Open world RPG · PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt controls & keybinds

The Witcher 3 splits attacks between the mouse buttons and puts signs on the middle mouse or a radial menu. The next-gen update added a quick sign cast option; the defaults below describe the standard scheme.

The keys people look up first

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 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)`
Jump	`Space`	`Cross`	`A`
Block / parry	`Mouse 2`	`L2`	`LT`
Heavy attack	`Left Shift + Mouse 1`	`R2`	`RT`
Heal	`R (hold)`
Interact	`E`	`Cross`	`A`
Inventory	`I`
Map	`M`	`Touchpad`	`View`

LMBFast attack, Strong attackRMBParry / counterMMBSelect signM4unboundM5unboundScroll ↑unboundScroll ↓unbound

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`
Jump / climb	`Space`
Dodge	`Left Alt`
Roll	`Space (in combat)`
Walk toggle	`Left Ctrl`
Combat
Fast attack	`Mouse 1`
Strong attackRight-click on some layouts; check the in-game diagram.	`Left Shift + Mouse 1`
Parry / counter	`Mouse 2`
Cast sign	`Q`
Select signHold for the radial menu; the sign wheel also lists bombs and consumables.	`Mouse 3`
Quick signs (next-gen option)Aard, Igni, Yrden, Quen, Axii when Quick Sign Casting is on.	`3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7`
Draw steel sword	`1`
Draw silver sword	`2`
Sheathe	`1 / 2 (again)`
Crossbow	`Mouse 3 (hold) → crossbow`
Throw bomb	`R`
Use item / potion	`R (hold)`
Lock on target	`Z`
Interface
Witcher senses	`Mouse 2 (hold, out of combat)`
Interact / loot	`E`
Call Roach	`X`
Inventory	`I`
Map	`M`
Journal	`J`
Character / skills	`K`
Meditate	`N`

Show

Action	PlayStation	Xbox	Switch
Movement
Move / sprint	`L3 / L3 (press)`	`LS / LS (press)`	`L3 / L3 (press)`
Camera	`R3`	`RS`	`R3`
Jump / roll	`Cross`	`A`	`B`
Dodge	`Circle`	`B`	`A`
Combat
Fast attack	`R1`	`RB`	`R`
Strong attack	`R2`	`RT`	`ZR`
Parry	`L2`	`LT`	`ZL`
Cast signDefault: L1 opens the radial, R2 casts.	`R2 (with sign selected)`	`RT (with sign selected)`	`R2 (with sign selected)`
Sign / item radial	`L1 (hold)`	`LB (hold)`	`L1 (hold)`
Draw steel / silver sword	`D-pad Left / Right`	`D-pad Left / Right`	`D-pad Left / Right`
Bomb	`R1 (with bomb selected)`	`RB (with bomb selected)`	`R1 (with bomb selected)`
Lock on	`R3 (press)`	`RS (press)`	`R3 (press)`
Interface
Witcher senses	`L2 (hold)`	`LT (hold)`	`L2 (hold)`
Interact	`Cross`	`A`	`B`
Call Roach	`D-pad Down (double-tap)`	`D-pad Down (double-tap)`	`D-pad Down (double-tap)`
Map	`Touchpad`	`View`	`Touchpad`
Menu	`Options`	`Menu`	`+`

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.

Reach check · your keyboard, this game

Can your board actually play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt?

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.

W / A / S / D Move
Left Shift Sprint
Space Jump / climb
Left Alt Dodge
Space (in combat) Roll
Left Ctrl Walk toggle
Mouse 1 Fast attack
Left Shift + Mouse 1 Strong attack
Mouse 2 Parry / counter
Q Cast sign
Mouse 3 Select sign
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 Quick signs (next-gen option)
1 Draw steel sword
2 Draw silver sword
1 / 2 (again) Sheathe
Mouse 3 (hold) → crossbow Crossbow
R Throw bomb
R (hold) Use item / potion
Z Lock on target
Mouse 2 (hold, out of combat) Witcher senses
E Interact / loot
X Call Roach
I Inventory
M Map
J Journal
K Character / skills
N Meditate

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.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt control lab

Half of combat is chords and radials, and one setting removes them

Searching for a Witcher 3 strong attack key finds nothing, because it is not a key — it is Shift held with a mouse click. Signs are worse: a radial menu you open mid-fight to pick one of five. The next-gen update added a setting that turns the radial into five direct keys, and turning it on changes how the combat plays more than any rebinding.

Key	Default	With Quick Sign Casting on	Why it matters
`Strong attack`	Left Shift + Mouse 1	Unchanged	A chord, not a key — and Shift is also sprint, so the same finger does both
`Signs`	Q casts whichever sign is selected	3, 4, 5, 6, 7 cast Aard, Igni, Yrden, Quen and Axii directly	Five keys replace a menu; Quen stops being something you plan for
`Select sign`	Hold Mouse 3 for the radial and pick	No longer needed	The radial slows time but still takes you out of the fight
`Dodge`	Left Alt	Left Alt	Alt is an unusual home for the most-used defensive move, and it sits beside the Windows key
`Roll`	Space, but only in combat	Space, but only in combat	The same key jumps out of combat and rolls in it, which is why Geralt sometimes hops instead
`R`	Tap throws a bomb, hold uses a potion	Same	Two consumable actions on one key, separated only by how long you press

Turn on Quick Sign Casting in the gameplay options before you rebind anything. It moves all five signs onto the number row and removes the radial from combat entirely, which is the single largest change available to these controls. After that, the two worth moving are dodge off Alt — it is next to the Windows key and one slip minimises the game — and strong attack, if a held Shift plus a click during a fight is more than your hand wants to do.

One line per question

How to do the things people search for in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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

How to sprint in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC and controller?

To sprint in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, press Left Shift on PC, L3 / L3 (press) on PlayStation and LS / LS (press) on Xbox.

How to jump in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC and controller?

To jump in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, press Space on PC, Cross on PlayStation and A on Xbox.

How to block or parry in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC and controller?

To block or parry in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, press Mouse 2 on PC, L2 on PlayStation and LT on Xbox.

How to do a heavy attack in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC and controller?

To do a heavy attack in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, press Left Shift + Mouse 1 on PC, R2 on PlayStation and RT on Xbox. Right-click on some layouts; check the in-game diagram.

How to heal in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC?

To heal in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, press R (hold) on PC.

How to interact or pick things up in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC and controller?

To interact or pick things up in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, press E on PC, Cross on PlayStation and A on Xbox.

How to open the inventory in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC?

To open the inventory in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, press I on PC.

How to open the map in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC and controller?

To open the map in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, press M on PC, Touchpad on PlayStation and View on Xbox.

Quick answers

How do I cast signs quickly in The Witcher 3?

Turn on Quick Sign Casting in Options › Gameplay (next-gen update). Signs then sit on 3–7 on keyboard, and on controller the D-pad plus the bumper cast without opening the radial.

How do I dodge vs roll?

Dodge is Left Alt (Circle/B): a short sidestep that keeps your guard. Roll is Space (Cross/A): longer, slower to recover and worse against fast enemies. Use dodge by default.

How do I use Witcher Senses?

Hold Mouse 2 out of combat (L2/LT on controller). Red clues are interactable; follow scent trails with the senses held.

How do I call Roach?

Press X on keyboard or double-tap D-pad Down on controller. Roach will not come inside towns or during combat.

How do I meditate?

Press N (or open the menu and choose Meditation) and pick a duration. Meditating refills potions if you have alcohol and lets weather and time pass.

Where to go from here

Next steps for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Mouse DPI analyzerMeasure the DPI your mouse really delivers before you change anything in game.Controller deadzone tunerFind the smallest deadzone that hides drift without swallowing slow aim in TW3.Stick drift testFive-second resting sample, so a wandering camera is not blamed on the game.Keyboard ghosting testCheck the combinations TW3 holds down at once actually reach the game.