Control schemes

Within every Halo game, there have been many different control layouts to match each players style. Whilst Halo: Combat Evolved only had one set Xbox controller layout PC players were able to remap buttons to their needs. The multiple control schemes were introduced in Halo 3 with schemes such as Default, Southpaw, Left and Recon to name a few. Halo 3 had several different schemes and this was a massive change for the series as not only could a player remap buttons but could change the stick behaviours too.

Halo: Combat Evolved
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Reload weapon/Action

Y - Switch weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog - Camera

Right Analog Click - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire primary weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade

"Back" Button - Go back/Multiplayer score

"Start" Button - Pause game

Directional Pad - Menu Movement

Directional Pad Up - Teamspeak

Black Button - Switch grenades

White Button - Flashlight/Teamspeak

Halo 2
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Reload weapon/Swap weapon/Action

Y - Switch weapons/Dual wield weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog - Camera

Right Analog Click - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade/Fire secondary weapon/E-brake/Boost

"Back" Button - Go back/Multiplayer score

"Start" Button - Pause

Directional Pad - Menu Movement

Directional Pad Up - Teamspeak

Directional Pad Down - Lower weapon

Black Button - Switch grenades

White Button - Flashlight/Invisibility/Teamspeak

Halo: Combat Evolved
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Reload weapon/Action

Y - Switch weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog - Camera

Right Analog Click - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade

"Back" Button - Go back/Multiplayer score

"Start" Button - Pause

Directional Pad - Menu Movement

Directional Pad Up - Teamspeak

Right Bumper - Switch grenades

Left Bumper - Flashlight/Teamspeak

Halo 2
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Reload weapon/Swap weapon/Action

Y - Switch weapons/Duel wield

Left Analog Stick - Movement

Push Left Analog Stick - Crouch

Right Analog Stick - Camera

Push Right Analog Stick - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade/Fire secondary weapon/E-brake/Boost

"Back" Button - Go back/Multiplayer score

"Start" Button - Pause

Directional Pad - Menu Movement

Directional Pad Up - Teamspeak

Directional Pad Down - Lower weapon

Right Bumper - Switch grenades

Left Bumper - Flashlight/Teamspeak

Halo 3 Beta Controls
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Use Equipment

Y - Switch weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog - Camera

Right Analog Click - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade/Fire secondary weapon (while Dual Wielding)

Directional Pad - Push to talk

Right Bumper - Action/Reload

Left Bumper - Switch grenades/Reload secondary weapon (while Dual Wielding)

Default
The following is the recommended button layout.

A - Jump

B - Melee Attack

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Left Weapon/Throw Grenade

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Action/Reload Right Weapon

Left Bumper - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

LB + RB + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

LB + RB + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates

This is the most common control scheme despite many flaws (see below) that often become apparent to more experienced players. This is the control scheme that Bungie starts you with, but it is suggested that one quickly learns to either use the claw grip, bumper jumper, walkie talkie, or possibly even green thumb, all of which are more often used by experienced players.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while meleeing, jumping, and deploying equipment without use of the "claw grip."

Southpaw
"For lefties."

A - Jump

B - Melee Attack

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Trigger - Use Left Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Action/Reload Right Weapon

Left Bumper - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

LB + RB + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

LB + RB + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This is the same as default except that the triggers are switched.

Please note that if you compare new players using all button layouts this is the most accurate. Because unlike all of the other layouts offered in the game this is the only one that you are not required to use the same hand to shoot and aim with. Therefore having more reaction time and accuracy.

Boxer
"Pulling the left trigger will melee."

A - Jump

B - Throw Grenade

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Melee/Use Left Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Action/Reload Right Weapon

Left Bumper - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

LB + RB + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

LB + RB + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This has the advantage of giving the user aim while meleeing, but has the disadvantage of not allowing you to aim while throwing grenades.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while throwing grenades, jumping, and deploying equipment without use of the "claw grip."

Green Thumb
"Pressing the right stick will melee."

A - Jump

B - Zoom View

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Melee Attack

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Left Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Action/Reload Right Weapon

Left Bumper - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

LB + RB + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

LB + RB + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This has the advantage of giving you some control over your aim while meleeing without compromising the aim of your grenades. However it is considered hard to learn and can be somewhat unreliable if not mastered.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while zooming, jumping, and deploying equipment without use of the "claw grip."

Also this is very similar to the default Call of Duty controls.

Bumper Jumper
"Jump and Melee are on the bumpers."

A - Reload/Swap Left Weapon/change grenade type

B - Action/Reload Right Weapon

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Left Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Melee Attack

Left Bumper - Jump

A + B + LB + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

A + B + LB + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This has been called by many to be the best possible controller configuration as you can aim while meleeing, jumping, zooming, and throwing grenades without having to use the uncomfortable claw grip usually only taking a few days to learn.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while deploying equipment without use of the "claw grip," although this is not much of a deterrent for most.

Bungie originally considered this as the default control scheme of Halo 3, but thought it would be too radically different to players used to Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 and so altered it into the actual default configuration. However, with its relative popularity among Bungie workers, it was kept as an alternate configuration.

Using the Banshee becomes much easier with this control scheme, seeing as how you can use your cannon and aim, as well as perform tricks and determine your trajectory at the same time.

Walkie Talkie
"Multiplayer team broadcasting is on the Left Bumper."

A - Jump

B - Action/Reload Right Weapon

X - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Left Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Use Equipment

Right Bumper - Melee Attack

Left Bumper - Team Chat

X + B + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

X + B + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This has very similar advantages to Bumper Jumper except you can aim while deploying equipment but not while jumping, and it is much more convenient to communicate with your team as you can continue walking and aiming while you switch into your team chat.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while jumping without use of the "claw grip."

Default
"This is the recommended stick layout."

Left Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Strafe Left/Right

Right Stick - Look Up/Down | Rotate Left/Right

Southpaw
"For Lefties"

Left Stick - Look Up/Down | Rotate Left/Right

Right Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Strafe Left/Right

Legacy
"An older way of doing things."

Left Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Rotate Left/Right

Right Stick - Look Up/Down | Strafe Left/Right

Legacy Southpaw
"An older way of doing things for lefties"

Left Stick - Look Up/Down | Strafe Left/Right

Right Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Rotate Left/Right

Film Controls
A - Play/Pause

B - Hide/Show HUD

X - Hide/Show Control Pad

Y - Flying Cam/Player Cam

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Pan

Right Analog - Camera

Right Trigger - Slow Motion/Fast Forward

Left Trigger - Thrust

Directional Pad - Switch Player

Right Bumper - Move Up

Left Bumper - Move Down

Forge Controls
A - Pick up/ Drop Item

B - Hold to Drop Item

X - Inventory/Item Options

Y - Delete Item

Left Analog - Move/Rotate Selected Item

Right Analog - Look/Rotate Selected Item

Right Trigger - Hold to Rotate Selected Item

Left Trigger - Thrust

Directional Pad - Play/ Edit Mode

Right Bumper - Move Up

Left Bumper - Move Down

Default Controls
A - Jump

B - Switch Grenades

X - Action/Reload

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Grenades

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Left on Directional Pad - Night Vision

Down on Directional Pad - Open Mic/Regroup

Right Bumper - Melee Attack

Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability

"Back" Button - Multiplayer Score

"Start" Button - Game Menu

Green Thumb
Melee Attack and Zoom View exchange places.

A - Jump

B - Switch Grenades

X - Action/Reload

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Melee Attack

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Grenades

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Left on Directional Pad - Night Vision

Down on Directional Pad - Open Mic/Regroup

Right Bumper - Zoom View

Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability

"Back" Button - Multiplayer Score

"Start" Button - Game Menu

Boxer
Grenades and Zoom View exchange places.

A - Jump

B - Switch Grenades

X - Action/Reload

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Melee Attack

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Left on Directional Pad - Night Vision

Down on Directional Pad - Open Mic/Regroup

Right Bumper - Use Grenades

Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability

"Back" Button - Multiplayer Score

"Start" Button - Game Menu

Bumper Jumper
A - Switch Grenades

B - Action/Reload

X - Use Armor Ability

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Grenades

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Left on Directional Pad - Night Vision

Down on Directional Pad - Open Mic/Regroup

Right Bumper - Melee Attack

Left Bumper - Jump

"Back" Button - Multiplayer Score

"Start" Button - Game Menu

Recon
A - Jump

B - Melee Attack

X - Switch Grenades

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Grenades

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Left on Directional Pad - Night Vision

Down on Directional Pad - Open Mic/Regroup

Right Bumper - Action/Reload

Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability

"Back" Button - Multiplayer Score

"Start" Button - Game Menu

Southpaw
A - Jump

B - Switch Grenades

X - Action/Reload

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Grenades

Left Trigger - Use Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Left on Directional Pad - Night Vision

Down on Directional Pad - Open Mic/Regroup

Right Bumper - Use Armor Ability

Left Bumper - Melee Attack

"Back" Button - Multiplayer Score

"Start" Button - Game Menu