# PC gamers: which fingers do you use with WASD? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 4, 2007, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644 "2007-01-04T04:12:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/1 "2007-01-04T04:12:56Z")
So, for those of you that play first person shooters on the computer, which fingers do you use? I keep my hand in home position, with my little finger on the A and reaching for the left edge of the keyboard, while my ring finger is on the W/S and middle finger on the D. I recently noticed (usually being otherwise occupied by the game) that one of my friends shifts his hands over, using the middle three fingers instead. I never even conceived that anyone would do it like that, and I’m curious as to which is more common. I could be an oddity here… I have freakishly strong and flexible pinkies thanks to years of viola playing. Which three fingers do you use? Middle/ring/pinky, or index/middle/ring? (Mods, if you think this should go to IMHO, do your thing.) ---
**Author:** ![TonyF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@TonyF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonyF)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/2 "2007-01-04T04:16:17Z")
I use my middle three fingers for WASD; it leaves the pinky free for shift or ctrl. What do you do with your thumb and index finger? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/3 "2007-01-04T04:20:22Z")
I use the middle three as well. My pinky isn’t that strong/agile and gaming requires faster reactions than the typing I do. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/4 "2007-01-04T04:38:36Z")
[QUOTE=TonyF] What do you do with your thumb and index finger? [/QUOTE] The index finger handles a good chunk of the non-movement controls: weapon switching, interactions, etc. My little finger still covers everything on the left edge of the keyboard, though if there’s too much there I’ll re-map functions to my index finger. Thumb is just for jumping with the space bar. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/5 "2007-01-04T04:42:09Z")
Am I the only one who uses his arrow keys instead? In which case I switch between up/down arrow using my middle finger, pinky only for the Ctrl key (usually mapped as Jump)… ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/6 "2007-01-04T05:04:07Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] Am I the only one who uses his arrow keys instead? In which case I switch between up/down arrow using my middle finger, pinky only for the Ctrl key (usually mapped as Jump)… [/QUOTE] Yup. You are. The reason WSAD is used more is because you also have easy access to E, Q, F, R ,C, X, Z, V, shift, ctrl, space, and alt. This allows for a lot more things to be mapped to those buttons, so it’s easy to crouch, jump, walk/run, reload, switch weapons, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/7 "2007-01-04T05:21:35Z")
I shift my fingers over–ring on A, middle on W/S, index on D. I can’t imagine playing another way. Then again, I hardly ever use the other keyboard keys. I don’t even use the keyboard to switch weapons anymore–I scroll through 'em with the mousewheel. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/8 "2007-01-04T05:55:52Z")
I use my right mouse button for forward, space bar for back (thumb), and F and D for strafing (left index and middle fingers respectively). I’ve never been able to use WASD. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/9 "2007-01-04T06:08:49Z")
I don’t use WASD, I use one that a friend of mine introduced to me when we were playing Unreal Tournament shortly after it came out and I was still using the Doom controls. I think he found it on the internet. Shift is forward Alt is back Z and X strafe C is to open doors, etc. Space crouches Control reloads Q and E lean W zooms 1st mouse button is primary fire, second is jump, third is secondary fire I generally use A for secondary fire as well S, D, and F are used depending on what game Actually, I just remembered that I do use WASD in WoW, and I use it the way you do. I play the guitar, but have only been playing it for a few years and don’t do a lot of serious practice, so my pinky finger is probably a little better than most peoples’. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/10 "2007-01-04T06:12:22Z")
Right index - A Right midde - W or S Right ring - D Left hand on mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/11 "2007-01-04T06:20:57Z")
[QUOTE=John DiFool] Am I the only one who uses his arrow keys instead? In which case I switch between up/down arrow using my middle finger, pinky only for the Ctrl key (usually mapped as Jump)… [/QUOTE] Nope John, we are a dieing breed though. I use the arrow keys because I used to play DOOM that way and I never switched. It isn’t limiting your keys though. I have quick access to my crouch (ctrl), my jump (shift), my walk (enter), and all kinds of keys on the keypad and the 6 keys above the arrows. I also use my mouse with the 6 buttons on it :D. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/12 "2007-01-04T06:23:26Z")
I use the numeric keypad and other keys on the right side: 8: forward 7 and 9 strafe left and right 5: backward 4 and 6: turn left and right 1 and 3: lean left and right 0: jump period: alt fire page down: crouch right shift: walk - and - : cycle weapon [and]: zoom in and out \*: reload weapon num lock (or sometimes enter): use inventory item … but then I’m weird. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/13 "2007-01-04T07:06:01Z")
[QUOTE=DeadlyAccurate] I use my right mouse button for forward, space bar for back (thumb), and F and D for strafing (left index and middle fingers respectively). I’ve never been able to use WASD. [/QUOTE] What do you do in an FPS with two fire buttons, like UT? ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/14 "2007-01-04T07:38:46Z")
There are many odd combinations of keys one can use. Arrow keys are downright normal compared to some of the strange setups I’ve seen with Counter-Strike pros. Some tilt their keyboard 45 degrees and use the numpad and some of the keys above the arrows. Or some random space on the actual letter part, like IJKL. It’s all preference. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![anamnesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@anamnesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anamnesis)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/15 "2007-01-04T07:55:18Z")
Pinky on A, ring on W/S, middle on D, index gets used for tertiary buttons (E, R, F, C, V, etc.) Everyone else seems to move their fingers one space to the left. It’s easier (less strain) on my ring finger to move up and left to W than it is for my middle finger to, and my index doesn’t have to stretch to reach the tertiary buttons. I’m not sure why everyone else moves their hand to the left … I think the only reason I’ve grown accustomed to this is because I learned (as all of you should have!) to type on home row, so this is where my fingers should be anyway. I know I’m not fumbling because I can feel the bump on the F key under my index finger. But I’m obviously an oddball! (And my WASD usage is strange too) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/16 "2007-01-04T07:56:58Z")
Dyed-in-the-wool arrow user. I must admit that a multi-button mouse helps. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/17 "2007-01-04T10:27:54Z")
I think I played all the way through Quake I using the old Doom keys - arrows - alt for strafe shift key held down with blu-tack (always run on, the hardware way). When I started fighting bots and real people this became inadequate and I had to learn to use the mouse and came up with this setup: Button 1 fire Button 2 forward A, D strafe - ring and index fingers S backwards Space jump - thumb Surrounding keys various actions depending on the specific game, Z might be sniper mode for Quake III (railgun - Impressive!) or UT (Headshot!). What were the default keys for Quake I? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/18 "2007-01-04T10:31:36Z")
I use wasd myself, but a little differently than other posters. With Guild Wars, it makes more sense to use the index, middle and third finger for movement, which leaves the thumb free to hit the spacebar, and the pinky free to hold down the CTRL key so you can let the group know what action you are taking. (This also means I can easily hit “t” or “c” with my index finger without a second thought.) My right hand controls the mouse, of course. I have found that I like to configure my keyboard commands in such a way that I can have my pinky free to hit other keys as needed too with other games. My hands are small, so I don’t like to have big stretches when fractions of a second can count. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/19 "2007-01-04T11:18:52Z")
Are any of you arrow key people any good at the games? I mean, if you played online for death matches, would you get slaughtered? Just wondering. I don’t use WASD for control. My scheme is far from the most efficient… but I learned to play FPS games with duke 3d way back over a decade ago, with no mouse, and so I used a fairly unusual key setup. And since I was so used to it, when I was adapting to using the mouse, I switched as little as I could… so now, 10 years later, I’m still using a lot of the same strange key setups that I started with. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644/20 "2007-01-04T11:41:01Z")
I don’t get slaughtered, and I’m a squishy healer type. I just had a blast with the special Guild Wars [Wintersday](http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Wintersday_2006) 2006 event, the [snowball fight](http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Snowball_Fight). I had a lot of fun playing my necromancer with that. [Yellow snow](http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Yellow_Snow) or [avalanche](http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Avalanche) + [holiday blues](http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Holiday_Blues) took out their bulwarks FAST! BOOM! Heh heh heh… _evil grin_ (And you could affect the opposing team with the disease if someone hit you with yellow snow too.) I also prevailed a lot with my monk in the snowball fights, I’d use[Ice Breaker](http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Ice_Breaker) to heal the present runner and help stop them from getting mugged, or to heal myself if I was running a present. [Mmmmm. Snowcone!](http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/%22Mmmm._Snowcone%21%22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-gamers-which-fingers-do-you-use-with-wasd/386644.md?page=2)