If you care about aim in Counter-Strike 2 (and you should), dialing in your mouse sensitivity is one of the most important tweaks you can make. The right settings can elevate your flicks, tighten your spray control, and improve tracking during those clutch moments.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how CS2 sensitivity works, what settings the pros use, explain eDPI like you’re five, and walk you through a simple calibration routine to help you find YOUR perfect sens.
Let’s lock in your aim.
What Exactly Is “Sensitivity” in CS2?
Sensitivity is how far your crosshair moves based on how far you move your mouse. There are three key components that interact:
- DPI (Dots Per Inch): A setting from your physical mouse, typically 400, 800, or 1600.
- In-game Sensitivity: Set in your CS2 settings or via command (sensitivity “x.xx”).
- eDPI: Effective DPI = DPI × Sensitivity. This is the real number that dictates how fast your aim moves.
For example, if your mouse is set to 800 DPI and your CS2 sensitivity is 1.2, your eDPI is 960.
Why does eDPI matter? Because it unifies your settings across different games and setups.
How Sensitivity Affects Aim
In CS2, aiming is everything. And your sensitivity plays a massive role in different aspects of aim:
- Flicks: Higher sens can help you snap to targets faster, but it’s easier to overshoot.
- Tracking: Lower sens makes it easier to stick to moving opponents, especially for rifles.
- Spray Control: Consistency matters here. A lower sens often helps maintain vertical recoil patterns.
Most importantly, good aim is about muscle memory. Keeping your sens in a reliable range helps register reliable inputs. That’s how you start landing one-taps round after round.
Common Sens Mistakes to Avoid
- Using sensitivity that’s “too high” to compensate for a small mousepad. This leads to shaky crosshair placement and poor spray control.
- Copying pro settings blindly without considering your own setup.
- Changing sensitivity frequently. (Give it time to build muscle memory!)
- Ignoring DPI. You can’t just set in-game sensitivity without accounting for your mouse DPI.
Now let’s talk about what actually works for most CS2 players.
The Best Mouse Sensitivity Settings for CS2
Straight up: there is no magical perfect sensitivity. But there are solid guidelines and ranges that feel “right” for 95% of players.
Best CS2 Sensitivity Range
Most pro players stick to an eDPI between 800 and 1600.
Here are some popular examples:
- s1mple: 3.09 sensitivity at 400 DPI (1236 eDPI) – s1mple’s CS2 config.
- m0NESY: 2.00 sens at 800 DPI (1600 eDPI) – m0NESY’s CS2 config
- ropz: 1.77 @ 400 DPI (708 eDPI) – known for laser tracking, ropz config
For most players, starting around 1000 eDPI is ideal. It strikes a balance between flick speed and accuracy.
Best DPI for CS2
Opt for either 400 or 800 DPI. These are the standard mouse DPI settings in competitive CS2 and (almost universally) what pros use.
- 400 DPI = more accurate per-pixel movement
- 800 DPI = slightly faster, ideal if you play on a smaller pad or need quicker motion
Avoid very high DPIs like 1600+ unless you know what you’re doing and can justify it.
More on that in our Best DPI for CS2 breakdown guide.
Ideal eDPI for CS2 (Quick Tips)
- <800 eDPI: Very low sense (common for trackers like ropz)
- 800–1200: Balanced for most riflers
- 1200–1600: High sens for flick-heavy AWPers or wrist players
- 1600: Risky unless you’re hyper-precise
Find your comfort zone, then tweak slightly from there based on playstyle.
Correct Windows Mouse Settings
This is a common trap. Make sure these are set correctly in Windows:
- Pointer Speed: 6/11 (exact middle)
- Enhance Pointer Precision: OFF
This disables mouse acceleration in Windows, which can mess with your muscle memory in CS2. If you’re unsure your mouse is behaving properly, check out our guide to CS2 mouse acceleration settings.
Mouse Polling Rate & Sensor Settings
- Polling Rate: 1000 Hz preferred for lower input lag
- Raw Input: ON (via launch option or settings)
Sensor-wise, any recent flagship from brands like Logitech (Hero), Razer (Focus+/PAW3390+), or Zowie (3360/3361) will perform great. Just remember: stability > gimmicks.
Fast Calibration: Find YOUR CS2 Sensitivity
Forget wasting weeks playing at random numbers. Here’s a tried-and-true method to find your ideal sens fast.
Choose Your Playstyle First
- Riflers: Generally benefit from lower sens (800–1200 eDPI) for better spray/track control.
- AWPers: Sometimes prefer slightly higher sens (1200–1600 eDPI) for quicker scope flicks.
Take inspiration from players like sh1ro for control-heavy play, or kennyS for fast-scope flicks.
Do the 180° Test
Use this to verify if you’re in the right range:
- Stand in a map corner.
- Swipe across your pad comfortably.
- You should be able to do a 180° turn without falling off your pad.
If you over-rotate or under-rotate massively, your sens needs adjusting.
Micro Adjust Test
- Try tapping heads from pit to site on Dust II (or use aim training maps).
- Does your crosshair land short or overshoot during flicks?
- Tweak CS2 sens in small 0.05 increments to dial it in.
Sensitivity Tuning Checklist
Ask yourself:
- Can you track smoothly with rifles?
- Can you flick and land shots reliably?
- Do you feel in control when spraying?
Also check: Are you running out of mousepad during tense clutches? Sens might be too low.
How Long Should You Stick With a Sens?
At minimum: 1-2 weeks consistently.
Don’t change sensitivity daily based on performance. Bad days happen. Let your muscle memory bake in first.
CS2 Sensitivity Conversions from Other Games
Coming from CS:GO, Valorant, or Apex? Here’s how to convert your sensitivity into CS2.
CS:GO to CS2 Sensitivity
Good news: CS2 uses nearly identical sensitivity to CS:GO. eDPI and mouse settings carry over directly.
Just check that your m_rawinput, DPI, and Windows settings migrated correctly. If you’re unsure, start fresh using the calibration method above.
Valorant to CS2 Sensitivity
To convert from Valorant to CS2:
CS2 Sens = Valorant Sens × 3.18
Example:
- Valorant Sens: 0.5 → CS2 Sens: 0.5 × 3.18 = 1.59
For step-by-step and tool-based conversion, check our Valorant to CS2 Sens guide.
Apex Legends to CS2
CS2 Sens = Apex Sens / 1.68
- Apex Sens: 2.5 → CS2 Sens: 1.48
Adjust for DPI changes too if needed.
Overwatch to CS2
CS2 Sens = Overwatch Sens × 0.06
- Overwatch Sens: 10 → CS2 Sens: 10 × 0.06 = 0.6
The Best Method: Use cm/360
If you truly want to match aim across games, calculate how many centimeters it takes you to do a 360° in-game. Use this value across titles.
- 25–28 cm/360: average
- 35 cm/360: low sens (great control)
- <20 cm/360: high sens (fast flicks)
Scoped Sensitivity Settings in CS2
Scoped weapons like the AWP require separate tuning to stay consistent.
What Is Zoom Sensitivity?
Zoom sens is a multiplier applied when scoped. You can set it using:
zoom_sensitivity_ratio_mouse “x.xx”
Default is 1.0, meaning scoped = hipfire sens.
Best Zoom Sens for AWPers
Most pro AWPers use values between 0.8 to 1.0.
- Lower values (0.8–0.9): More control
- 1.0: Consistent with hipfire
Experiment with 0.85 for a great start point.
Match Hipfire to Scope Sens with cm/360
Want complete consistency? Match your scoped cm/360 to your hipfire sens. This improves muscle memory between weapon types (especially for hybrid players using AK + AWP).
Scoped Aim Training Drill
- Play headshot-only Bot DM with an AWP
- Practice quick peaks + flicks at a fixed zoom sens
- Track flick-to-body vs flick-to-head consistency
Map-specific microdrills also help a ton. Try scoped duels on Mirage or Overpass.
Crosshair, Viewmodel & Mouse Settings That Help Your Aim
Your crosshair and viewmodel might not directly affect sens, but they impact how clearly you track enemy models.
Ideal Crosshair Settings
Use a small static crosshair with high visibility (neon colors like cyan/green help).
Avoid dynamic or large outlines that obscure targets.
Need help? Here’s how to change your crosshair in CS2 and even copy pro setups instantly.
Best Viewmodel Settings
Adjust your viewmodel with:
- Lower position: for less distraction
- Tilted toward center: so your gun model doesn’t block sightlines
Check out CS2 viewmodel settings guide to optimize for visibility.
Disable Mouse Accel (Again)
Use the command:
m_customaccel 0
m_rawinput 1
Never rely on acceleration in FPS games. Consistency is king.
Reduce Input Lag
Settings that help:
- V-Sync: Off
- NVIDIA Reflex: On + Boost (if supported)
- Unlimited FPS via fps_max 999 or tweak CS2 FPS settings
Lower latency = faster response to movement = tighter aim.
Daily Sensitivity Lock-In Warmup Routine
Got your sens? Here’s how to embed it into your muscle memory every day.
Quick 5–10 Minute Warmup
- Launch Aim Botz or training server
- 25 headshots using slow flicks
- 25 tap shots between two targets
- 10 full spray transfers
This gets your hand and arm synched to your sensitiy before queues.
Best Aim Maps (or Alt Tools)
- Aim Botz (CS2 version)
- Yprac Aim Trainer
- Aim training workshop maps
If you prefer offline practice modes, try these CS2 practice commands to set up your own drills.
Tracking vs Flicking
- Riflers: Focus on tracking drills, long-range tap control
- AWPers: Prioritize flick consistency, reactions under pressure
You can train both, just don’t neglect your role’s focus.
Sens Adjustment Rules
Only adjust if:
- It’s been 2+ weeks of poor performance
- Your hand is consistently running out of pad
- You’re missing EASY shots due to overshooting/undershooting
Otherwise: STICK TO IT. The aim will come.
That’s your full CS2 sensitivity guide. Lock your sens, unlock your aim.Now that your mouse settings are dialed in, check out our breakdowns on CS2 crosshair maps, CS2 roles, and optimizing audio settings for CS2 so every footstep sounds like a headshot opportunity.
