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Hollow Knight Keyboard & Controller Controls
Platformer games →A complete reference to the default keyboard controls for Hollow Knight on PC. Learn the default keybindings for movement, jumping, nail attacks, dashing, casting spells, focusing to heal, the Dream Nail, Super Dash, and menus so you can explore Hallownest with confidence.
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All Hollow Knight controls
22 default keybinds across 4 categories. Most can be reassigned in Hollow Knight's control settings. Switch to Gamepad to see Xbox and PlayStation buttons side by side.
Movement 9
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move Left | LEFT |
| Move Right | RIGHT |
| Jump | Z |
| Move Up / Climb / Aim Up | UP |
| Move Down / Drop / Aim Down | DOWN |
| Dash | C |
| Super Dash (Crystal Heart) | S |
| Look Up (hold) | UP |
| Look Down (hold) | DOWN |
Abilities 7
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Cast Spell (Focus / Cast) | A |
| Focus / Heal (hold) | A |
| Vengeful Spirit / Shade Soul (cast forward) | A |
| Dream Nail | D |
| Quick Cast | F |
| Howling Wraiths / Abyss Shriek (cast up) | UPA |
| Desolate Dive / Descending Dark (cast down) | DOWNA |
Combat 3
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Attack (Nail) | X |
| Down Slash / Pogo (Attack + Down) | DOWNX |
| Up Slash (Attack + Up) | UPX |
Interface 3
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Pause / Menu | Esc |
| Open Inventory | I |
| Quick Map | Tab |
Sourced from hollowknight.wiki , hollowknight.wiki.fextralife.com , hollowknight.fandom.com Last verified
Movement 9
| Action | Xbox PlayStation Steam Deck Switch |
|---|---|
| Move Left | L-Stick |
| Move Right | L-Stick |
| Jump | A✕AB |
| Move Up / Climb / Aim Up | L-Stick |
| Move Down / Drop / Aim Down | L-Stick |
| Dash | RTR2R2ZR |
| Super Dash (Crystal Heart) | LTL2L2ZL |
| Look Up (hold) | L-Stick |
| Look Down (hold) | L-Stick |
Abilities 7
| Action | Xbox PlayStation Steam Deck Switch |
|---|---|
| Cast Spell (Focus / Cast) | B●BA |
| Focus / Heal (hold) | B●BA |
| Vengeful Spirit / Shade Soul (cast forward) | B●BA |
| Dream Nail | Y▲YX |
| Quick Cast | RBR1R1R |
| Howling Wraiths / Abyss Shriek (cast up) | D-Pad ↑B●BA |
| Desolate Dive / Descending Dark (cast down) | D-Pad ↓B●BA |
Combat 3
| Action | Xbox PlayStation Steam Deck Switch |
|---|---|
| Attack (Nail) | X■XY |
| Down Slash / Pogo (Attack + Down) | D-Pad ↓X■XY |
| Up Slash (Attack + Up) | D-Pad ↑X■XY |
Interface 3
| Action | Xbox PlayStation Steam Deck Switch |
|---|---|
| Pause / Menu | MenuOptionsMenu+ |
| Open Inventory | ViewShareView− |
| Quick Map | LBL1L1L |
Sourced from hollowknight.wiki , hollowknight.wiki.fextralife.com , hollowknight.fandom.com Last verified
Unofficial reference. ShortcutPosters is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Hollow Knight. All product names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. See our licensing & trademark notice.
Hollow Knight controls — FAQ
- What are the default controls for Hollow Knight?
- Hollow Knight, a platformer game, uses 22 default keybinds across 4 categories — on keyboard and controller. The complete, up-to-date list is free to read on this page.
- Can you remap Hollow Knight controls?
- Yes. These are the game's default bindings — nearly all of them can be reassigned from Hollow Knight's in-game control or key-binding settings.
- Does Hollow Knight support a controller?
- Yes — Hollow Knight has full gamepad support. The Xbox, PlayStation and Steam Deck button maps are shown on this page alongside the keyboard controls.
- Which platforms do these Hollow Knight controls cover?
- These keyboard controls apply on Windows. Most bindings are identical across platforms unless noted.
- Is this an official Hollow Knight resource?
- No. This is an unofficial reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hollow Knight or its publisher. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
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