How to Stop Bots Shooting in CS2
Updated October 10, 2026 · MyCS2Guru crew
When you're practicing lineups or aim, you don't want bots shooting you every few seconds. Here's how to stop them.
The command
- Start a private match.
- Open the console.
- Type
sv_cheats 1. - Type
bot_dont_shoot 1.
To turn it back on, type bot_dont_shoot 0.
Other bot commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| bot_stop 1 | Bots freeze in place |
| bot_kick | Remove all bots |
| bot_add_t / bot_add_ct | Add bots |
| bot_knives_only | Bots only use knives |
| bot_place | Place a bot where you're aiming |
| bot_crouch 1 | Bots crouch |
| bot_mimic 1 | Bots copy your movement |
Practice ideas
- Aim practice:
bot_dont_shoot 1andbot_stop 1, then one-tap heads. - Prefire practice:
bot_placebots at common angles and clear them. - Lineup practice:
bot_kickso nothing interrupts you.
Building the perfect practice setup with bots
Bots are your training partners. With the right commands, you can turn them into whatever you need: frozen targets, moving targets, or enemies that only hold specific angles.
Aim training setup
sv_cheats 1; bot_dont_shoot 1; bot_stop 1; mp_respawn_on_death_t 1; mp_respawn_on_death_ct 1; sv_infinite_ammo 1
Bots stand still, don't shoot and respawn when you kill them. Perfect for one-tap and placement practice.
Prefire setup
- Go to a common angle on your map.
- Aim where an enemy would stand and type
bot_place. - Repeat for every angle on your route.
- Use
bot_stop 1so they hold position. - Walk the route and clear each one.
Moving target setup
Use bot_stop 0 and bot_dont_shoot 1 so bots move around but don't fight back. Great for tracking and counter-strafe practice.
Mimic setup
bot_mimic 1 makes bots copy your movement. Useful for seeing how your own peeks look from the enemy's view.
Bot difficulty
Use bot_difficulty 0 to 3 (easy to expert) when you do want bots to fight back. Expert bots are good warm-up opponents for reaction time.
Common bot command problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Commands don't work | Make sure sv_cheats 1 is on |
| Bots keep joining | Use bot_quota 0 or bot_kick |
| Bots won't respawn | Turn on respawn commands for both teams |
| Bots spread out | Use bot_stop 1 after placing them |
A 10-minute bot warm-up
- 3 minutes frozen bots, headshots only.
- 3 minutes moving bots with counter-strafing.
- 4 minutes expert bots that shoot back.
Then jump into deathmatch and your match.
More quick tips
Check out our other quick tips and in-depth guides.
Quick recap
Freeze bots and stop them shooting to build technique. Let them move to practice tracking. Turn shooting back on to test yourself under pressure. Keep sessions short and focused.
Related guides
Why practice against non-shooting bots?
When bots shoot back, you start rushing your shots to survive. That's good for reaction training but bad for building technique. Non-shooting bots let you slow down and focus on the fundamentals: stopping before you shoot, aiming at head height and tapping instead of spraying. Once the technique is solid, turn shooting back on to test it under pressure.
A progression from easy to hard
| Stage | Bot settings | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | bot_stop 1, bot_dont_shoot 1 | Clean one-taps on still targets |
| 2 | bot_stop 0, bot_dont_shoot 1 | Tracking and counter-strafing on moving targets |
| 3 | bot_difficulty 1, shooting on | Reacting under light pressure |
| 4 | bot_difficulty 3, shooting on | Fast, accurate duels |
| 5 | Community deathmatch | Real players and movement |
Spend a few days at each stage before moving on.
Bots for utility practice
Bots are also useful for testing utility:
- Place a bot in a common position with
bot_placeand throw a molotov to see if it forces them out. - Place bots behind smokes to check whether a one-way works after updates.
- Stack bots in a choke and test how much damage your HE does.
Bots for retake and clutch practice
Set up a site with bots in common post-plant positions, plant the bomb using mp_c4timer 40 for a shorter timer, and practice clearing angles as a CT retaking alone. It's not the same as real players, but it builds the habit of clearing one angle at a time.
Quick reference
| You want | Commands |
|---|---|
| Still targets | bot_stop 1; bot_dont_shoot 1 |
| Moving targets | bot_stop 0; bot_dont_shoot 1 |
| Fighting bots | bot_dont_shoot 0; bot_difficulty 3 |
| Knife-only bots | bot_knives_only |
| Bots on one team | bot_join_team t or ct |
| Clear bots | bot_kick |
Common mistakes when practicing with bots
- Staying on frozen bots forever. Real enemies move. Progress to moving bots within a week or two.
- Practicing without counter-strafing. Even against still bots, strafe and stop before every shot so the habit carries into matches.
- Spraying at bots. Use one-taps and short bursts to build first-bullet accuracy.
- Ignoring crosshair placement. Place bots at realistic angles on real maps instead of only on aim maps.
- Playing too long. 10 to 15 focused minutes is better than an hour of autopilot.
Combine bot practice with our aim training guide for a complete routine.