Mastering Baldur's Gate 3: Essential Hotkeys for Ultimate Gameplay

Highlights

Using hotkeys like Jump (Z), Centre Camera On Character (Home), and Enter Turn-Based Mode (Shift + Space) can enhance the player's experience and offer enhanced control during combat and exploration.

Additional essential hotkeys consist of Ping (Left Alt + Right Click) for efficient communication in co-op, Stealth View (Shift + Crouch - C) for stealth mechanics, and Quick Save (F5) for frequent saving, which is vital for all players.

Baldur's Gate 3 is a game that offers immense depth, which can initially be daunting for new players due to the overwhelming amount of information displayed on the screen. Similar to any intricate game, familiarizing oneself with specific hotkeys can simplify the experience and increase efficiency, as players won't need to rely as frequently on clicking through the cluttered HUD.

The essential hotkeys in Baldur's Gate 3 might even unveil hidden aspects of the game that players may have overlooked, as the game predominantly encourages self-discovery.

8 Jump – Z

In Baldur's Gate 3, although it is not primarily a platformer game, there are instances where jumping plays a significant role. Having knowledge of the hotkey can enhance the gameplay experience. To initiate the jump action, players can easily press the Z key and subsequently select a desired location within range.

Jumping proves advantageous during combat scenarios as it allows players to access advantageous positions. It is crucial to jump over dangerous areas that are prone to hazards such as ice, grease, or fire.

7 Centre Camera On Character – Home

The camera system in Baldur's Gate 3 may require some time to adjust to. It offers players the ability to zoom in and out, while also allowing them to pan to any desired location. Although this freedom is commendable, there are instances where the camera may become stuck or players may temporarily forget the whereabouts of their character.

To resolve this issue, players can simply press the Home key on their keyboard, instantly resetting the camera to focus on their currently controlled character.

6 Enter Turn-Based Mode – Shift + Space

Combat in Baldur's Gate 3 primarily occurs in turn-based mode, activating at the start of a battle. However, few players realize that entering turn-based mode outside of combat can offer significant advantages. By doing so, players gain better control when attempting to evade enemy patrols or approach targets stealthily. To expedite this process, players can simply press Shift + Space, exiting turn-based mode effortlessly.

5 Ping – Left Alt + Right Click

In co-op gameplay of Baldur's Gate 3, the act of pinging is essential for adventurers as it enables precise indication of their focus instead of relying on vague directions. Pinging facilitates the pointing out of specific locations for allies to navigate or critical enemies to target during combats, as well as serves as a warning for potential traps. To execute a ping in Baldur's Gate 3, players can effortlessly Right-Click while simultaneously holding down the Left Alt key, regardless of whether they are within the immersive in-game environment or examining the map.

4 Stealth View – Shift & Crouch – C

Stealth is a crucial element in Baldur's Gate 3 and plays a significant role in the success of Rogue classes. By pressing and holding Shift, players can activate the stealth view, where enemy vision cones are displayed in red and the visibility of the ground is shown with a sun when hovered over.

To enter stealth and crouch, players can easily toggle the "C" key, which will also reveal sneak cones. Pressing Shift + C simultaneously will activate crouch mode for the entire party.

3 Inspect – T

The inspect hotkey in BG3 may not be particularly enjoyable to use, but it is undeniably helpful for both new players who want to understand everything and experienced players who want to optimize their gameplay. To access more information, all you need to do is hover over any item in the menus or within the game and press the T key.

This feature proves especially beneficial when inspecting characters and creatures, as it brings up a comprehensive menu displaying their stats, as well as their current buffs and debuffs. Notably, the size of each creature in Baldur's Gate 3 is also revealed through this feature, which actually has an impact on the gameplay.

2 See All Items – Left Alt

The Left Alt key in Baldur's Gate 3 is an invaluable hotkey for exploring and looting. It highlights all interactable items, which are often items that can be picked up. It is also important to utilize this hotkey during combat, as even seemingly ordinary objects can be utilized in various ways.

A notable advantage of using this hotkey for looting is that it informs players if enemies or containers are empty, eliminating the need to waste time checking them for loot. Ultimately, this hotkey ensures that players do not overlook any valuable items in Baldur's Gate 3.

1 Quick Save – F5

The quick save option, F5, is arguably the most vital hotkey in Baldur's Gate 3. Those who have faced the consequences of forgetting to save and dying know the importance of regular saving in the game.

Although there are options to manually save and an auto-save feature, establishing the habit of quick saving with F5 is crucial, even for experienced players who have mastered combat in Baldur's Gate 3.

Baldur's Gate 3 is out now on PC and is set to release on September 6th, 2023, for PlayStation 5.