Controls & Keybindings
Mastering controls in No Rest for the Wicked is the first step toward surviving the Isle of Sacrament. Moon Studios designed combat to be deliberate and readable: every dodge costs Stamina, blocks consume Focus under pressure, and weapon attacks have distinct startup and recovery frames. Whether you play on keyboard or controller, understanding the full input map prevents panic rolls and helps you capitalize on enemy poise breaks.
Input Schemes Overview
The game currently offers two keyboard layouts — Regular and Alternative — plus a unified controller profile. There is no custom key rebinding yet; choose the scheme that matches your muscle memory from other action RPGs. Most players start on Regular, which places movement on WASD and primary attacks on mouse buttons. Alternative shifts several combat keys for players who prefer keeping the right hand on the keyboard more often.
Controller players receive a parallel layout with shoulder buttons handling light and heavy attacks, triggers for block and aim, and the face buttons mapped to dodge, interact, and item use. Both input methods support the same combat mechanics; neither is disadvantaged for parrying or spell casting.
Core Combat Inputs
Combat revolves around light attacks, heavy attacks, dodge rolls, blocks, and Focus abilities tied to your weapon or staff. Stamina governs dodges and many weapon skills, while Focus fuels blocks, parries, and incantations. Equip Load affects roll speed — monitor it in the character screen alongside Health, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith.
- Light attack — Fast strikes that build poise damage; chain into combos on staggered foes.
- Heavy attack — Slower, higher poise break; essential against armored enemies and mini-bosses.
- Dodge — Grants invulnerability frames; timing matters more than spamming.
- Block / Parry — Reduces damage at a Focus cost; parries open critical windows on certain enemies.
- Focus ability — Weapon-specific skill on cooldown; central to Strength and Dexterity rotations.
Essential Settings
Open Settings → Gameplay and enable the enemy poise bar. This UI element shows how close foes are to stagger, which is critical for weapons like Fetid Club and Wind of Death that excel at poise damage. Also review camera sensitivity, lock-on toggle behavior, and whether dodge direction follows movement input or camera facing.
Navigation & Menus
Inventory, map, and journal share consistent shortcuts across schemes. The in-game map reveals fogged areas as you explore zones like Lowland Meadows, Marin Woods, and Nameless Pass. Sacrament hub fast travel unlocks through Danos building projects — consult the Sacrament walkthrough for project order.
Choosing Your Scheme
If you are new to action RPGs on PC, start with the Regular keyboard scheme. Souls veterans who dodge on spacebar may prefer Alternative. Couch players and co-op groups often standardize on controller layout for Together Realms sessions. Revisit this page after major patches in case Moon Studios adds rebind support closer to the October 2026 1.0 launch.
| Action | Regular (typical) | Alternative (typical) | Controller (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move | WASD | WASD | Left stick |
| Light attack | Mouse 1 | Key binding varies | RB / R1 |
| Heavy attack | Mouse 2 | Key binding varies | RT / R2 |
| Dodge | Space | Alternate key | B / Circle |
| Block | Shift | Alternate key | LT / L2 |
| Interact | E | E | A / Cross |
Advanced Combat Settings
Beyond poise bar, review dodge direction settings — movement-relative versus camera-relative dodges affect Marin Woods tree fights and Cyvion arena positioning differently. Lock-on camera speed impacts Nameless Pass cliff encounters where edge safety matters. Auto-run or sprint toggle behavior reduces finger strain during long Breach traversals. Controller users adjust stick deadzones if drift causes unintended movement off ledges.
Input Method Switching
Switching between keyboard and controller mid-progress is supported — no stat or save penalty. Recommended switch points: Sacrament hub between sessions, before Crucible floor five respec planning, or when joining co-op party standardizing on controller for couch play. Re-verify active scheme in Settings after game updates which occasionally reset to Regular defaults.
Accessibility Considerations
Without rebind support, players with accessibility needs must choose closest preset — Regular or Alternative — and adapt. Monitor official Moon Studios roadmap for October 2026 1.0 rebind feature announcements. Subtitle size, camera shake reduction, and colorblind modes if available should be configured before first boss — see 14 essential tips settings section.
Controls Learning Path
- Read this overview for scheme selection.
- Deep dive your chosen scheme page — Regular, Alternative, or controller.
- Practice dodge timing in Lowland Meadows on first zone map.
- Enable poise bar before Rookery vertical combat.
- Revisit controls after Together co-op if mixed input party needs callout alignment.