The Witcher controls

Control Mode

Mouse preferred, featuring an easily controlled, smart isometric camera. Recommended for casual gamers and those wanting a more strategic overview of battles. Control mode can be changed at any time during the game.	Keyboard and mouse controlled, featuring a dynamic OTS camera. Recommended for experienced gamers and those who want to get closer to the action. Control mode can be changed at any time during the game.
Mouse	Keyboard + Mouse

All cursors indicate a change of available action. They always refer to a left-click. For example, if you are wandering through the swamp and are suddenly, and surprisingly, set upon by drowners, your cursor changes to a sword to indicate combat. You were using a left-click to move around, now you can continue to use a left-click, but now you are targeting enemies in combat with that same action. Easy peasy.

Basic controls

In the game, the player will usually use a combination of both the mouse and keyboard commands. Using one or the other exclusively is nearly impossible.

Mouse

• Left-click — the left-mouse-click is used for most activities in the game like attacking, picking things up, talking to NPCs, etc.
• Right-click — the right-mouse-click is used for witcher signs.

Movement

• Left-click when the arrow is your icon to move to a particular spot.
• Left-click and hold to keep running in a particular direction while the cursor is farther from Geralt.
• Left-click and hold to keep walking in a particular direction while the cursor is on or near Geralt.
• Right-click to dodge or duck, and when a sign is selected, cast a sign.
• Double-left-click when the arrow is your icon to perform an evasive manoeuvre.
• Move the cursor to the right or left edge of the screen to pan the camera.

Movement cursors

	This is the default cursor presented. Just left-click somewhere to go there.
	This is the cursor presented to indicate the direction of movement if you click and hold the left mouse button. The length of the cursor indicates the speed of movement. A longer cursor indicates running, a shorter cursor, walking.

Weapons

Left-click on the icons below to choose the appropriate weapon for your battle.

Melee Weapon	Extra weapon 1	Extra weapon 2	Extra weapon 3
Sheathe weapon / non-combat mode	Extra weapon 1 (extra sword/axe/mace)	To be verified	Torch
Steel sword			Dagger
Silver sword			Small axe

Combat Styles

To select a combat style, left-click on desired icon to select the style, then again on your intended target. It is advisable to use the space bar to pause when switching combat styles. The final choice is of course your own.

Magic Signs

To use magic signs, first left-click on icon to select the desired sign, then right-click on desired target

User Interface

To access different parts of the user interface, left-click on the desired icon

Keyboard Commands

Note that any of these commands can be bound to different keys, depending on your personal preference. Below are the default key assignments.

Category	Key	Description	Condition(s)
Movement	W	Forward
Movement	S	Backwards
Movement	A	Step left	OTS and isometric combat
Movement	A	Turn left	Isometric non-combat
Movement	D	Step right	OTS and isometric combat
Movement	D	Turn right	Isometric non-combat
Melee Weapon	Tab	Sheathe weapon / non combat mode
Melee Weapon	Q	Draw steel sword / Cycle through combat modes when drawn
Melee Weapon	E	Draw silver sword
Melee Weapon	R	Draw extra weapon 1 (extra sword / axe / mace)
Melee Weapon	T	Trophy slot, draw trophy? I am not sure why you would want to do this
Melee Weapon	U	Draw extra weapon 3 (torch / dagger / small axe)	only with Raven's armor
Combat Style	Z	Strong style
Combat Style	X	Fast style
Combat Style	C	Group style
Magic Sign	1	Aard sign (force push)
Magic Sign	2	Quen sign (shield)
Magic Sign	3	Yrden sign (pain / root)
Magic Sign	4	Igni sign (fire)
Magic Sign	5	Axii sign (charm)
User Interface	J	Open Journal
User Interface	I	Open Inventory
User Interface	M	Open Map
User Interface	H	Open Hero page
User Interface	L	Open Alchemy page	only while meditating
Miscellaneous	F	Turn 180°	OTS
Miscellaneous	G	Switch shoulder you look over	OTS
Miscellaneous	Alt	Highlight objects
Miscellaneous	Space	Pause
Miscellaneous	F5	Quicksave
Miscellaneous	F9	Quickload

Device	Action	Description	Condition(s)
Key	Double-tap a movement key	Evasive move in combat
Mouse	left-double-click on ground	Evasive move/jump in combat. Useful to jump over enemies if surrounded.	non-OTS only
Mouse	Shift + click and hold	Pointer can be used on interface elements, release to control view again.

Character Interaction

• Left-click on NPCs to initiate conversations.

Picking Up Items

To use an item, you must first pick it up. Sometimes it is not obvious what can or can not be picked up, so holding down the Alt-key reveals all items in view which can be manipulated. While this does not always mean they can be "picked up", it does help locate things,

• Move your cursor over the desired item.
• Left-click when you see a 'glove' icon.

Using Objects

There are many kinds of objects in the game and not all of them are décor only. Some objects are actually usable. To locate all usable objects in view, simply hold down the Alt-key. This will cause object labels to appear on screen. Left-click on "usable" items to make use of them.

Tip: Press Alt to highlight all usable items in view. Items and doors can not be used during combat.

Item manipulation cursors

	This is the cursor presented when an item can be used or employed, usually (perhaps exclusively) a weapon.
	This is the cursor presented when an item can be picked up and added to inventory, or used. It is used for opening containers, lighting campfires, picking herbs, ringing bells.
	This is the cursor presented when an item can be picked up like dice in dice poker.

Herbalism

Herbalism is fairly fundamental to gameplay. Even on the easiest level of gameplay, where no alchemy is required for combat, there is still a need to gather some herbs, if for no other reason than to have Cat potions. This skill is acquired early in the game, either through the allocation of talents or when Geralt must find White myrtle for Abigail. She gives him that knowledge if he does not already have it.

• To gather herbs left-click on selected plants.

If you do not have an entry in the Ingredients section of the Journal for a given herb or plant, then the caption above it will read "unknown herb" instead of the plant's true name.

Tip: You must have the herbalism skill in the Intelligence group to gather herbs. You also need to have knowledge of a given plant, which you can find in books. Herbs can also be purchased from herbalists and alchemists.

Skinning Monsters

Skinning monsters, like herbalism, is fairly fundamental to gameplay. Even on the easiest level of gameplay, where no alchemy is required for combat, there is still a need to gather ingredients, if for no other reason than to have Cat potions. Monster carcasses are a rich source of ingredients, and so very plentiful, it would seem a shame to waste them. To extract alchemical components:

• Left-click on the monster carcass.
• Left-click on the transfer items to inventory icon.

Tips

• Read books to gain information about monsters and alchemical ingredients. You must know about ingredients before you can collect them.
• You can selectively harvest items from a corpse without closing the inventory screen by double-clicking on each desired item separately.

Attacking

For more in-depth information on battle, see Combat in The Witcher, or Combat Styles.

• Left-click on the desired target to attack.
• Right-click to dodge, duck, or cast a sign (when a sign is selected).
• Double-left-click on a location away (but not too far away!) from the enemy to perform an evasive manoeuvre.

Attack cursors

	This cursor is presented when a hostile creature is clicked on. It initiates combat, and thereafter, continues combat, until either Geralt, or the enemy (or enemies) is dead.
	This cursor is presented (if you are in easy, or intermediate mode) when you should click again during combat to chain attacks. In advanced mode, you only see a blue streak where your sword has just travelled and hear a faint "whoosing" sound to alert you to the timing of your attacks.
	This cursor is presented when an NPC is ready to fistfight, it functions like the attack cursor.

Floating Messages

Default game behaviour is to alert you to what is going on, particularly in battle, but sometimes this can become too much for some more experienced players. These "floating messages", like 'Too Fast!' and 'Final Attack!' , can be turned off in the game options.