What are the default controls for Middle-earth: Shadow of War?

Middle-earth: Shadow of War, a action game, uses 39 default keybinds across 6 categories — on keyboard and controller. The complete, up-to-date list is free to read on this page.

Can you remap Middle-earth: Shadow of War controls?

Yes. These are the game's default bindings — nearly all of them can be reassigned from Middle-earth: Shadow of War's in-game control or key-binding settings.

Does Middle-earth: Shadow of War support a controller?

Yes — Middle-earth: Shadow of War has full gamepad support. The Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and Steam Deck button maps are shown on this page alongside the keyboard controls.

Which platforms do these Middle-earth: Shadow of War controls cover?

These keyboard controls apply on Windows. Middle-earth: Shadow of War also released on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, and this page carries those controller bindings too. Most bindings are identical across platforms unless noted.

Is this an official Middle-earth: Shadow of War resource?

No. This is an unofficial reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Middle-earth: Shadow of War or its publisher. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War Keyboard & controller controls

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Cover art © its publisher — for identification only. Cover © its publisher. Details

Shadow of War keeps Mordor's layout and piles more onto it. The mouse buttons still do strike and counter, E still stuns and drains, and V still opens Wraith World. Space now covers sprinting, climbing, dodging and bow focus, while the number row calls your mount and followers and 5 sets off Elven Rage. These are the defaults the game's own Talion Bindings screen lists before anything is rebound. On a pad, the Controls screen's Basic layout puts attack on X, counter on Y, stun and drain on B, dodge and run on A, and Wraith World on LB.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War official site ↗ View on Steam ↗

All Middle-earth: Shadow of War controls

Layout

39 shortcuts

Combat 11

Action	Shortcut
Melee Attack	`LMB`
Counter	`RMB`
Dodge Roll	`Space`
Wraith Stun	`E`
Drain / Dominate / Interrogate (hold)	`E`
Execution	`F`
Grab / Tackle (hold)	`Ctrl`
Quick Throw	`Q`
Consume	`C`
Elven Light	`R`
Elven Rage	`5`

Traversal 7

Action	Shortcut
Sprint (hold)	`Space`
Climb / Vault (hold)	`Space`
Elven Speed	`Wheel ↑`
Slide Tackle	`Shift`
Drop Down (hold)	`E`
Leap Behind (hold)	`Q`
Leap to Rope	`Ctrl`

Ranged 7

Action	Shortcut
Aim Bow (hold)	`RMB`
Ranged Attack	`LMB`
Shadow Strike	`Z`
Toggle Focus	`Space`
Shadow Strike Kill	`X`
Distract	`G`
Mighty Shot	`Ctrl`

General 6

Action	Shortcut
Move	`W`then`A`then`S`then`D`
Wraith World	`V`
Interact / Pick Up	`Ctrl`
Identify Target	`X`
Contextual Shortcut	`B`
Photo Mode	`P`

Stealth 4

Action	Shortcut
Stealth (hold)	`Shift`
Stealth Kill	`LMB`
Attract	`G`
Brutalize	`RMB`

Army 4

Action	Shortcut
Call Mount	`1`
Call Followers	`2`
Activate Dominated Orcs	`4`
Mount	`Ctrl`

Sourced from youtube.com, pcgamingwiki.com Last verified October 1, 2026 Shortcuts last changed October 1, 2026

⌫ Back

Tab

[

]

Caps

;

Enter ⏎

Shift

Ctrl

Win

Alt

Space

Alt

Win

Ctrl

↑

←

↓

→

Combat 6

Action	XboxPlayStationSwitchSteam Deck
Melee Attack	`X■XY`
Counter	`Y▲YX`
Dodge Roll	`A✕AB`
Wraith Stun	`B●BA`
Drain / Dominate / Interrogate (hold)	`B●BA`
Grab / Tackle (hold)	`RBR1R1R`

Traversal 1

Action	XboxPlayStationSwitchSteam Deck
Sprint (hold)	`A✕AB`

Ranged 2

Action	XboxPlayStationSwitchSteam Deck
Aim Bow (hold)	`LTL2L2ZL`
Ranged Attack	`LTL2L2ZLRTR2R2ZR`

General 2

Action	XboxPlayStationSwitchSteam Deck
Move	`L-Stick`
Wraith World	`LBL1L1L`

Stealth 2

Action	XboxPlayStationSwitchSteam Deck
Stealth (hold)	`RTR2R2ZR`
Stealth Kill	`RTR2R2ZRX■XY`

Sourced from youtube.com, pcgamingwiki.com Last verified October 1, 2026 Shortcuts last changed October 1, 2026

39 default keybinds across 6 categories. Most can be reassigned in Middle-earth: Shadow of War's control settings. Switch to Gamepad to see Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and Steam Deck buttons side by side.

Unofficial reference. ShortcutPosters is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Middle-earth: Shadow of War. All product names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. See our licensing & trademark notice.

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Middle-earth: Shadow of War controls poster preview

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Middle-earth: Shadow of War controls — FAQ

What are the default controls for Middle-earth: Shadow of War?: Middle-earth: Shadow of War, a action game, uses 39 default keybinds across 6 categories — on keyboard and controller. The complete, up-to-date list is free to read on this page.
Can you remap Middle-earth: Shadow of War controls?: Yes. These are the game's default bindings — nearly all of them can be reassigned from Middle-earth: Shadow of War's in-game control or key-binding settings.
Does Middle-earth: Shadow of War support a controller?: Yes — Middle-earth: Shadow of War has full gamepad support. The Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and Steam Deck button maps are shown on this page alongside the keyboard controls.
Which platforms do these Middle-earth: Shadow of War controls cover?: These keyboard controls apply on Windows. Middle-earth: Shadow of War also released on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, and this page carries those controller bindings too. Most bindings are identical across platforms unless noted.
Is this an official Middle-earth: Shadow of War resource?: No. This is an unofficial reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Middle-earth: Shadow of War or its publisher. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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