---
title: "Half-Life 2: Deathmatch: Complete Guide"
game: "Half-Life 2: Deathmatch"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/half-life-2-deathmatch"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Weapons", "Maps", "Settings"]
summary: "Everything you need to get good at Valve's physics-driven arena shooter: weapons, the Gravity Gun, movement, the official maps, settings, and where to find games in 2026. Researched September 2026 — current as of the…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/half-life-2-deathmatch-complete-guide-733dc335"
published: "2026-09-27T16:22:02.555Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T16:22:02.555Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Half-Life 2: Deathmatch: Complete Guide

Everything you need to get good at Valve's physics-driven arena shooter: weapons, the Gravity Gun, movement, the official maps, settings, and where to find games in 2026.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the August 24, 2026 Steam update (on top of the February 18, 2025 64-bit update). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

## Quick Start

1. **It's an arena shooter, not a military one.** Instant respawns, weapons and items on the map, 100 health on spawn, and whoever controls the power weapons and chargers wins.
2. **The Gravity Gun is a weapon.** Launching a toilet, radiator, or saw blade at someone is a kill. Learn to grab props on the move.
3. **Two modes.** Deathmatch (free-for-all) and Team Deathmatch (Rebels vs Combine). The server decides which.
4. **Eight official maps:** Lockdown, Overwatch, Steam Lab, Underpass, Resistance, Powerhouse, Run Off and Halls3.
5. **Pick up armor constantly.** Suit batteries and HEV chargers are as important as guns; an armored player survives hits that would kill you.
6. **Sprint uses suit power.** Hold sprint in short bursts; don't arrive at a fight with an empty aux bar.
7. **It's 64-bit now.** The February 2025 update added 64-bit binaries (auto-launched on 64-bit systems), a borderless window option, UI scaling for high resolutions, native-resolution launch by default, and the HL2 20th Anniversary lighting (bicubic lightmaps, radial fog), so it runs cleanly on modern PCs.
8. **Easy friend games.** The same update added Steam Networking, raised the default listen-server size from 2 to 24 players (hard cap 100), and improved client-side prediction for the SMG, AR2, Crossbow, Gravity Gun, and sprinting.
9. **No official bots.** Your practice partner is the server browser (or a local server with a friend).

## Game Modes and Teams

| Mode | Rules | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Deathmatch** | Every player for themselves; highest frags at time/frag limit wins | Very common on public servers |
| **Team Deathmatch** | **Rebels** vs **Combine**; team frags count | Enabled by the server (`mp_teamplay 1`); team damage settings vary |

Player models come straight from Half-Life 2 (Rebels and Combine soldiers/Metrocops). Model choice is cosmetic; hitboxes follow the model, so there's no competitive reason to agonize over it. The 20th Anniversary update (November 2024) fixed player model selection issues.

## Weapons

| Slot | Weapon | Primary / Secondary | How to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | **Crowbar** / **Stunstick** | Melee | Finish off weakened players; Stunstick is the Combine-side melee |
| 1 | **Gravity Gun** (Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator) | Punt / pick up | Your most versatile weapon; see the next section |
| 2 | **9mm Pistol** | Semi-auto | Spam-click for decent close damage; last resort |
| 2 | **.357 Magnum** | High-damage revolver | Six shots, huge damage, precise; the best pick-up for skilled aimers |
| 3 | **SMG** | Auto fire / grenade launcher | Spray at close range; alt-fire lobs a contact grenade (limited ammo) |
| 3 | **Pulse Rifle (AR2 / OSIPR)** | Auto fire / Combine energy ball | The energy ball bounces and kills almost anything it touches |
| 4 | **Shotgun** | Single / double blast | Double blast at point blank is a near-guaranteed kill |
| 4 | **Crossbow** | Scoped bolt | Very high damage, projectile with travel time; lead your target |
| 5 | **RPG** | Laser-guided rocket | Steer with the laser; toggle the laser off to fire straight |
| 5 | **Frag Grenade** | Throw / roll | Lob over cover; roll under doors and down stairs |
| 5 | **S.L.A.M.** | Satchel / tripmine | Wall-mounted tripmines on doorways and pickups; satchel for remote traps |

Priorities when you spawn: grab the nearest real gun (SMG or shotgun), then route through armor and a power weapon (Magnum, Crossbow, RPG, AR2).

## The Gravity Gun

- **Punt (primary)** hits an object with a force blast. Used on props at close range it launches them hard. It also knocks players around and can deflect grenades.
- **Pick up (secondary)** holds an object in front of you. Press primary to launch it.
- **Deadly props:** saw blades, radiators, paint cans, barrels, toilets, filing cabinets, explosive barrels. Heavier, sharper objects do more damage.
- **Carry a shield.** Holding a large prop in front of you soaks bullets while you close distance.
- **Throw grenades back.** Catch a live frag and fling it back before it pops.
- **Catch energy balls.** A Combine ball from the AR2 can be grabbed and relaunched.
- **Prop-dense areas** are where the Gravity Gun dominates; learn where the respawning props sit on each map.

## Movement

HL2DM movement rewards practice more than almost any other Source shooter.

| Technique | How | Why |
|---|---|---|
| **Sprint** | Hold sprint (default Shift) | Faster rotation, drains suit power |
| **Crouch-jump** | Jump then crouch in the air | Reach higher ledges and windows |
| **Strafe-jump / bunnyhop** | Chain jumps while air-strafing with mouse + A/D | Keep and build speed; a big part of the competitive skill ceiling |
| **Prop climbing** | Use props and the Gravity Gun to reach off-limits spots | Surprise angles and item shortcuts |
| **Ladders and water** | Ladders slow you; water hides footsteps but slows movement | Plan escape routes around them |

Standing still in HL2DM is the fastest way to die. Keep moving, and never walk in a straight line into an open room.

## Maps

The eight official maps (console names): **dm_lockdown**, **dm_overwatch**, **dm_steamlab**, **dm_underpass**, **dm_resistance**, **dm_powerhouse**, **dm_runoff** and **halls3**. Lockdown is the most-played classic and the best one to learn first.

For every map, learn the same four things:

| What | Why |
|---|---|
| Where the RPG, Crossbow, AR2 and Magnum spawn | Power weapons decide fights |
| Where the health/HEV chargers and batteries are | Armor control is half the game |
| Where the deadly props sit (saw blades, radiators, barrels) | Free Gravity Gun kills |
| High ground and long sightlines | Magnum/Crossbow territory; avoid crossing them in the open |

The November 2024 20th Anniversary update added more spawn points to many maps, closed out-of-world exploits, fixed floating props and the blast-door rendering bug on dm_runoff, and moved the blue barrels in dm_resistance that could be pulled through the chainlink doors.

Community maps are everywhere on public servers. New maps download automatically when you connect.

## Item Control

- **Know the respawn loop.** Guns, ammo, batteries and health kits respawn on timers. The best players rotate through the same pickups in a loop.
- **Chargers:** wall-mounted health and HEV (armor) chargers let you refill between fights. Deny them by camping nearby with a trap (SLAM on the wall).
- **Power weapons:** grab the RPG, Crossbow or AR2 when it spawns, even if it takes you out of a fight.
- **Don't overpick.** Taking ammo you don't need is fine in FFA (it denies others) but slow if a fight is waiting.

## Settings for Modern PCs

- **64-bit and borderless:** since February 2025, 64-bit binaries launch automatically and there's a borderless window option in video settings.
- **FOV:** set `fov_desired 90` in console (the max) for better awareness.
- **Raw input and no acceleration:** turn on raw input and disable mouse acceleration in the mouse options if available.
- **Net settings:** most servers are fine on defaults; if hit registration feels off, try a lower-ping server before touching rates.
- **Hosting your own server:** the console variable `hl2mp_allow_pickup` (added February 2025) lets players pick up objects without the Gravity Gun, and `mp_teamplay 1` switches to Team Deathmatch.
- **Hitsounds and damage indicators** are server-side mods on many community servers; toggle them in the server's menu if offered.

## Finding Games in 2026

- Use the in-game server browser and sort by players. Community servers remain active, especially in the evening in Europe and North America.
- Try "Favorites" for servers you enjoy; regular communities are the best way to find consistent games.
- Servers vary widely: pure vanilla, 1v1 arenas, "killbox" maps, and heavily modded servers with extra weapons or physics rules.
- Friend lobbies: create a server from the main menu (Create Server), pick a map, and invite friends through Steam.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Ignoring armor.** Armor effectively doubles your fight time; always route through batteries.
- **Walking.** You'll be picked off by the Magnum or Crossbow. Sprint between cover and keep strafing.
- **Pointing RPGs with the laser on at close range.** Toggle the laser off or switch weapons.
- **Using the AR2 energy ball carelessly in tight spaces.** It bounces; mind where it's going.
- **Underestimating props.** Watch for players holding objects with the Gravity Gun.
- **Standing in doorways.** Tripmines love doorways.

## Advanced Tips

- **Mix weapons fast.** Magnum shot then crowbar, or shotgun then quick-switch to finish; quick-switching beats waiting on reloads.
- **Deny the Gravity Gun.** If an opponent relies on props, fight in open areas with nothing to throw.
- **Use SLAMs as alarms.** A tripmine on a flank tells you when someone's coming.
- **Crossbow leading.** Aim slightly ahead of moving targets; bolts are projectiles with travel time, not hitscan.
- **Explosive barrels** can be punted as projectiles; they're great finishers.
- **Learn one map deeply** before trying to climb scoreboards everywhere.

## FAQ

**Is Half-Life 2: Deathmatch still active in 2026?**
Yes, with community servers. Valve still ships updates: November 2024 (20th Anniversary map and Gravity Gun fixes), February 18, 2025 (64-bit, borderless window, Steam Networking, lighting improvements) and August 24, 2026 (security/stability fixes, a Linux custom-map asset fix, and a .357 view-snapping fix from the community).

**Do I need Half-Life 2 to play?**
No. HL2DM is its own Steam app, and it's included with some Half-Life 2 bundles and purchases.

**Are there bots?**
No official bots. Play on public servers or create a server for friends.

**Can I play with mods and custom maps?**
Yes. Servers push custom maps and content automatically on connect.

**Why do people fly around so fast?**
Bunnyhopping/strafe-jumping plus prop tricks. It's legitimate movement tech; practice on empty servers.

**Does it support Linux or Steam Deck?**
There are Linux binaries; the August 2026 update specifically fixed custom-map asset loading on Linux.

## Sources

- [Half-Life 2: Deathmatch Steam news](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/320)
- [Steam news feed for HL2DM (API)](https://api.steampowered.com/ISteamNews/GetNewsForApp/v2/?appid=320&count=8)
- [Combine OverWiki: Half-Life 2: Deathmatch](https://combineoverwiki.net/wiki/Half-Life_2:_Deathmatch)