DayZ SA v1.07 Controls Cheatsheet

Just to make DayZ even more hardcore than it already is there is no manual and no tutorial area to cut your teeth. Instead, you just get your teeth smashed out and die until you figure out what’s going on (then you die in more interesting ways). Here is a cutdown of the basic default controls in the game.

For a more complete reference check your options menu.

Control Table (defaults)

Mouse	Character’s bearing
ALT/*	Free look
V/ENTER	Toggle 1st/3rd person view (if 3rd is allowed)
W/A/S/D	Character’s direction (foward/back and strafe left/right)
Q/E	Lean left/right
L CTRL	Walk/Jog (hold for momentary toggle, double-tap to toggle)
L SHIFT	Sprint (hold for momentary, no toggling)
SPACE	Jump (character may use hands to assist)
C	Tap to toggle stand/crouch (hold to lay prone)
TAB	Inventory screen
R Mouse	Hold to raise/employ held item (raise gun, fists, etc.)
L Mouse	Main action (fire weapon, punch, select/drag item, etc.)
M Mouse	Zoom (employs optics/weapon sights if at the ready)
F	Alternate action (buttstroke with weapon, open door, etc.)
G	Drop or throw held item
R	Chamber a round/cycle the action (clear a jam)
X	Toggle held weapon’s firing mode (semi/full auto)
PGUP	Elevate weapon sights (adjust zero up) if possible
PGDN	Lower weapon sights (adjust zero down) if possible
L	Activate night vision/special optics
L CTRL	Hold breath (reduces aiming float)
(spacebar)	Rotate selected/dragged item in inventory
` (backtick)	Toggle item/action hotkey in HUD
0–9	Item/action hotkeys (assignable in game)
CAPSLOCK	SPEAK! GET A MIC! IMPORTANT!!!
⬆	Cycle voice volume (whisper/talk/shout)
/	Text chat (you should really use voice if possible)
F1–F11	Gestures (play with this to learn them)
F12	Screenshot (Steam default)

Driving

When driving vehicles the WASD movement controls work as expected, the mouse looks around, Q/E shift gears down/up respectively, and L Shift activates turbo (same as sprinting).

Crafting/Combining/Loading

Many items in the game can affect other items or be used for crafting. To craft a stone knife from two small stones, for example:

1. Open the inventory screen and place one in your hands (drag to the “held” box below the character)
2. Drag the other one to the “held” box — the right side will say “replace”, the left will say “combine”. Drop it into “combine”.
3. Exit the inventory screen and you will see the tool-tip tell you to press and hold the left mouse button (or “F” key) to craft a stone knife.

In the same way, fast loading of magazines can be accomplished by placing a magazine in your hands, then dragging the appropriate ammunition to “combine” and then holding the action button to pump rounds into it without dragging individual rounds in.

Eating/Drinking

To eat an item, hold it in your hand. If it is a canned item you will need to open it before eating it. If it doesn’t have an easy opener you’ll need a can opener (best) or something with an edge like a knife (not too bad), an axe (spills quite a bit), or improvised stone knife (spills up to 40% of the contents, but better than starving).

Looting/Inventory

To loot a container (locker, barrel, backpack/clothes on the ground, etc.) or a body (dead zombie or dead/unconscious player, etc.) simply stand near it and activate the inventory screen. You can freely move items around as long as they fit.