Reference
Expedition: Into Darkness directional attack controls
Left click attacks, right click parries, and Ctrl or Shift modifies an attack. A later official combat announcement names side swings, overheads and thrusts, but neither written announcement maps each result to a particular modifier. Full controller support was described as a launch goal, not confirmed for the current Demo.
How do directional attacks work?
The developer's Getting Started guide documents Ctrl and Shift as attack modifiers. Its 18 September Weapons & Combat Guide announcement separately says its video covers side swings, overheads and thrusts. That establishes that those attack forms are part of the guide's subject, but neither written announcement assigns a specific swing direction to Ctrl, Shift or another input. Use the bindings below as the documented starting point; we cannot verify a full left/right/overhead mapping without a current, source-specific control demonstration.
Does the demo support controllers?
We cannot confirm full native controller support in the current demo. In the linked Steam discussion, Antediluvian Interactive said on 8 April 2025 that full controller support was its goal for launch. A launch goal is not evidence that the separate demo already supports all gamepad menus and actions. We have not tested Xbox, PlayStation or Steam Input layouts, so we do not recommend a particular layout as verified.
In a run
| Input | Documented action |
|---|---|
| 1 / 2 | Switch between weapons |
| X | Put weapons away |
| Left click | Attack |
| Right click | Parry |
| Ctrl / Shift + attack | Modify an attack |
| E | Interact |
| Tab | Open inventory and associated information |
| Q / hold Q | Access quick-use items / open the quick-use wheel |
How do I rotate an item in the inventory?
Hold the item with the cursor, then press R. That instruction comes from the developer's 13 August Getting Started guide. It refers to rotating an item inside the grid inventory; it is not a weapon-stance command. If R does nothing, check that you are actively dragging the item and confirm your current key bindings.
Inventory actions
| Input | Documented action |
|---|---|
| Right click an item | Open its action menu |
| Double click an item | Inspect it |
| R while holding an item | Rotate it in the inventory |
| Shift + right click a stack | Split stackable items; the context menu also offers splitting |
| Ctrl + right click an item | Quick-equip it or move it into your bags |
If your controls differ
Check the bindings and prompts displayed in your game before treating a difference as a bug. This general reference does not verify a lantern setup, skill upgrade sequence or exact extraction action.
Sources & limits
- Developer: Getting Started (13 August)
Developer documentation, not our own gameplay test. Find the 13 August Getting Started post in this feed.
- Developer: Weapons & Combat Guide (18 September)
Developer announcement for a combat-guide video. Its written description names blades, spears, bows, side swings, overheads, thrusts, damage types and enemy types, but does not supply a full key-by-key directional-input chart.
- Developer reply: Controller Support (8 April 2025)
A developer states a goal for full controller support at launch. This is a dated plan, not confirmation of current demo compatibility. Reviewed 14 September 2026.