Where the keyboard truly shines is combat management. The keyboard allows for weapon switching and quick-hacking much faster than a controller radial menu.
Press Q while holding a ranged weapon to perform a quick strike with your gun's butt or barrel.
If you want a solid, competitive layout, rebind as follows: cyberpunk 2077 keyboard controls
Unlike many shooters that use 'E' for interaction, Cyberpunk defaults to 'F' . This key is the workhorse of the game. It is used to:
The default control scheme focuses on keeping your left hand on the cluster for movement and your right hand on the mouse for aiming and interaction. Default Key Movement Move Forward / Back / Left / Right W / S / A / D Space Sprint (Hold) Left Shift Crouch (Toggle) C Crouch (Hold) Left Ctrl Combat Shoot / Primary Attack Left Mouse Button (LMB) Aim / Block (Melee) Right Mouse Button (RMB) R Quick Attack (Melee) Q Cycle Weapon Alt (Double-tap to Holster) Use Combat Gadget (Grenades) Middle Mouse Button (MMB) Use Health Item X Interactions Primary Interaction (Talk/Open) F Scanner (Toggle/Hold) Tab Open Phone T Call Vehicle V Essential Combat & Stealth Techniques Where the keyboard truly shines is combat management
Tip: For motorcycle driving, the controls are much tighter and often preferred by keyboard users due to the immediate left/right leaning response.
For pure shooting, quick hacking, and fluid movement, keyboard + mouse is the definitive way to play. Just don’t expect to win any street races without a controller. If you want a solid, competitive layout, rebind
The mouse provides significantly better accuracy for headshots and managing hectic combat with high-speed cyberware.