Default PC movement and combat
These are the default keyboard and mouse bindings documented by PZwiki. Personal rebindings and controller layouts override them; check Options once before practicing. The reference is not a claim that every binding has been retested on each new patch.
| Input | Action | Context |
|---|---|---|
| W / A / S / D | Move | Watch the path ahead. |
| Left Shift (hold) | Run | Keep a reserve for retreat. |
| Left Alt (hold) | Sprint | Avoid blind corners. |
| C | Toggle sneaking | Crouching does not make you invisible. |
| Right mouse / Left Ctrl (hold) | Aim / combat stance | Face the target. |
| Left mouse | Attack / fire | While aiming. |
| Space | Shove / stomp | Action depends on target position. |
| Esc | Cancel current action | Reassess before moving. |
Doors, inventory, and information
Practice at an inspected house: open and close a door, cover a window, transfer a small stack, then open Health. Avoid repeatedly hammering E at a closed window; the urgent interaction can break it.
| Input | Action | Context |
|---|---|---|
| E (tap) | Interact; open a door/window | Stand beside the target. |
| E (hold) | Climb through / follow-up interaction | Check the far side first. |
| Shift + E | Toggle curtains | Near the window. |
| Right mouse (click) | Context menu | On the relevant object. |
| I | Inventory | Manage carried items. |
| H | Health panel | Inspect wounds. |
| M | Map | Check your surroundings. |
| L | Skills panel | Check current progress. |
Default vehicle controls
Inspect a parked vehicle before testing these keys on a crowded road. Space is context-sensitive: the driving action differs from the shove or stomp used on foot.
| Input | Action | Context |
|---|---|---|
| E | Enter / exit | At an accessible seat. |
| V | Vehicle radial menu | Near or inside a vehicle. |
| U | Vehicle mechanics / information | May make you leave the vehicle. |
| Z | Choose a seat | Inside the vehicle. |
| Space | Handbrake | When driving. |
A safe two-minute practice loop
Single-player pause can give you thinking time. Multiplayer normally continues while you use menus, so do this inside a cleared area with another player watching the approaches.
- In a clear area, walk, crouch, and turn without running.
- Enter combat stance, face one direction, then back away while watching the route.
- Open inventory, move one item, and cancel the action.
- Open Health and Skills so you can find them quickly later.
- At a parked vehicle, inspect mechanics and test the seat menu before starting the engine.
Atlas controls are separate from game controls
Search this atlas for a town or building category, zoom in to inspect streets, and open a coordinate link to return to a specific place. Map markers and the route notebook are planning aids; they do not move your character or modify an in-game map.