Start with the default mouse controls
Press a number key, point at a valid location, and click to build or launch without browsing a menu. Learning this sequence makes openfront controls especially useful when you need to place defenses, manage ships, or respond to an attack quickly.
This guide uses the stable v34 defaults, including v0.34.25. Your saved bindings take priority, and beta releases may use different keys. Most action shortcuts can be changed under Settings → Keybindings. On macOS, use Cmd wherever a shortcut below calls for Ctrl.
| Mouse input | Default action |
|---|---|
| Left-click | Attack accessible territory, send a transport across water, or place an armed building |
| Right-click | Open the radial menu; an active boat or warship selection can change this to cancellation |
| Ctrl + left-click | Open the Build menu directly at the pointer |
| Alt + left-click | Open the emote menu |
| Shift + drag | Draw a selection box around multiple warships |
| Mouse wheel | Zoom the map |
| Middle-button drag | Pan the camera |
A click depends on both the target and your current selection. Clicking an enemy border can start an attack, while clicking your land with a City preview active places that City. Ground attacks require access to the target; clicking a distant country does not bypass the need for a shared border or a transport.
The radial menu provides a visual route to common actions:
- Choose the sword to attack an accessible land target.
- Choose the boat to send a transport when water access allows it.
- Choose the wrench to open construction options.
- Choose the information icon to inspect the selected player.
Unavailable actions appear disabled. If a click produces an unexpected result, check whether a build preview or ship selection is still active before clicking again.
Build, upgrade, and launch with number keys
Number keys select an item before placement. Think of the first press as preparing an action: move the pointer to a valid location, then left-click or press Enter to confirm. Press Esc to cancel a build preview.
| Key | Item selected |
|---|---|
| 1 | City |
| 2 | Factory |
| 3 | Port |
| 4 | Defense Post |
| 5 | Missile Silo |
| 6 | SAM Launcher |
| 7 | Warship |
| 8 | Atom Bomb |
| 9 | Hydrogen Bomb |
| 0 | MIRV |
Ordinary structures must be selected again after placement. Holding Shift is not a general repeat-building command; its documented mouse function is warship box selection.
Some actions support batches. Pressing the same eligible number key a second time switches between x1 and x5 before confirmation. For structures, this applies to upgrading an existing building, not placing five new buildings.
| Action | Number-key batch behavior | Radial-menu quantities |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade an existing structure | Toggle x1 or x5 | x1, x5, x10, xMax |
| Place a new structure | Remains x1 | No five-building placement from the double press |
| Launch Atom Bombs | Toggle x1 or x5 | x1, x2, x5, xMax |
| Launch a Hydrogen Bomb or MIRV | Remains x1 | No x5 number-key batch |
Batch size remains limited by available Gold, with a ceiling of 50 actions. Atom Bomb batches also depend on loaded Missile Silo tubes. Structure upgrades charge each successive level at its own price, so five upgrades can cost more than five times the first displayed upgrade price.
Atom and Hydrogen Bomb selections remain armed for repeated launches. Press U while aiming either weapon to reverse its launch arc. Use Esc or right-click to clear an armed nuclear weapon before issuing another kind of command.
Control attacks, fleets, and alliances
The attack ratio determines how much of your troop force you commit to an attack. Adjust it with the on-screen slider or the T and Y shortcuts. Changing this ratio is separate from selecting a target: lowering it does not itself issue an attack.
| Key | Stable v34 action |
|---|---|
| T | Lower the attack ratio |
| Y | Raise the attack ratio |
| G | Send a ground attack toward the target |
| B | Send a boat attack toward the target |
| Shift + R | Retaliate against the player who attacked you most recently |
| F | Select all of your warships |
| K | Request an alliance with the player under the pointer |
| L | Break an alliance |
Use F when you need your whole fleet selected, and Shift + drag when you want only ships within a particular area. A transport attack and a warship command serve different purposes: transports carry an invasion across water, while warships are separately selectable combat units.
The event panel also provides useful controls. Clicking an attack notification centers the camera on that attack, transport, or nuke. For an outgoing troop attack, its red X orders a retreat at the cost of 25% of the attacking troops. This is different from pressing Esc, which closes a menu or cancels a pending build preview.
Move the camera and inspect the map
Learn C early: it returns the camera to your nation after a long pan or zoom.
| Key | Camera or game action |
|---|---|
| W / A / S / D | Pan north / west / south / east |
| C | Center the camera on your nation |
| Q / E | Zoom out / in |
| - / + | Alternative zoom controls |
| Space | Switch between terrain and country views |
| M | Show or hide the coordinate grid |
| P | Pause or resume where available |
| Comma / period | Reduce or increase single-player speed |
| Alt + R | Reset graphics |
Use terrain view to inspect the ground before attacking, and country view to check ownership. The coordinate grid is a separate overlay.
Pause and speed changes are unavailable in public games. If P appears ineffective there, it does not necessarily indicate a broken shortcut.
Customize bindings and fix unexpected behavior
Open Settings → Keybindings before practicing if you have previously customized the game. Some actions can be left unbound, and saved preferences can explain why a shortcut works differently from this page. In stable v0.34.25, fleet selection, warship box selection, and graphics reset have dedicated binding entries.
The Left click opens menu setting changes the mouse workflow. When enabled, left-click opens the menu, and Shift + left-click provides the attack action. Check this setting when clicking territory repeatedly opens options instead of attacking.
Work through unexpected input in this order:
- Press Esc to close an open menu or cancel an armed build.
- Check the left-click menu setting.
- Inspect the saved binding for the specific action.
- Confirm that the location, resources, and required infrastructure allow it.
- Check whether you are playing a stable or beta layout.
Version differences matter particularly for fleets. Stable v34 uses F to select all warships and B for boat attacks. The v0.35.0-beta2 layout instead uses X for all warships, F for the emoji menu, and R for quick chat. Older control lists may assign boat attacks to F, so use your in-game settings as the final reference.
FAQ
What openfront controls should beginners learn first?
Start with left-click, right-click, Esc, and C. Then learn 1 for Cities, 4 for Defense Posts, and 6 for SAM Launchers. Add T/Y for attack size and F for fleet selection once basic placement feels reliable.
Can I place several buildings by holding Shift?
Shift does not provide general repeat construction. Select an ordinary building again after placing it. Double-pressing an eligible build key selects five upgrades for an existing structure, not five new structures. Shift-drag selects warships.
Why will an armed building or bomb not activate?
A shortcut only selects the action. You still need a valid location or target, enough Gold, and any required infrastructure. Lobby settings can also restrict availability. Check those conditions before changing your bindings.
How do I stop a nuclear launch?
Before firing, clear the armed weapon with Esc or right-click. After launch, the nuke cannot be recalled. The retreat button for troop attacks does not cancel a nuclear strike.
How do controls work on mobile?
Touch opens the radial menu, providing access to its actions without a keyboard. The keyboard tables describe desktop bindings. Use the menu's visible options to choose available attacks or construction actions, and check the active selection before confirming a target.
