What are the default controls for Total War: EMPIRE?

Total War: EMPIRE, a strategy game, uses 35 default keybinds across 3 categories. The complete, up-to-date list is free to read on this page.

Can you remap Total War: EMPIRE controls?

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

Which platforms do these Total War: EMPIRE controls cover?

These keyboard controls apply on Windows. Most bindings are identical across platforms unless noted.

Is this an official Total War: EMPIRE resource?

No. This is an unofficial reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Total War: EMPIRE or its publisher. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Total War: EMPIRE Keyboard controls

Windows
35 default keybinds
Strategy →
Total War collection →

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

Empire is the Total War that added naval combat, and its keyboard is two schemes sharing one set of keys: the same WASD moves the campaign camera over the map and the battle camera over the field. SEGA's manual is the source for both.

Total War: EMPIRE official site ↗ View on Steam ↗

All Total War: EMPIRE keyboard controls

Layout

35 shortcuts

Campaign Map 13

Action	Shortcut
Move Up	`W`
End Turn	`Enter`
Move Down	`S`
Strafe Left	`A`
Strafe Right	`D`
Quick Save	`CtrlS`
Quick Load	`CtrlL`
Increase Height	`X`
Decrease Height	`Z`
Options Menu	`Esc`
Animation Speed Up (toggle)	`Space`
Look at Nation Capital	`Home`
Cancel Order	`Bksp`

Battle Camera 13

Action	Shortcut
Move Forward	`W`
Move Backward	`S`
Rotate Left	`Q`
Rotate Right	`E`
Strafe Left	`A`
Strafe Right	`D`
Zoom: General	`Home`
Zoom: Unit	`End`
Increase Height	`X`
Decrease Height	`Z`
Track Unit	`Del`
Pitch Upwards	`V`
Pitch Downwards	`C`

Battle Commands 9

Action	Shortcut
Show Unit Destinations	`Space`
Select All Cavalry	`CtrlC`
Select All Musketeers	`CtrlM`
Toggle Pause	`P`
Select All Melee Only	`CtrlH`
Select All Artillery	`CtrlB`
Toggle Game Speed	`CtrlT`
Open Battle Chat (General)	`ShiftG`
Open Battle Chat (Team)	`ShiftT`

Sourced from store.steampowered.com, shared.fastly.steamstatic.com Last verified September 21, 2026

Esc

F10

F11

F12

⌫ Back

Tab

[

]

Caps

;

Enter ⏎

Shift

Ctrl

Win

Alt

Space

Alt

Win

Ctrl

↑

←

↓

→

+ 4 more controls in the table below

35 default keybinds across 3 categories. Most can be reassigned in Total War: EMPIRE's control settings.

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

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Total War: EMPIRE controls — FAQ

What are the default controls for Total War: EMPIRE?: Total War: EMPIRE, a strategy game, uses 35 default keybinds across 3 categories. The complete, up-to-date list is free to read on this page.
Can you remap Total War: EMPIRE controls?: Yes. These are the game's default bindings — nearly all of them can be reassigned from Total War: EMPIRE's in-game control or key-binding settings.
Which platforms do these Total War: EMPIRE controls cover?: These keyboard controls apply on Windows. Most bindings are identical across platforms unless noted.
Is this an official Total War: EMPIRE resource?: No. This is an unofficial reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Total War: EMPIRE or its publisher. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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