Counter Strike 2 is a team-based shooter with lots of strategy involved, but sometimes you just need to polish up your 1v1 skills. I’ll show you all about creating and finding duel servers for this exact reason, all we need are some console commands. Here’s how to 1v1 in CS2.
How to Play 1v1 in CS2
To 1v1 in CS2 you can host a private duel server or join a community server which I describe below. The only way to currently host a 1v1 session in Counter Strike 2 is if you and your friend are using the same internet connection. This can either by using a LAN cable connection or using the same Wi-Fi network.
Further, 1v1 is done through the use of console commands. While this may sound daunting at first, trust us, it’s quite simple and requires only a few commands that we’ll show you. Here’s how to 1v1 in CS2:
- First, enable the console by going to Settings in the top left.
- In the “Game” tab, find the “Enable Developer Console” option.
- Set it to yes.
- Console commands are now available.
- You can launch the console with the backtick/tilde (~) key to the left of your “1” key.
The process of looking for or setting up 1v1 servers is the same as with any other game mode like for example when you’re looking for surfing servers.
How to Host a 1v1 Match in CS2
From here, hosting a CS2 1v1 session is all about a few commands from the console and having your friend join your game. This is done in three simple steps by using the following commands. Here’s how to host a 1v1 match in CS2:
- Step 1: To start your 1v1 server, open the console and input the command “map map_name” without quotes. Use the precise name of your map. For example, “map de_dust2” and hit enter. This will start your server with the chosen map loaded.
- Step 2: There will be bots present in the game, so we need to kick them with the “bot_kick” command.
- Step 3: Now, send the IP address of your server to your friend. You can find the address by inputting the “status” command and copying just the address from the first line below the command. It should look something like 192.168.X.XXX:XXXXX.
- Step 4: Copy this address, share it with your friend, and have them input the command “connect” followed by a space. Then have them paste your address and hit enter.
Ta-da! You are now in a 1v1 with your friend. You can now set some game mode rules depending on the kind of game you want to play. Our guide on setting up private lobbies can provide you with even more details.
Counter Strike 2 1v1 Match Game Mode Commands
To make your game rules similar to what the competitive CS2 1v1 mode presents, make sure to input these commands:
- mp_startmoney 1500
- mp_freezetime 5
- mp_buytime 0.20
- mp_roundtime_defuse 1.5
- mp_warmup_end 1
As you may have guessed, these commands modify the various phases of the game. From the buying phase to starting money, you can edit the values and create a customized experience for you and your friend while you’re 1v1’ing in CS2.
How to Find CS2 1v1 Servers
That said, you can also find plenty of CS2 1v1 community servers where players gather for duels. This is a great way to practice your 1v1 skills in an environment where everyone is there for the exact same reason. It’s an alternative way to quickly jump into a duel. To find CS2 1v1 servers simply:
- Open Counter Strike 2.
- Go to the Play menu.
- In the servers list, go to the community servers tab.
- Under filters, apply the “1v1” or “duel” filter.
- Look through the servers and join the one with the most optimal latency and player count.
I would also visit server browsing websites such as CS2Browser where you can filter and search for CS2 1v1 servers as well.
That’s how to 1v1 in CS2 with your friends over LAN or look for community servers. If you found this guide useful, you can browse through our other Counter Strike 2 tips in our guides hub. There are tons of game modes to explore, but nothing beats a good old 1v1.
