> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Manage Map Rotations in Counter-Strike 2

> Keep your gameplay fresh by automating the map cycle. Learn how to configure mapcycle.txt and manage automatic transitions on your CS2 server.

## Automating the Combat Cycle

Maintaining a dynamic and diverse map rotation is essential for keeping your player base engaged and preventing gameplay stagnation. By establishing a predefined map cycle, you allow your Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) server to automatically transition to new environments once a match concludes, ensuring a continuous experience without the need for manual administrative intervention.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Difficulty" icon="gauge-low">
    Beginner
  </Card>

  <Card title="Time" icon="clock">
    4 Minutes
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Establishing the Cycle List

The foundation of your rotation is the `mapcycle.txt` file, which serves as the index for the game engine.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create the Configuration">
    In your Game Panel File Manager, navigate to the `/game/csgo/` directory. Create a new file named `mapcycle.txt`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Populate Map Names">
    Enter the technical names of the maps you wish to include, with one entry per line.

    * *Example:*

    ```text theme={null}
    de_dust2
    de_mirage
    de_nuke
    de_ancient
    de_inferno
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Configuring Engine Behavior

To ensure the engine respects your cycle and transitions correctly after the final round, you must apply specific console variables to your `server.cfg`.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Required Commands">
    * `mp_match_end_changelevel 1`: Instructs the engine to trigger a level change once the match conclusion sequence finishes.
    * `mp_match_end_restart 0`: Ensures the current map does not simply reload itself, allowing the next entry in the cycle to take precedence.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Workshop Integration">
    If your server uses `+host_workshop_collection`, the engine typically prioritizes the maps within that collection. If the rotation becomes non-responsive, we recommend implementing a **Map Cycle plugin** via CounterStrikeSharp to enforce external logic.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

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<Tip>
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</Tip>

***

<div align="center">
  **Last Updated:** January 2026 | **CS2:** Rotation initialized.
</div>