Radar Charts

A radar chart (also called a spider chart or web chart) displays multiple variables on axes that radiate outward from a central point, with each variable's value plotted along its own axis and connected to form a shape - making it easy to compare several metrics for one or more items at once.

When to Use a Radar Chart

• Comparing multiple attributes of a single item - like a player's stats across skills
• Comparing a small number of items across the same set of metrics
• Spotting strengths and weaknesses in a profile at a glance

Plotting in Python

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

categories = ["Speed", "Accuracy", "Power", "Defense", "Stamina"]
values = [8, 6, 7, 9, 5]
angles = np.linspace(0, 2*np.pi, len(categories), endpoint=False).tolist()
values += values[:1]
angles += angles[:1]

plt.polar(angles, values, marker="o", color="#ff5421")
plt.fill(angles, values, alpha=0.25, color="#ff5421")
plt.xticks(angles[:-1], categories)
plt.show()

Limitations

Radar charts become hard to read once you compare more than three or four items on the same axes, since overlapping shapes create visual clutter. They also work best when all axes are on comparable scales.