HW:Control schemes

The following control schemes are available to use in Halo Wars for Xbox 360 and Halo Wars: Definitive Edition for Xbox One and PC.

Halo Wars (Xbox 360)

The Halo Wars control scheme in the Halo Wars manual.

Halo Wars had only one control scheme available for use with the Xbox 360 controller.

Button	Input action
A	Press to select/Hold to select with "paintbrush" tool
B	Cancel selection
X	Move/Gather/Primary attack
Y	Special/Secondary attack
Left Analog	Move crosshair
Right Analog	Camera
Right Trigger	Cycle through selection
Left Trigger	Hold to speed up camera
"Back" Button	Objectives
"Start" Button	Pause
↑ D-Pad	Leader abilities menu
↓ D-Pad	Move/cycle to next army
→ D-Pad	Move to last alert location
← D-Pad	Move/cycle to base locations
Right Bumper	Select local units
Left Bumper	Select global units

Halo Wars: Definitive Edition

Default keyboard and mouse controls.

Input action		Key or mouse button	Official description
Hotkeys	Pause Game/Main Menu	F10	Pauses the game and brings up the main menu.
	Objectives	F9	Opens the objectives menu.
	Global Units	E	Select all units, regardless of map location.
	Sub-select units	Mouse Wheel Down	Sub-select a group of units from all currently selected units.
	Local Units	Q	Select all units currently on screen.
	Game Cancel	Escape	Cancel action.
	Game Action Alternate	R	Use unit special ability or alternate action.
	Camera Panning Movement Left	A	Pan camera to the left.
	Camera Panning Movement Right	D	Pan camera to the right.
	Camera Panning Movement Up	W	Pan camera up.
	Camera Panning Movement Down	S	Pan camera down.
	Reset Camera	Home	Reset camera to original position.
	Set Rally Point	Y	Set a rally point that tells new units where to move to.
	Move to Last Alert Location	Space	Move camera to the last alert location.
	Move/Cycle to Base Location(s)	Z	Move the camera to the next base location.
	Move/Cycle to Next Army	X	Move the camera to the next army location.
	Spirit of Fire Menu	F	Open the Spirt of Fire Menu, where strong leader powers and abilities can be found.
	Ping	G	Highlight a location on the map for allies to see.
	Bring up in-game chat/Send Message	Enter	Moves camera faster when held down.
	Rotate Camera	Alt + MouseMove Left or Right	Rotates camera.
	Rotate Camera Left Alternate	Insert	Rotates camera left.
	Rotate Camera Right Alternate	Delete	Rotate camera right.
	Camera Zoom	Alt + Scroll wheel	Zoom camera level.
	Camera Zoom In	Page Down	Zoom camera in.
	Camera Zoom Out	Page Up	Zoom camera out.
	Faster Camera Movement	Shift + Directional Key	Moves camera faster when held down.
	Rectangle Multi-Unit Selection	Left Click (Hold)	Click and Hold the Left Mouse button to create a starting point and drag the mouse in any direction to create a selection box over units you would like to select.
Control Groups	Create Control Group	Ctrl + #	With a unit or a selection of units press CTRL + (0-9) to assign the selection to the selected number slot.
	Add Units to Control Group	Shift + #	With a unit or multiple units selected press SHIFT + (0-9) to add units to desired control group.
	Select Control Group	0-9	Press (0-9) once to select desired control group. Double click to put camera focus onto the control group.
	Create Group Exclusive	Alt + #	With a unit or multiple units selected press ALT + (0-9). The selected units will make a new control group and are removed from other control groups.
	Add Additional Units Exclusive	Shift + Alt + #	With a unit or multiple units selected press ALT + SHIFT + (0-9). The selected units are added to the control group and are removed from other control groups.
Radial Menu Hotkeys	Radial Menu Top Use	W	Activate the radial menu top action.
	Radial Menu Top Cancel	Left Shift + W	Cancel the radial menu top action.
	Radial Menu Top-Right Use	E	Activate the radial menu top-right action.
	Radial Menu Top-Right Cancel	Left Shift + E	Cancel the radial menu top-right action.
	Radial Menu Right Use	D	Activate the radial menu right action.
	Radial Menu Right Cancel	Left Shift + D	Cancel the radial menu right action.
	Radial Menu Bottom-Right Use	C	Activate the radial menu bottom-right action.
	Radial Menu Bottom-Right Cancel	Left Shift + C	Cancel the radial menu bottom-right action.
	Radial Menu Bottom Use	X	Activate the radial menu bottom action.
	Radial Menu Bottom Cancel	Left Shift + X	Cancel the radial menu bottom action.
	Radial Menu Bottom-Left Use	Z	Activate the radial menu bottom-left action.
	Radial Menu Bottom-Left Cancel	Left Shift + Z	Cancel the radial menu bottom-left action.
	Radial Menu Left Use	A	Activate the radial menu left action.
	Radial Menu Left Cancel	Left Shift + A	Cancel the radial menu left action.
	Radial Menu Top-Left Use	Q	Activate the radial menu top-left action.
	Radial Menu Top-Left Cancel	Left Shift + Q	Cancel the radial menu top-left action.
Alternate Hotkeys	Camera Panning Movement Left Alternate	Left Arrow	Pan camera to the left.
	Camera Panning Movement Right Alternate	Right Arrow	Pan camera to the right.
	Camera Panning Movement Up Alternate	Up Arrow	Pan camera up.
	Camera Panning Movement Down Alternate	Down Arrow	Pan camera down.

Gallery

• 

  An older, post-alpha control scheme from Halo Wars' development.

• 

  "CONTROLS" setting menu of Halo Wars (Xbox 360).