HELLDIVERS™ 2: Keybinds and Controls

Three parts.

1. Notes about selecting the best controls for you in Helldivers 2.
2. Link to Excel and PDF files to record your own keyboard and mouse layouts.
3. Directions to GHub profiles with all stratagem macros for the following stratagem systems:
   -Hold or press alt key in combination with arrow keys.
   -Hold or press spacebar in combination with arrow keys.

Optimizing the Helldivers 2 keyboard and mouse layout is tricky. It will be different for everyone. I’ve spent more time on setting up my keyboard and mouse for Helldivers, than I have for any other four games.

In the next section, please find a link to an Excel file I’ve made for recording key bindings and mapping. It’s handy if you want to remember what your settings were. There is also a PDF of the file.

Some notes:

At present, if you re-bind any function to a new key in Helldivers, you must be careful to then check whether the key is still on its original setting, or needs to be reset to your desired selection of tap, press, long press, double-click, hold, or long hold.

Assigning two different functions to a single key is best done with tap for one function, and long press for the other function, such as seen in the default setting for the R key which is tap: reload, long press: weapon function menu (lets you choose rpm, scope setting, flashlight, etc.) Two different settings may be assigned to the same key when their context is obvious, such as one function only working aboard ship while another function is only available planetside. When several functions are assigned to the same key, the game is quite good at noticing what function should take precedence for that key. For example, WASD, by default is used for both movement and to enter stratagem codes, but if stratagem codes are assigned to the arrow keys, the game uses WASD for normal movement, even while stratagems are being entered using the arrow keys.

Using WASD for the directions inputs when typing in stratagem codes works, and your fingers already know those settings, but WASD prevents you from moving. Using the Arrow keys allows you to run while you’re inputting a Stratagem code.

If you’re using the arrow keys to enter stratagem codes, then you could switch your stratagem activation button to another key, such as ALT or the SPACEBAR. I’ve tried Ctrl, Alt, and Space and prefer Space for coding stratagems. If you begin using space, but were formerly using space to dive, it takes a lot of practice to learn to use a different key to dive (you will die many times when you hit the wrong key to dive).

Usually when calling in a stratagem I’m on the verge of being mentally overloaded, which is not the case when I’m diving. Having the easiest key, space, reserved for the most difficult task, calling in stratagems, works best for me.

“Press” or “Hold” are choices for your buttons controlling stratagems, your map, and sprinting.

While entering a stratagem code or looking at the map, your character puts their weapon aside and stares at their wrist.

I prefer hold, for stratagems and the map, because as soon as I release the button, the command is cancelled, and my character is never left staring at their wrist. If I finished coding in a stratagem and have the coded stratagem ball in my hand but I no longer wish to throw it, pressing the hold button again momentarily, puts the ball away and cancels the unwanted command, and again, there’s no chance that I’m left staring at my wrist.

I prefer hold for sprinting because there are many times when a character is slowed or knocked down, and it can be difficult to determine if sprint is active or not. Keeping sprint pressed is not infallible though, because in some circumstances the game does not check whether the sprint key is pressed, but instead only checks whether the sprint key has been pressed down since the last time it looked. (Since sprinting is used so often, ideally the game would allow players to always sprint, using a special key to not sprint, just as it’s common to have a special key to walk.)

Most expert players choose press for sprint, map, and stratagem encoding. This frees up the finger that would be required to hold down the button. These players are good enough that they seldom end up staring at their wrists, and can also figure out whether sprint is active more instinctively than more casual players like myself.

Notes:

Remember aim mode, per weapon, which should remember 3rd person or 1st person ADS (aim down the sight), seems to need reminding whenever a weapon is picked up, or when one respawns.

Remember weapon functions, always remembered my flashlight settings, but often forgot rpm or burst mode when I picked up a weapon again.

Dynamic Aim Mode works well if you primarily want third person view: holding right click gives you this function. Tapping right click sends you into 1st person ADS. I could not get used to this, and so I rely on the aim mode button to switch between 1st and 3rd person. It must be reset every time a weapon is picked up.

I often record what keys do what for favorite games in Excel files.

This[docs.google.com] is a link to my Excel file for Helldivers 2.

This[drive.google.com] is a link all the pages of the PDF output of the file.

I’m not sure when those links will become active. A portion of the default setting page looks like this:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3243200034

(If the links never work (because Steam doesn’t like Google Drive), and you want the files, you might email a request to diggerdogg1 on gmail, but I don’t check the account every day.)

The intention is that if you download the file, you can edit it to record your own choices.

It’s ten pages, consisting of the following:

• Default Full Keyboard and G502 Mouse Layout
• Copy Default Full Keyboard and G502 Mouse Layout
• Blank Full Keyboard and G502 Mouse Layout
• DiggerDog’s Current Layout, uses Space and Arrow keys for Stratagems
• DiggerDog’s Former Layout, uses Alt and Arrow keys for Stratagems
• DiggerDog’s G502 Mouse Layout, Top of mouse
• DiggerDog’s G502 Mouse Layout, Thumb side of mouse
• Extra: G600 MMO Mouse, 20 Button, no G-Shift
• Extra: G600 MMO Mouse with G-Shift keys
• Extra: G900 Ambidextrous Mouse, no G-Shift

Logitech Macro Notes

I use macros to code stratagems. This is not as good as it sounds, and I definitely could have memorised the few macros I use regularly in less time than it took me to code and test a macro for every stratagem. I’ve also heard one reviewer relate that entering stratagem codes is fundamental to the feel of the game, and that not doing is bad for the overall experience.

Moreover, you have a limited number of buttons on your mouse, so you will be constantly changing the macros you’ve assigned to keys. Remembering what button calls what macro is a small challenge. And you WILL find yourself in battle with the wrong macros on your mouse, forcing you to manually key in one or several of the stratagems you took with you on this drop. Be ready.

Standard rate of keystrokes:
GHub macros have a standard delay of 0.1 seconds per key: 50ms down, 50ms up. Shorter delays may not register with games. I’ve heard reports that Arrowhead’s anti-cheat system may consider very short delays to be cheating and prevent you from playing until your macros are turned off. I’m not sure how the software could tell that your macros had been turned off, other than to verify that you were not running third party macro programs. At 0.1 seconds per keystroke, you’ll execute macros faster than most casuals, but slower than most elite players.

Long delays in GHub
Longer delays within macros, say over 2 seconds, can result in macros getting queued up in Logitech’s system, so that two or more presses of a macro key will result in two executions of the macro, rather than one interrupted execution followed by a full execution. So try not to double-click your macro keys. And if you’re considering adding a 75 second delay after calling in an EAT (Expendable Anti-Tank) rocket launcher, before efficiently calling in another EAT as soon as it’s ready, don’t bother. Things will get out of sync.

My GHub macros.

Do not download these to your account without thinking it over. You will end up with over 60 macros shared with your desktop profile, and the only way I know to get rid of them is to delete them one at a time. Only worth the effort if you’re going to use them.

Also note that some people think that using any sort of a macro is cheating, and are outraged by macro usage, even in a co-op game. Be open about what you’re doing. Leave games if someone is angry about your macro usage.

I have two sets of macros.
AllStratagems74088 – uses ALT key plus ARROW keys to code stratagems; (ID# equals 42 cubed)
AllStratagems300763 – uses SPACE key plus ARROW keys to code stratagems; (ID# equals 67cubed)

The macros are written for HOLD plus arrow keys. However, they work fine if you’ve chosen PRESS instead of HOLD for your macros.

To download either (you should only download one)
In GHub, bring up the screen which shows the small picture of your mouse or keyboard. The drop-down menu at the top left, select Community. Search for the desired ID# shown above. Download the profile. It arrives in your desktop section. You can now then drag that profile onto your game’s profile, or onto a new profile for a new game that you make up. All the macros are copied along with it. You can assign each one individually to ANY Logitech gaming mouse or keyboard button.

My macros can be searched by name or using the following codes:
gg gun
bb backpack
oo orbital
ee eagle
vv vehicle (just one so far)
— non-stratagem macro

You will probably have to swap out macros onto different buttons on your mouse very frequently.

From small picture of your mouse:
Click on the picture of your mouse
Click on assignments tab (left side, second choice)
Click on macros
Drag the desired macro onto the desired button

I have about 7 profiles with button assignments that I use regularly.
To make alternative profiles:
From small picture of your mouse screen:
top right, drop down, manage profiles, click on “Duplicate” below any profile

I usually have a profile set as persistent. To have no persistent profile:
From small picture of your mouse screen:
top right, drop down, manage profiles, details, set as persistent
(To remove persistent profile, top left, settings, (center column) persistent profile, none)

No matter whether you have GHub or not, you might want to make up a macro for placing marks on the map.

I have one on a mouse thumb button that opens the map (ctrl for me), tells the game I want to navigate on the map (right click), and lets me sprint in a straight line (shift for me). Basically, a ctrl-shift-right_click button. You might want to figure out if a similar macro would work for you.

Apologies for the roughness and omissions in this guide. I thought I’d better get this published before I drifted away to other concerns.

—

I did wonder if I’d gone overboard with these macros and key assignment records. But then I saw the YouTube videos:

Helldivers 2: Master The Stratagems With Voice Commands! Enhancing Accessibility In Gaming
in which a player with MS showcases the voice command system he uses to activate stratagems

and

BARRAGES are NOT RANDOM
in which a player investigates the fall of shells in artillery barrages…very, very thoroughly.

There’s something about this game that grabs one’s attention.

Cheers.