Co-op shooter · PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Helldivers 2 controls & keybinds

Helldivers 2 is defined by stratagems: hold Ctrl (L1/LB) and type an arrow-key code. Everything else follows the third-person shooter norm with dive on Space and a weapon-function menu on R.

The keys people look up first

Helldivers 2 controls at a glance

Default bindings for the actions searched for most. The full lists, the settings that change how they feel and the printable layout are below.

Action	PC	PlayStation	Xbox
Sprint / run	`Left Shift`	`L3 / L3 (press)`	`LS / LS (press)`
Crouch	`C`	`Circle`	`B`
Prone	`Space`	`Cross`	`A`
Jump	`Space (near cover)`
Melee	`F`	`R3 (press)`	`RS (press)`
Reload	`R`	`Square`	`X`
Aim / ADS	`Mouse 2`	`L2`	`LT`
Grenade	`G`	`R1`	`RB`

The rest of this game, drawn

Two pages, and they are not interchangeable: this is the reference you look a binding up in, the other measures the hand pressing it. Both figures below are counted from what each page holds.

39 bindings keyboard22controller17settings5 in 2 HD2 controls You are here 1 input type keyboardyescontrollernotouchscreenno HD2 input lab Drills the four stratagem codes you actually bring, and times which press your hand hesitates on.

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Highlighted keys carry a default action; hover or tap a key for every action bound to it.

Action	Default key
Movement
Move	`W / A / S / D`
Sprint	`Left Shift`
Dive / proneDive while sprinting; hold to go prone.	`Space`
Crouch	`C`
Vault / climb	`Space (near cover)`
Combat
Fire	`Mouse 1`
Aim	`Mouse 2`
ReloadHold R for the weapon functions menu: fire mode, flashlight, scope.	`R`
Primary / secondary / support weapon	`1 / 2 / 3`
Grenade	`G`
Melee	`F`
Stim	`V`
Stratagems
Stratagem menuType the code with W / A / S / D or the arrow keys, then throw with Mouse 1.	`Left Ctrl (hold)`
Stratagem code input	`W / A / S / D or arrow keys`
Throw stratagem	`Mouse 1 (after code)`
Interface
Interact / pick up	`E`
Ping / markHold for the communication wheel.	`Q`
Map	`Tab`
Emote	`B`
Push to talk	`Caps Lock`
Chat	`Enter`
Scoreboard / squad	`Tab (hold)`

Show

Action	PlayStation	Xbox	Switch
Movement
Move / sprint	`L3 / L3 (press)`	`LS / LS (press)`	`L3 / L3 (press)`
Look	`R3`	`RS`	`R3`
Dive / prone	`Cross`	`A`	`B`
Crouch	`Circle`	`B`	`A`
Combat
Fire	`R2`	`RT`	`ZR`
Aim	`L2`	`LT`	`ZL`
Reload / weapon functions (hold)	`Square`	`X`	`Y`
Switch weapon	`Triangle`	`Y`	`X`
Grenade	`R1`	`RB`	`R`
Melee	`R3 (press)`	`RS (press)`	`R3 (press)`
Stim	`D-pad Down`	`D-pad Down`	`D-pad Down`
Stratagems
Stratagem menu	`L1 (hold)`	`LB (hold)`	`L (hold)`
Stratagem code input	`D-pad`	`D-pad`	`D-pad`
Throw stratagem	`R2 (after code)`	`RT (after code)`	`ZR (after code)`
Interface
Ping	`D-pad Up`	`D-pad Up`	`D-pad Up`
Map	`Touchpad`	`View`	`Touchpad`
Interact	`Square (hold)`	`X (hold)`	`Y (hold)`

Switch labels are derived from the PlayStation and Xbox layouts where the game uses the standard mapping; games without a Switch release show the equivalent position only.

Settings that change how the bindings feel

Recommended starting settings

Helldivers asks you to type a code while something is chasing you, and the default settings make that a choice between moving and typing. Two options remove the choice entirely, and neither is on by default.

Mouse & Keyboard

Stratagem Input Arrow keys WASDArrow keys

On WASD every code fights your feet. Moving the input to the arrows lets the left hand keep running while the right hand types — the single biggest change available to a keyboard player here. On a 60% board the arrows do not exist, which is worth checking before you rely on it. PC

Keep moving while entering codes On OnOff

The other half of the same problem. With it off you are stationary for the length of a six-input call, which on higher difficulties is the length of a death. PC

Stratagem List Press HoldPress

Hold keeps a finger committed for the whole sequence. Press opens the list and leaves it open, which matters over a long mission more than it looks like it should. PC

Controls

Sprint Toggle HoldToggle

Helldivers has long walks between objectives and holding Shift across them is a pinky doing nothing useful for minutes at a time. This is one of the few games where toggle is the ergonomic answer rather than the lazy one.

Remember aim mode Per weapon OffGlobalPer weapon

A support weapon and a sidearm want different aim behaviour, and per weapon stops the game carrying one choice into the other. Small setting, removes a class of mistake entirely.

Reach check · your keyboard, this game

Can your board actually play Helldivers 2?

Every default bind, re-scored against the keyboard you own. Distance is measured from the left hand resting on WASD, because that is where it stays while you play.

A 60% board has every key Helldivers 2 asks for. 2 of its 22 default binds still need the left hand to leave WASD, so the board is not what holds you back here — the layout is. How that compares with every other game.

W / A / S / D Move
Left Shift Sprint
Space Dive / prone
C Crouch
Space (near cover) Vault / climb
Mouse 1 Fire
Mouse 2 Aim
R Reload
1 / 2 / 3 Primary / secondary / support weapon
G Grenade
F Melee
V Stim
Left Ctrl (hold) Stratagem menu
W / A / S / D or arrow keys Stratagem code input
Mouse 1 (after code) Throw stratagem
E Interact / pick up
Q Ping / mark
Tab Map
B Emote
Caps Lock Push to talk
Enter Chat
Tab (hold) Scoreboard / squad

On the keys: your hand is already there
Comfortable: a finger moves, the hand does not
Stretch: the hand lifts, movement wobbles
Off movement: you let go of A and D to press it
Not on this board: the key does not physically exist

Reach uses the same key geometry as BindIQ, which can rebuild the whole layout for you once you know what is out of reach. Mouse buttons always count as reachable — your right hand is already there.

How that compares

0 keys missing 60%2 far65%all theretenkeylessall there 60% keyboard check 25 of the 70 games we score lose a key on a 60%. This is not one of them.

Helldivers 2 control lab

The five codes you type under fire

Helldivers is the rare game where the controls are a skill rather than a lookup. Hold Left Ctrl, type a direction code, release, then throw with Mouse 1 — and you do it while something is chasing you. These five come with every loadout, so they are the ones worth in your fingers rather than on a page. Arrows are the game's own notation; on keyboard they are WASD or the arrow keys, on a controller the D-pad.

Reinforce↑↓→←↑The one you enter while your squad is dead and you are being shot at
Resupply↓↓↑→Four inputs, the shortest thing you will call in all mission
SOS Beacon↑↓→↑Same first three as Reinforce — the classic misfire under pressure
Orbital Precision Strike→→↑Three inputs; the fallback when a heavy walks into the open
Hellbomb↓↑←↓↑→↓↑Eight inputs, and the objective usually depends on it

Reinforce and SOS Beacon open with the same three directions and separate only on the fourth, which is why panicking players call an SOS instead of reviving their squad. That is a muscle-memory problem, not a binding problem — no rebinding fixes it. What does help is moving code entry to the arrow keys in Options so your left hand can keep WASD on movement while your right hand types: you stop standing still to call anything in.

One line per question

How to do the things people search for in Helldivers 2

Generated from the default bindings above, so an action and its key can never disagree.

How to sprint in Helldivers 2 on PC and controller?

To sprint in Helldivers 2, press Left Shift on PC, L3 / L3 (press) on PlayStation and LS / LS (press) on Xbox.

How to crouch in Helldivers 2 on PC and controller?

To crouch in Helldivers 2, press C on PC, Circle on PlayStation and B on Xbox.

How to go prone in Helldivers 2 on PC and controller?

To go prone in Helldivers 2, press Space on PC, Cross on PlayStation and A on Xbox. Dive while sprinting; hold to go prone.

How to jump in Helldivers 2 on PC?

To jump in Helldivers 2, press Space (near cover) on PC.

How to melee in Helldivers 2 on PC and controller?

To melee in Helldivers 2, press F on PC, R3 (press) on PlayStation and RS (press) on Xbox.

How to reload in Helldivers 2 on PC and controller?

To reload in Helldivers 2, press R on PC, Square on PlayStation and X on Xbox. Hold R for the weapon functions menu: fire mode, flashlight, scope.

How to aim in Helldivers 2 on PC and controller?

To aim in Helldivers 2, press Mouse 2 on PC, L2 on PlayStation and LT on Xbox.

How to throw a grenade in Helldivers 2 on PC and controller?

To throw a grenade in Helldivers 2, press G on PC, R1 on PlayStation and RB on Xbox.

How to switch weapons in Helldivers 2 on controller?

To switch weapons in Helldivers 2, press Triangle on PlayStation and Y on Xbox.

How to heal in Helldivers 2 on PC and controller?

To heal in Helldivers 2, press V on PC, D-pad Down on PlayStation and D-pad Down on Xbox.

Quick answers

How do I call in a stratagem?

Hold Left Ctrl (L1/LB), type the arrow code with WASD or the arrow keys (D-pad on controller), release and throw the beacon with Mouse 1 (R2/RT). The code list shows on the left while the menu is open.

Can I use the arrow keys for stratagems instead of WASD?

Yes: Options › Mouse & Keyboard › Stratagem Input lets you choose WASD or arrows, and there is an option to keep moving while entering codes.

How do I change fire mode?

Hold R (Square/X) for the weapon functions wheel and pick single, burst, auto, flashlight or scope zoom.

How do I dive?

Press Space (Cross/A) while moving; you go prone at the end. Diving cancels reloads but dodges explosions and ragdolls.

How do I use stims?

V on keyboard, D-pad Down on controller. A stim heals over time and clears bleeding; it also removes limb injuries.

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Where to go from here

Next steps for Helldivers 2

Mouse DPI analyzerMeasure the DPI your mouse really delivers before you change anything in game.Gamepad testerSee every button, trigger and stick of your controller live, before blaming the game.Controller deadzone tunerFind the smallest deadzone that hides drift without swallowing slow aim in HD2.Stick drift testFive-second resting sample, so a wandering camera is not blamed on the game.Keyboard ghosting testCheck the combinations HD2 holds down at once actually reach the game.