My Optimal Keyboard layout for SFD (2023)
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2025 12:37 am
Around 2024, one year anniversary of the last day I played SFD, I had an idea to explore the optimal way to play the game on keyboard. From 2017-2022 my layout had gone through 3 mayor changes. Pretty much every time I discovered a new exploit I would see if I could change the keys around to make it easier to execute. But when I was still playing the game it was very hard for me to do any big changes because my muscle memory would kick in and I would perform the wrong actions. At one point I had to retrain my brain to not press grab where once throwing had been assigned, this of course led to a lot of frustration for myself and made me play like a total noob as my execution sucked.
Anyway, with the benefit of not having any stress of playing against other people I could sit down and look at the keyboard and see if I could assign the keys in such a way that I would have wished to have begun playing the game when I had first started (so I wouldn't have to re-learn all the keys).
Several revisions later this is what I came up with:
Once I found out I could use the Numpad to map melee AND gun based actions (inventory) in a way that I NEVER have to take my hands of the keyboard and reach anywhere else (moving hands and fingers repetitive movement will cause you long term problems and fatigue, it's also distracting and inefficient). I got what I always wanted, a "thumb cluster" aka, being able to use your thumb to reach an entire number of keys. Before I had heard about ergonomic keyboards (as a consequence of discovering this layout) I had never used my thumb for anything on my normal keyboard, except Spacebar and LeftAlt.
The serious, real-world downside of this layout (Health effects):
Because I hold my hands in a curved position inwards, to avoid my elbows sticking outwards, and my arms straight parallel with my body (keeping your wrist and hand slightly curved with each other (neutral position) is vital to avoiding carpal tunnel problems), I quickly discovered it was impossible for me to control that my hand straightens back to the position I have used for over 20 years. Playing in the wrong position (with hands and fingers pointed forwards) only for 10 minutes would give me serious wrist pain the entire next 2 days. It wasn't worth using this layout. I found that if I have some books underneath my hands to support my hand elevated position and wrist, I wouldn't have any pains, and my hand wouldn't dramatically and automatically move inwards. I still have to keep an eye on my hands whenever I can and readjust them. [Disclaimer, I am not a trained person or expert, I could be totally wrong. Please do your own research, it's worth it if you ever felt pain after using a keyboard for prolonged period of time. I never actually used this to play a real match, let alone more than 15 minutes.] The way the hands should be rested is what I would call a "claw". Fingers tucked inwards, hand and wrist together, raised way above keyboard (similar like when playing a piano).
I mapped these keys specifically in these positions in order to easily perform advanced moves:
- "CLIMB_UP/CLIMB_DOWN" underneath Jump and crouch. This is to be able to climb a ladder without jumping up by accident, and since the jump is useless once you are climbing, the finger doesn't need to rest on it. This also allows for some sick ladder combos that can catch players off guard, but I don't think they work against anyone above average level, maybe just useful against zombies in survival that can't block.
The downside of mapping keys like this is that moving aim now requires you do also lower your hands, which can be very confusing at first.
- Why no WASD movement (Crouch underneath jump)? - See above, so that I can have climbing up and down underneath the equivalent movement keys. Unintendedly, having the movement keys be spread out like this, allows you to have all fingers resting on the movement keys at all times and thus allows for extremely precise and fast inputs of quick-rolls. In Pre-Steam versions, the 2hit now becomes incredibly easy to perform.
- Thumb cluster for inventory keys - I needed one finger to take care of all inventory, and allow for all other fingers on important melee keys. In previous years, back when I had melee on my left hand and had to use the different fingers to reach all the number keys, having to stretch and lift my hand away for just a second is totally impractical with what I want the inventory keys to be used for. For DropX (exploit), it's easiest (least strain) to perform if your hand is in a stable position at all times and not flying over the keyboard back and forth.
- Drop on "Numpad9" and not pick-up? - this one I was a little uncertain of if is practical. Activating and picking up items is surely more used in a match than drop? The key that is used the most often should be the resting position of a finger, as not to strain yourself moving it all the time. While this is true, I did not find it comfortable to have to move my finger down to "Numpad6" every time for DropX. Besides, MakeshiftX is not difficult to perform when moving that finger.
Because of me discovering use of the Numpad (I had always thought it was useless), I searched if I could plug two Numpads in and program them for different actions in game. Anyway that's how I discovered the world of Split-Keyboards, and I really would like one when I can afford to. If you sit in front of your computer several hours (something I don't) I think it could really be a good investment.
Just remember that a varied diet and active lifestyle is vital to prevent problems. So taking breaks from playing any game is important.
If anyone knows a better keyboard bind that is superior to this (I haven't played SFD since 2023, so I haven't kept up with any newly adapted techniques), it could well be this layout is outdated for performance in the current year. You could share it here.
I already read @Taygre (who uses Numpad, but the keys are assigned very differently) and @KliPeH (Also using Numpad, but very limited) controls that are very interesting and also inspired me to share mine.
Anyway, with the benefit of not having any stress of playing against other people I could sit down and look at the keyboard and see if I could assign the keys in such a way that I would have wished to have begun playing the game when I had first started (so I wouldn't have to re-learn all the keys).
Several revisions later this is what I came up with:
WARNING - DO NOT USE THIS LAYOUT WITHOUT WRIST SUPPORT! YOU WILL GET SERIOUS WRIST PROBLEMS (MSRI, carpal tunnel…) Left Hand (Movement): CLIMB_UP = S JUMP = E CLIMB_DOWN = D CROUCH_ROLL_DIVE = W RUN_LEFT = A RUN_RIGHT = F SPRINT = Spacebar WALK = LeftAlt DRAW_SPECIAL = 3 Right Hand (Melee/inventory): DRAW_MELEE = NumPad0 DRAW_HANDGUN = NumPad1 DRAW_RIFLE = NumPad2 DRAW_GRENADE = RIGHT_ARROWKEY ATTACK = NumPad8 GRAB = Numpad5 KICK = NumPad4 BLOCK = + (on NumPad) AIM = + (same as Block) ACTIVATE = NumPad6 DROP/THROW = NumPad9 SHEATHE = NumPad7 RELOAD = NumPad5 (same as Grab)Position of fingers (The first listed is the resting position, afterwards where the fingers reach):
Left Hand (Movement):
Thumb - "Spacebar" ("LeftAlt")
Index - "F"
Middle - "E" ("D")
Ring - "W" ("S")
Little - "A"
Right Hand (Melee/inventory):
Thumb - "NumPad0" ("NumPad1", "NumPad2", "RIGHT_ARROWKEY")
Index - "NumPad4" ("NumPad7")
Middle - "NumPad8" ("NumPad5")
Ring - "NumPad9" ("NumPad6")
Little - "+" (on NumPad)
The main benefit of using this layout:Once I found out I could use the Numpad to map melee AND gun based actions (inventory) in a way that I NEVER have to take my hands of the keyboard and reach anywhere else (moving hands and fingers repetitive movement will cause you long term problems and fatigue, it's also distracting and inefficient). I got what I always wanted, a "thumb cluster" aka, being able to use your thumb to reach an entire number of keys. Before I had heard about ergonomic keyboards (as a consequence of discovering this layout) I had never used my thumb for anything on my normal keyboard, except Spacebar and LeftAlt.
The serious, real-world downside of this layout (Health effects):
Because I hold my hands in a curved position inwards, to avoid my elbows sticking outwards, and my arms straight parallel with my body (keeping your wrist and hand slightly curved with each other (neutral position) is vital to avoiding carpal tunnel problems), I quickly discovered it was impossible for me to control that my hand straightens back to the position I have used for over 20 years. Playing in the wrong position (with hands and fingers pointed forwards) only for 10 minutes would give me serious wrist pain the entire next 2 days. It wasn't worth using this layout. I found that if I have some books underneath my hands to support my hand elevated position and wrist, I wouldn't have any pains, and my hand wouldn't dramatically and automatically move inwards. I still have to keep an eye on my hands whenever I can and readjust them. [Disclaimer, I am not a trained person or expert, I could be totally wrong. Please do your own research, it's worth it if you ever felt pain after using a keyboard for prolonged period of time. I never actually used this to play a real match, let alone more than 15 minutes.] The way the hands should be rested is what I would call a "claw". Fingers tucked inwards, hand and wrist together, raised way above keyboard (similar like when playing a piano).
I mapped these keys specifically in these positions in order to easily perform advanced moves:
- "CLIMB_UP/CLIMB_DOWN" underneath Jump and crouch. This is to be able to climb a ladder without jumping up by accident, and since the jump is useless once you are climbing, the finger doesn't need to rest on it. This also allows for some sick ladder combos that can catch players off guard, but I don't think they work against anyone above average level, maybe just useful against zombies in survival that can't block.
The downside of mapping keys like this is that moving aim now requires you do also lower your hands, which can be very confusing at first.
- Why no WASD movement (Crouch underneath jump)? - See above, so that I can have climbing up and down underneath the equivalent movement keys. Unintendedly, having the movement keys be spread out like this, allows you to have all fingers resting on the movement keys at all times and thus allows for extremely precise and fast inputs of quick-rolls. In Pre-Steam versions, the 2hit now becomes incredibly easy to perform.
- Thumb cluster for inventory keys - I needed one finger to take care of all inventory, and allow for all other fingers on important melee keys. In previous years, back when I had melee on my left hand and had to use the different fingers to reach all the number keys, having to stretch and lift my hand away for just a second is totally impractical with what I want the inventory keys to be used for. For DropX (exploit), it's easiest (least strain) to perform if your hand is in a stable position at all times and not flying over the keyboard back and forth.
- Drop on "Numpad9" and not pick-up? - this one I was a little uncertain of if is practical. Activating and picking up items is surely more used in a match than drop? The key that is used the most often should be the resting position of a finger, as not to strain yourself moving it all the time. While this is true, I did not find it comfortable to have to move my finger down to "Numpad6" every time for DropX. Besides, MakeshiftX is not difficult to perform when moving that finger.
Because of me discovering use of the Numpad (I had always thought it was useless), I searched if I could plug two Numpads in and program them for different actions in game. Anyway that's how I discovered the world of Split-Keyboards, and I really would like one when I can afford to. If you sit in front of your computer several hours (something I don't) I think it could really be a good investment.
Just remember that a varied diet and active lifestyle is vital to prevent problems. So taking breaks from playing any game is important.
If anyone knows a better keyboard bind that is superior to this (I haven't played SFD since 2023, so I haven't kept up with any newly adapted techniques), it could well be this layout is outdated for performance in the current year. You could share it here.
I already read @Taygre (who uses Numpad, but the keys are assigned very differently) and @KliPeH (Also using Numpad, but very limited) controls that are very interesting and also inspired me to share mine.