• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 15:39
CEST 21:39
KST 04:39
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2914Serral wins Maestros of the Game 243ByuL, and the Limitations of Standard Play3Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners7Code S Season 2 (2026): RO4 and Finals Preview12
Community News
Neeb returns to progaming; rejoins ONSYDE12Weekly Cups (July 20-26): Early returns on 5.0.16b8IntoTheTV X SOOP SC2 League : Weekly & Monthly4Clem: "I don't have that much hope in Blizzard"9ZeroSpace Early Access is Now Live!42
StarCraft 2
General
Clem: "I don't have that much hope in Blizzard" Neeb returns to progaming; rejoins ONSYDE Weekly Cups (July 20-26): Early returns on 5.0.16b Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16) Terran or Protoss
Tourneys
RSL Revival: Season 6 - Qualifiers and Main Event PIG STY FESTIVAL 8.0! (13 - 23 August) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament IntoTheTV X SOOP SC2 League : Weekly & Monthly INu's Battles#18 - Cure, herO, Rogue & ByuN
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
Nexus Wars 2021 GUIDE [M] (2) Industrial Park
External Content
Mutation # 536 Railroad Switch The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 535 Assembly of Vengeance Mutation # 534 Burning Evacuation
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion Making an Online Broodwar Manager Game ASL22 General Discussion screpdb: new Starcraft reporting tool ASL 22 Proposed Map Pool
Tourneys
Small VOD Thread 2.0 2v2v2v2 Tournament [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Star Con San Diego 2026
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation Simple Questions, Simple Answers PvT advise for noobs
Other Games
General Games
Path of Exile ZeroSpace Early Access is Now Live! Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread General RTS Discussion Thread
Dota 2
Looking for a Dota Mentor Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
TSM pausing esports and CLG Dead
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Power Rank TL Mafia Community Thread NeO.D_StephenKing vs This Guy From 1 Million Dance
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Artificial Intelligence Thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread How to buy a book - shipping from Korea to Europe
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club The HerO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! Series you have seen recently... [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread 2026-27 Football Thread placeholder TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 Formula 1 Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread Simple Questions Simple Answers FPS when play League Of Legend on laptop
TL Community
Northern Ireland Global Starcraft The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Games, Hormones, and "Dark" …
TrAiDoS
Hello guys!
LIN1s
ASL S22 English Commentary…
namkraft
Poker (part 2)
Nebuchad
An Exploration of th…
waywardstrategy
ramps on octagon
StaticNine
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 5909 users

Best graphic settings for optimized play?

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
kuruptt
Profile Joined August 2012
Canada168 Posts
January 20 2013 14:55 GMT
#1
Hello there, I have searched a lot of threads about this on which graphic settings are the best to play on, specifically settings that are the easiest to see cloaked and burrowed units and have not found a conclusion! I've heard playing on lowest settings is the best, a combination of medium/low settings or lowest settings with ultra textures. It sucks that Sc2 doesn't have a training mode where we can test these out! I'm only a silver league player but I like to research these kinds of things to give me an edge. Right now I am using the settings that looks closest to the hybridic settings by Existor. I would still want to know which are definitely the best settings to see cloaked AND burrowed units. Has anyone came to a conclusion?
Deleted User 197942
Profile Joined July 2011
Romania151 Posts
January 20 2013 15:01 GMT
#2
Check out "thejakatakshow" on YouTube, there is a guide there for both HotS and WoL settings.
Mahanaim
Profile Joined December 2012
Korea (South)1002 Posts
January 20 2013 15:06 GMT
#3
It varies by what you mean by "optimized." Want the most eye-appealing? Highest settings. Want the units and the terrain to look completely different so that you can easily spot enemy units? Lowest settings.
Celebrating Starcraft since... a long time ago.
Targe
Profile Blog Joined February 2012
United Kingdom14103 Posts
January 20 2013 15:11 GMT
#4
Personally I just always run on low because the risk of my computer slowing down in a 200/200 fight isn't worth the possibility of spotting a burrowed unit, I rarely miss things like observers etc. though.
11/5/14 CATACLYSM | The South West's worst Falco main
WeRRa
Profile Joined December 2010
378 Posts
January 20 2013 15:12 GMT
#5
All koreans play on medium settings, cause then you can spot the invisible units the best and still have a good performence.
At least this is what MKP said at this stream.
InnoVation Fighting!!!
HeeroFX
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States2704 Posts
January 20 2013 15:23 GMT
#6
Personally I max everything out cause my computer is beasty, and I enjoy everything, But I think Low or medium is what a lot of pros will use unless they are streaming.
kuruptt
Profile Joined August 2012
Canada168 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-01-20 15:25:17
January 20 2013 15:24 GMT
#7
On January 21 2013 00:12 WeRRa wrote:
All koreans play on medium settings, cause then you can spot the invisible units the best and still have a good performence.
At least this is what MKP said at this stream.


Yes this is what I was looking for. Do you know the specifics of the settings to see invisible units?

Sorry if my post didn't make much sense. I want to know the best settings to see invisible units such as observers and burrowed roaches! I do not care if the game looks pretty, I much rather play on the lowest settings but I won't be able to see cloaked or burrowed units easily
TAMinator
Profile Joined February 2011
Australia2706 Posts
January 20 2013 15:44 GMT
#8
There is no "best". What graphic setting is best for you, is based on what you're comfortable with.
AicyDC
Profile Joined November 2012
United Kingdom71 Posts
January 20 2013 16:02 GMT
#9
It really doesn't matter that much and ultra settings look really good and low settings look really shitty, so I like to play on the highest settings.
It wasn't raining when noah built the ark
dani`
Profile Joined January 2011
Netherlands2402 Posts
January 20 2013 16:04 GMT
#10
What do you mean when you say SC2 does not have a training mode to test things out? You can just create a 1v1 game vs AI or use one of the various 'Unit Tester' custom maps to test out graphic settings in various contexts.

Regarding the optimal visual setting; I'd recommend just go with whatever your computer can run optimally and you like the best. Let's be honest here it's not like the (alleged) increased visibility of cloak units is something that will make you go from Silver to Gold. I mean no offense whatsoever here, I merely want to stress the gain is almost non-existent, thus I would recommend just going with whatever you are most comfortable with rather than something that will perhaps win you 1 more game in a 1000.
Grooovey
Profile Joined February 2012
Germany11 Posts
January 20 2013 16:08 GMT
#11
Im playing on low settings. Not because my isnt good enough for ultra settings but i dont like those ultra settings. to much effects and you could miss some game decideing moments.
My life for E-Sport
n0ise
Profile Joined April 2010
3452 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-01-20 16:14:33
January 20 2013 16:13 GMT
#12
wrong; for the record, i do feel there are definitely better settings you could get for a particular setup
kuruptt
Profile Joined August 2012
Canada168 Posts
January 20 2013 16:19 GMT
#13
Again people I don't care what looks best to me. I just want to see cloaked and burrowed units easier without going to super ultra high because I feel as the lower the settings the more responsive it is. So I want to know the best way to do this. As stated from many people in this thread koreans use mostly medium settings! The hybridic settings from existor is something like this. Need more input and conclusive information!
KDot2
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States1213 Posts
January 20 2013 16:29 GMT
#14
generally a lot of people agree that everything should be low except textures and effects which should be ultra

many people including pros play with these settings
SiroKO
Profile Joined February 2012
France721 Posts
January 20 2013 16:32 GMT
#15
On January 21 2013 00:06 Mahanaim wrote:
It varies by what you mean by "optimized." Want the most eye-appealing? Highest settings. Want the units and the terrain to look completely different so that you can easily spot enemy units? Lowest settings.


A lot of misinformations have been spread on this issue, most notably by commentators such as Tasteless and Artosis.
I've been to a few LAN tournaments and watched quite a lot of tournament streams. I've pretty much never seen any semi-pro/pro with low settings.
Fact is, the game has been optimized for medium settings + play.
With low settings, it is impossible to feel as well the flow of the game nor spot invisible units.
Our envy always last longer than the happiness of those we envy
imPermanenCe
Profile Joined July 2011
Netherlands595 Posts
January 20 2013 16:33 GMT
#16
You could test it yourself
I think it's partly subjective as well. Some people can spot things better with different settings.
I also think the lowest settings suck with cloak.
But why do you care for such precise settings? Do you have problems with lag that you can't play on somewhat above medium settings?
If you only care for cloak/burrow, just try the average medium setting and be done with it, I don't understand why you want exact settings.
Micro at its best is like an elegant dance between two people trying to achieve a similar end.
EtherealDeath
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States8366 Posts
January 20 2013 16:34 GMT
#17
On January 21 2013 01:32 SiroKO wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 21 2013 00:06 Mahanaim wrote:
It varies by what you mean by "optimized." Want the most eye-appealing? Highest settings. Want the units and the terrain to look completely different so that you can easily spot enemy units? Lowest settings.


A lot of misinformations have been spread on this issue, most notably by commentators such as Tasteless and Artosis.
I've been to a few LAN tournaments and watched quite a lot of tournament streams. I've pretty much never seen any semi-pro/pro with low settings.
Fact is, the game has been optimized for medium settings + play.
With low settings, it is impossible to feel as well the flow of the game nor spot invisible units.

Hmm time to try medium I suppose, although low with ultra shadows and effects has the most blatant invisible shit ever (because you have decent quality on the invis stuff contrasted with absolutely shitty terrain :D).
kiy0
Profile Joined August 2010
Portugal593 Posts
January 20 2013 16:45 GMT
#18
Many high level players use Texture quality on Ultra and then everything else on Low. I personally found this to be very satisfying.
Wisemen speak when they have something to say. Others speak when they have to say something.
WeRRa
Profile Joined December 2010
378 Posts
January 20 2013 16:55 GMT
#19
On January 21 2013 00:24 kuruptt wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 21 2013 00:12 WeRRa wrote:
All koreans play on medium settings, cause then you can spot the invisible units the best and still have a good performence.
At least this is what MKP said at this stream.


Yes this is what I was looking for. Do you know the specifics of the settings to see invisible units?

Sorry if my post didn't make much sense. I want to know the best settings to see invisible units such as observers and burrowed roaches! I do not care if the game looks pretty, I much rather play on the lowest settings but I won't be able to see cloaked or burrowed units easily

Well his settings are simply texture quality on medium, graphic quality on medium and unit portrais on 2D for a little bit better performance. He said most koreans play like this, cause you can spot invisible units the best. He said it somewhere in the Prime stream, cause TtPiG asked him there, cause most foreigners seem to play on low settings and MKP answered it looks shitty and you can't spot invisible units with low settings.
InnoVation Fighting!!!
grs
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
Germany2339 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-01-20 17:05:29
January 20 2013 17:05 GMT
#20
AFAIK: You want models on high, to be able to see protoss warp-ins and shaders and shadows on medium to better see cloaked units. You can also put everything on medium but these two are sufficient.
1 2 3 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
OSC
18:30
Mid Season Playoffs
SteadfastSC104
Liquipedia
Patches Events
17:00
Patch Clash #9
Reynor vs Solar
ByuN vs TBD
RotterdaM1457
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RotterdaM 1457
mouzHeroMarine 455
SteadfastSC 104
BRAT_OK 96
ProTech87
StarCraft: Brood War
Calm 4128
NaDa 11
Mong 1
Dota 2
Gorgc8879
League of Legends
Grubby3271
Doublelift839
Counter-Strike
fl0m2140
pashabiceps1567
kRYSTAL_22
Super Smash Bros
C9.Mang0123
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu376
Other Games
Beastyqt665
XaKoH 273
UpATreeSC87
Pyrionflax81
JuggernautJason46
Trikslyr41
Chillindude22
Organizations
StarCraft: Brood War
Kim Chul Min (afreeca) 5
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 16 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• FirePhoenix14
• blackmanpl 7
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 2517
League of Legends
• TFBlade1255
Other Games
• imaqtpie2120
• Shiphtur445
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
4h 21m
Escore
14h 21m
CrankTV Team League
15h 21m
Big Brain Bouts
20h 21m
Spirit vs sOs
GgMaChine vs Percival
Serral vs MaxPax
OSC
1d 2h
Replay Cast
1d 4h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 8h
RSL Revival
1d 13h
ByuN vs SHIN
Solar vs Lambo
WardiTV Summer Champion…
1d 15h
Afreeca Starleague
2 days
[ Show More ]
RSL Revival
2 days
Clem vs Serral
herO vs Rogue
WardiTV Summer Champion…
2 days
WardiTV Weekly
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
PiGosaur Cup
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Kung Fu Cup
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
The PondCast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-07-29
SCTL 2026 Spring
Eternal Conflict S2 Finale

Ongoing

CSL 2026 Summer (S21)
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
RSL Revival: Season 6
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S3: W5
ASL Season 22: Qualifier #1
ASL Season 22: Qualifier #2
Acropolis #5
Escore Tournament S3: W6
Escore Tournament S3: W7
Escore Tournament S3: W8
HSC XXX
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
PiG Sty Festival 8.0
Light Tournament 2026
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
Logitech G Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #5
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.