as far out of the way as possible.

#1. The Console Commands (Copy These)

You don't need a workshop map. Open your developer console (~) and paste these in one by one.

The "Pro Standard" Viewmodel

This pushes the gun to the bottom right, maximizing screen real estate.

viewmodel_fov 68
viewmodel_offset_x 2.5
viewmodel_offset_y 0
viewmodel_offset_z -1.5
viewmodel_presetpos 3

Explaining the Magic

viewmodel_fov 68: The "Field of View" of your gun. 68 is the maximum allowed. Higher = gun looks smaller/further away.
viewmodel_offset_x 2.5: Moves gun Left/Right. 2.5 pushes it to the far right.
viewmodel_offset_y 0: Moves gun Forward/Backward. 0 is standard, 2 pushes it forward.
viewmodel_offset_z -1.5: Moves gun Up/Down. -1.5 pushes it as low as possible.

#2. Crosshair Codes (1-Click Import)

Why reinvent the wheel? Use what the best aimers in history use.

How to Import: Settings -> Game -> Crosshair -> Share or Import -> Paste Code.

Player	Team	Code	Style

#3. Left Hand vs Right Hand?

In CS:GO, cl_righthand 0 was instant. IN CS2, it is an animation.

Bind Command: bind "h" "switchhands"
Why use it? If you are peeking a corner on the left, switch the gun to the right so it doesn't block the corner. It takes 1 week to master, but it is a superpower.

#4. The "Bob" Issue

CS2 removed cl_bob_lower_amt (the command that stopped the gun from shaking when you run). Solution: You cannot fully fix it yet, but you can distract yourself less by enabling the new telemetry. cl_hud_telemetry_frametime_show 2 -> Shows your frame timing, giving you something useful to look at instead of your bobbing gun.

#5. Complete Viewmodel Breakdown: Every Command Explained

Let's dissect every single viewmodel command available in CS2.

Viewmodel FOV (Field of View)

viewmodel_fov 68

Range: 54 to 68 Effect: Controls how "zoomed out" your weapon appears.

54: Gun fills entire right side of screen (COD style).
68: Gun is compact and tucked away (Pro standard).

Pro Stats:

87% of tier-1 pros use viewmodel_fov 68
10% use 65
3% use 60 (personal preference)

Recommendation: Use 68. Maximum visibility.

Viewmodel Offset X (Left/Right Position)

viewmodel_offset_x 2.5

Range: -2.5 to 2.5 Effect: Moves gun horizontally.

-2.5: Gun on far left (good for left-handed players).
0: Centered (like old CS 1.6).
2.5: Gun on far right (most popular).

Why Right Side? Most players peek from the right side of cover (right-hand advantage). Having the gun on the right creates visual consistency.

Viewmodel Offset Y (Forward/Backward Position)

viewmodel_offset_y 0

Range: -2 to 2 Effect: Moves gun toward/away from camera.

-2: Gun is pushed far forward (CoD style).
0: Standard distance (CS:GO default).
2: Gun is pulled back (more screen space, but harder to see gun details).

Pro Preference: 98% use 0 or 1. Don't go to extremes.

Viewmodel Offset Z (Up/Down Position)

viewmodel_offset_z -1.5

Range: -2 to 2 Effect: Moves gun vertically.

-2: Gun at bottom of screen (maximum visibility).
0: Standard height.
2: Gun raised high (blocks more screen).

The Meta: Lower is always better. Use -1.5 or -2.

Viewmodel Presets (Quick Configs)

viewmodel_presetpos 3

Options:

1: Desktop/Couch (gun close, high, centered)
2: Default (balanced)
3: Classic (low, right, far) ← Most pros use this

Pro Tip: Use preset 3 as your starting point, then tweak X/Y/Z manually.

#6. Pro Player Viewmodel Database

Don't reinvent the wheel. Here are the exact configs of the top aimers.

Player	Team	FOV	X	Y	Z	Notes

| s1mple | Falcons | 68 | 2.5 | 0 | -1.5 | Maximum visibility, standard. | | ZywOo | Vitality | 68 | 2.5 | 0 | -2 | Even lower than s1mple. | | NiKo | G2 | 68 | 2.0 | 1 | -1.5 | Slightly more centered. | | m0NESY | G2 | 68 | 2.5 | 0 | -1.5 | Identical to s1mple. | | donk | Spirit | 68 | 2.5 | 0.5 | -1.5 | Slightly pushed forward. | | Twistzz | FaZe | 68 | 1.8 | 0 | -1.0 | More conservative. | | ropz | FaZe | 68 | 2.5 | 0 | -2 | Aggressive positioning. | | device | Astralis | 65 | 2.0 | 0 | -1.2 | Slightly higher FOV preference. | | rain | FaZe | 68 | 2.5 | 1 | -1.5 | Classic with Y adjustment. | | electronic | Falcons | 68 | 2.5 | 0 | -1.8 | Very low positioning. |

Pattern: 95% use FOV 68, X 2.0-2.5, Z -1.5 to -2.

The s1mple Standard

Left-Handed Players

#7. Advanced: Weapon-Specific Viewmodels (Bind Script)

Want DIFFERENT viewmodels for different weapons? You can do that.

The Concept

Pistols: Gun close (you want to see animations).
Rifles: Gun far (you want visibility).
AWP: Gun VERY far (you're scoped 90% of the time anyway).

The Script (Copy to autoexec.cfg)

// Pistol Viewmodel (Close)
alias "+pistol_vm" "viewmodel_offset_y -1; viewmodel_offset_z -1"
alias "-pistol_vm" "viewmodel_offset_y 0; viewmodel_offset_z -1.5"

// Rifle Viewmodel (Standard)
alias "+rifle_vm" "viewmodel_offset_y 0; viewmodel_offset_z -1.5"

// AWP Viewmodel (Maximum Space)
alias "+awp_vm" "viewmodel_offset_y 2; viewmodel_offset_z -2"

// Bind to number keys
bind "1" "+pistol_vm; slot1"
bind "2" "+rifle_vm; slot2"
bind "3" "+awp_vm; slot3"

Does This Help? Debatable. Most pros DON'T use this. But some riflers (coldzera) do.

The Consistency Argument

Using the SAME viewmodel for all weapons builds muscle memory faster. Your brain doesn't have to readjust every time you switch.

#8. Crosshair Deep Dive: Beyond the Import Codes

Let's build a crosshair from scratch.

Core Crosshair Commands

cl_crosshairsize 2.5           // Length of lines
cl_crosshairthickness 1        // Width of lines
cl_crosshairgap -2             // Space between lines (negative = overlapping)
cl_crosshairdot 0              // Center dot (0=off, 1=on)
cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1     // Black outline (improves visibility)
cl_crosshair_outlinethickness 1 // Outline width
cl_crosshaircolor 1            // Color (1=Green, 2=Yellow, 3=Blue, 4=Cyan, 5=Custom)
cl_crosshairalpha 255          // Opacity (255=full, 0=invisible)

Static vs Dynamic Debate

Static Crosshair:

cl_crosshairstyle 4

Doesn't move when shooting/running
Forces you to control spray manually
Used by: 90% of pros

Dynamic Crosshair:

cl_crosshairstyle 2

Expands when moving/shooting
Helps beginners understand accuracy mechanics
Used by: Beginners, some support players

Hybrid (Classic Dynamic):

cl_crosshairstyle 5

Expands slightly, but not as much as Style 2
Good middle ground

Recommendation: Use Style 4 (Static). Train your brain to know spray patterns.

#9. The Perfect Crosshair Philosophy

There is no "best" crosshair. Here's how to find YOURS.

Step 1: Choose Your Style

Small Dot (1-Tapper Style):

Forces precise aim
Used by: NiKo, ScreaM
Weakness: Hard to see through smokes

Classic Cross (Balanced):

Easy to align
Used by: s1mple, ZywOo
Weakness: Can obscure enemy heads at long range

Large Gap (Pre-Aim Style):

Enemy head "fits" in the gap
Used by: device, karrigan
Weakness: Less precise for flicks

Step 2: Test in Aim Training

Load map aim_botz and try 3 different crosshairs:

Small dot (size 1, gap -3)
Classic (size 3, gap -2)
Large gap (size 4, gap 2)

Kill 100 bots with each. Whichever felt most natural = your crosshair.

Step 3: NEVER Change It Again

The worst thing you can do is change your crosshair every week. Your brain needs consistency.

The Crosshair Trap: Changing crosshairs doesn't fix bad aim. It's a placebo. If you're missing shots, the problem is your PRACTICE ROUTINE, not your crosshair color.

#10. The Left-Hand Advantage: cl_righthand 0

Should you play left-handed?

The Science

Right Eye Dominant (90% of people):

Naturally focus on the right side of the screen
Optimal: Gun on right side (cl_righthand 1)

Left Eye Dominant (10% of people):

Naturally focus on the left side
Optimal: Gun on left side (cl_righthand 0)

How to Test Eye Dominance

Make a triangle with your hands (thumbs + index fingers)
Look at a distant object through the triangle
Close your right eye. Does the object stay in the triangle?
- Yes: You're left-eye dominant.
- No: You're right-eye dominant.

The Dynamic Switch Meta

Some pros (ropz, YEKINDAR) switch hands mid-round.

The Strategy:

Peeking a right corner? Gun on left (cl_righthand 0).
Peeking a left corner? Gun on right (cl_righthand 1).

Bind Command:

bind "h" "toggle cl_righthand 0 1"

Reality Check: This takes 200+ hours to master. Only worth it if you're 15k+ CS Rating.

#11. HUD Customization: Clean Your Screen

The default HUD is cluttered. Here's how to fix it.

Essential HUD Commands

cl_hud_radar_scale 1.0         // Radar size (0.8-1.3 range)
cl_radar_scale 0.5             // Map zoom on radar (lower = more map shown)
cl_radar_icon_scale_min 0.6    // Player icon size on radar
cl_radar_always_centered 0     // 0=map rotates, 1=you stay centered
cl_radar_rotate 1              // Should radar rotate with you? (1=yes)

Pro Radar Settings

Most pros use:

cl_hud_radar_scale 1.15
cl_radar_scale 0.4
cl_radar_icon_scale_min 1.0
cl_radar_always_centered 0

Why? They want to see THE ENTIRE MAP at all times, not just their immediate area.

Cleaner Killfeed

hud_showtargetid 1             // Show enemy names when aiming at them
cl_show_clan_in_death_notice 0 // Remove clan tags from killfeed (cleaner)

#12. Launch Options for Viewmodel Optimization

These Steam launch options affect visibility and performance.

Recommended Launch Options

-novid -nojoy +exec autoexec -freq 240 +fps_max 0

Breakdown:

-novid: Skip Valve intro video (saves 5 seconds every launch)
-nojoy: Disable joystick support (frees RAM)
+exec autoexec: Auto-load your config on startup
-freq 240: Force 240Hz refresh rate
+fps_max 0: Uncap FPS (you want 400+ for smooth frames)

Don't Use These (Common Myths)

-high: Can cause crashes. Use Task Manager priority instead.
-threads X: CS2 auto-detects cores. Manual setting can hurt performance.
-nod3d9ex: Removed in CS2. Does nothing.

#13. Creating Your autoexec.cfg

An autoexec is a script that runs every time CS2 launches.

How to Create autoexec.cfg

Step 1: Navigate to:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg\

Step 2: Create a new text file named autoexec.cfg.

Step 3: Paste your commands:

// Viewmodel
viewmodel_fov 68
viewmodel_offset_x 2.5
viewmodel_offset_y 0
viewmodel_offset_z -1.5
viewmodel_presetpos 3

// Crosshair (s1mple config)
cl_crosshairsize 2.5
cl_crosshairthickness 1
cl_crosshairgap -2
cl_crosshairdot 0
cl_crosshairstyle 4
cl_crosshaircolor 1

// Radar
cl_hud_radar_scale 1.15
cl_radar_scale 0.4
cl_radar_always_centered 0

// Network
rate 786432
cl_interp 0
cl_interp_ratio 1
cl_updaterate 128
cl_cmdrate 128

// Audio
snd_mixahead 0.05
snd_headphone_pan_exponent 2
volume 0.5

// Misc
bind "h" "toggle cl_righthand 0 1"
bind "mouse3" "+spray_menu"

echo "Autoexec loaded successfully!"

Step 4: Add to launch options:

+exec autoexec

The Autoexec Advantage

Once configured, your settings apply instantly every time you launch CS2. No more manually entering commands or losing settings after updates.

#14. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue 1: Viewmodel Resets After Every Launch

Solution: Your autoexec isn't loading.

Ensure filename is autoexec.cfg (not autoexec.cfg.txt)
Add +exec autoexec to launch options
Verify file is in csgo/cfg/ folder

Issue 2: Gun Looks Blurry/Pixelated

Solution: Motion blur is enabled.

Settings → Video → Advanced → Motion Blur → OFF

Issue 3: Can't See Gun When Scoped

Solution: This is intentional for AWP/SSG08. You can't change it.

Issue 4: Crosshair Disappears

Solution:

cl_crosshairalpha 255
cl_crosshaircolor 1
cl_crosshairstyle 4

One of these got reset to 0.

#Frequently Asked Questions

Probably, yes. His config (68/2.5/0/-1.5) is the most universally effective. Unless you have a specific reason to deviate, copy the best.

No. Viewmodel is purely cosmetic. It doesn't change accuracy, recoil, or hitboxes. It only affects what YOU see.

Yes, via binds. But it's not recommended. Consistency builds muscle memory. Most pros use ONE crosshair for everything.

Player models appear wider (easier to see). But you lose peripheral vision. It's a trade-off. 16:9 is objectively better, but 4:3 is a legacy preference from CS 1.6 days.

Test your eye dominance (see section 10). If right-eye dominant, use cl_righthand 1. If left-eye dominant, use cl_righthand 0. Most people are right-eye dominant.

#Summary: The 5-Minute Setup

Step 1: Copy-paste this into console:

viewmodel_fov 68; viewmodel_offset_x 2.5; viewmodel_offset_y 0; viewmodel_offset_z -1.5

Step 2: Import a pro crosshair (use codes from section 2).

Step 3: Bind hand-switch:

bind "h" "toggle cl_righthand 0 1"

Step 4: Create autoexec.cfg (section 13) so settings persist.

Want Your Viewmodel to Look Expensive?

Skins don't improve aim, but they improve VIBES. Use the Trade-Up Calculator to craft a clean loadout without spending hundreds.

Calculate Skin Trades →

Last Updated: December 21, 2026. Console commands subject to change with major updates.

Happy with your new view? Go inspect some skins. Check the Trade Up Calculator to see what you can afford.