Shards of Order Controls & Input Guide

Shards of Order launches today, July 28, 2026, at 6 PM CET on Steam PC (free demo app 3672010 still available). This controls guide documents default keyboard and mouse inputs, explains how each action interacts with the Combat System time counter, and covers Steam Full controller support including DualShock and DualSense. New players should also read How to Play and Getting Started for broader onboarding.

Because combat has no turns and no mana, every button press maps to immediate time spend or UI navigation. Mis-clicks are costly — movement costs one time, draws cost time unless you triggered the three-card free draw, and card plays advance enemy countdowns.

Platform scope

• Supported: Steam on Windows PC (demo and full game).
• Controller: Steam lists Full controller support — DualShock and DualSense layouts included. Confirm bindings in-game on first launch; this guide describes keyboard and mouse defaults.
• Steam features: Achievements, Cloud saves, and Family Sharing per store categories.
• Not in current plan: Console or mobile ports — this wiki documents PC defaults only.
• Rebindable keys: Check in-game Settings; controller remapping may use Steam Input.

Report control changes after patches on Release Date and Launch Day.

Core combat inputs

Playing cards

Action: Select a card from hand, confirm valid target if required.

Time cost: Each card displays its time cost before confirmation. Playing it spends that time and ticks enemy countdowns.

Tips:

• Hover or select to preview effects before committing — undo may not exist mid-fight.
• Sequence low-time cards first when chasing the free draw threshold.
• Scholar players note which ally damage triggers mana generation — see Scholar page.

Drawing cards

Action: Draw from shared party deck to refill hand.

Time cost: Drawing costs time unless you already played three or more cards in the current sequence — then the next draw is free.

Tips:

• Do not spam draw at fight open.
• Track sequence count mentally or via UI cues if present.
• Post-demo Fracture punishes redraw habits — see Laws and Fracture.

Movement

Action: Move active hero on battlefield grid or node-adjacent positions as combat rules allow.

Time cost: One time per move. Also reduces redraw timer by 1 at launch.

Tips:

• Plan pathing before spending high-time attack cards.
• Exile four arrow slots may reduce need for melee repositioning — Exile guide.
• Boss arenas tighten movement — Boss Guide.

Targeting and hero switching

Action: Select enemies or allies for card effects; switch active hero when rules permit.

Time cost: Switching may or may not cost time depending on card — read tooltips carefully.

Tips:

• Shared deck means any hero might play the selected card — confirm hero-card compatibility.
• Revive cards target crippled heroes after knockouts; costs rise with repeat knockouts.

Controller notes (Steam)

Steam categorizes Shards of Order with Full controller support. PlayStation pads (DualShock, DualSense) and Xbox-style controllers should work through Steam Input, but face-button mappings may differ from keyboard defaults documented here.

Recommended first steps for gamepad players:

1. Launch the demo or full game and open Settings before your first boss.
2. Confirm which stick moves the cursor or battlefield focus.
3. Test draw and queue inputs on trash fights — launch combat queue rewards fast sequencing (Redraw and Queue).
4. Cross-reference How to Play for time-counter habits that apply regardless of input device.

If a patch changes default bindings, we update this page after community confirmation.

Map and menu navigation

Outside combat on the branching node map (Demo Map or full Regions):

• Select nodes with mouse click or confirm key.
• Revisit cleared nodes — persistent RPG, no roguelite wipe.
• Equip gear at inventory or camp nodes — injections update shared deck per Deckbuilding.

Pause menu typically hosts settings, deck inspect, and quit. Use deck inspect to cross-check injections with Items and Cards.

UI elements to monitor

UI element	Why it matters
Time counter	Budget for cards, moves, paid draws
Enemy countdowns	Advance when you spend time
Hand size / deck count	Plan draw timing
Hero health / crippled state	Knockout recovery planning
Exile arrow slots	Ranged resource limit
Scholar mana types	Generated from ally damage
Soldier rage	Strength scaling resource
Redraw timer	Launch starts at 4 — see Redraw and Queue

Recommended control habits

1. Left hand on movement keys, right on mouse for fast card confirm — adjust to preference or use controller after rebinding.
2. Read countdowns before every card — input speed is useless if decisions are wrong.
3. Use gear swap menus between fights, not mid-countdown crisis unless necessary.
4. Practice three-card sequences on trash before boss inputs matter — Demo Walkthrough.

Accessibility and settings

Open Steam overlay and in-game settings for resolution, audio, and control remaps. No official accessibility sheet exists yet; document findings on Wiki as players discover options.

Related guides

• How to Play — core loop and launch rules
• Combat System — rules behind each input
• System Requirements — PC specs and controller category
• Getting Started — first launch
• Builds — hero-specific sequences
• Review guide — demo usability impressions
• Guides hub — full index
• Deck Calculator — plan decks outside combat UI