Guild Wars 2

I really like the elementalist class. It has style, flexibility, and is generally quite fun. However, I REALLY struggle trying to hit the right keys at the right time. My hand is flying all over the keyboard, and I can’t seem to get the combos right.

What have others done to help alleviate this problem? Do you limit yourself to one or two elements? Just one weapon? Do you use the force?

change your keybinds. Also, people with bigger hands have an advantage. Try attaching a string near the bottom of your finger and the other end of the string on a door and then close the door really quick. This will probably stretch your fingers.

ya making ur key binds more accessible is the answer also if u can get a gaming mouse the extra buttons really help

Having a mouse with at least 5 buttons on the side helps. That way you can keybing healing +3 utilities +elite on the mouse and use normal 1-5 f1-f4 keys for the weapon skills + attunements.

I tend to use Shift+E, Shift+R, Shift+T and Shift+V for the four attunements. I also use “R” for heal and “F” “G” “H” for utilities and “T” for ultimate. Puts everything on the left hand for easy use.

My keyboard has no space between the function keys and the number row - F1 is directly above 1, F4 is directly above 4. Not even anything particularly expensive - is a Bush KU-0833, I quite like the design already.

More buttons on a mouse also helps, but you don’t need a bunch - for a 7-button mouse, I have left+right click as standard, clicking mousewheel casts a utility skill, the back/forward thumb buttons doing another utility and dodge, and my elite/third utility mapped to Z and C. If you’ve not yet remapped your 67890 skills to be more reachable, I highly recommend doing so in some way that is comfortable for you!

Also if you’re struggling to reach the function keys to switch attunements, remap those (as folks above me have said). As well as the suggestions above, I know that some people like to use zxcv for their attunement switches - again, it’s a matter of personal preference and what you can get used to using comfortably.

Oh, one other thing - remap your capslock key. Capslock sucks anyway (do you ever actually use it in your day-to-day life?) and the left Alt key is in a pretty terrible place on most keyboards. Using a tool like keytweak* you can swap these keys (or others) and give another nice key within easy reach of your pinkie for most applications.

*I’m only linking to search because the original creator’s site appears to be gone - use your discretion and scan any new executables for viruses before running!

I don’t really understand how can someone use F1-4, it’s just too far to be used too frequently while still moving with WSAD… I also use SHIFT for dodge and pressing F1 and SHIFT at the same time is not very comfortable…

I rather use YXCV for F1-4, heal on G and utilities and elite on my Logitech G300 mouse, pretty cool setting imo…

the only problem is that drawing on the minimap is bound to SHIFT so I can’t do it because I would dodge… or can it be changed? it couldn’t when it was implemented and I haven’t checked it since then…

I use a very compact keyboard so every buttons are relative close to each other and within my reach. I also have small hands and fingers with short nails so I can tap individual keys well. I agree with what everyone already said, remapping your key bind is extremely important to play well.

Sometimes it just takes repetition to build that muscle memory. Yeah, it can suck getting there but take some time in “easier” zones where you can slowly work on your rotations and combos. You don’t want to jump into WvW and try to master it. Plus it strengthens your ability to use those keys for other classes as well if you are an alt-o-holic.

It’s like learning to drum or any instrument – you don’t go all Neil Peart day 1, you start slow and build up.

*for you young’ins out there, Neil Peart is the drummer for the band Rush. Arguably the best drummer out there – the dude is an octopus.

People usually give me weird looks when I explain my key bindings. But I have a bad wrist and as a result, my left hand needs to have life as easy as possible. If you really want to get a nice easy to use layout of keys that keeps it all nice and close, such that you’re left wrist barely even has to do anything, I’ve got one for you. Just be ready for a serious adjustment phase. It’s VERY different from the base layout.

Move WASD over. Use ESDF for your movement keys instead.
Weapon skills 1-5 are bound to W, R, T, C, V
Heal is on Q
Utilities are on A, Z, X
Elite is on a side mouse button
Elemental attunements are on 2-5 (1 is uncomfortable to reach from a base point of ESDF)
Interaction button is G

Only thing critical that is unaccounted for is a dodge button. Assuming you don’t want to double tap. I have a super cool mouse and I have it on a third click. (my mouse has 3 clicks, not 2) But assuming you are not as bad off as I am, as to be restricted by your hand feeling numb if you overdo it, I’m sure you can find a key comfortably enough in reach to work for you.

Mine:
Attunements on f1-f4
` Weapon Swap/drop
1-5 Skills
Shift heal, Q,E,R utilities, T elite.

Push to talk and Dodge on mouse thumb buttons.
Ctrl+T to target, X stow, C for called target, F interact, Z view behind.

I don’t recommend developing a habit of taking your hand off the mouse to play the piano for utilities or clicking. There’s a risk of mispressing, a loss of control and/or a loss of effective reaction times.

Habits become hard to break. Practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes habit. Perfect practice makes perfect. Garbage practice makes garbage.

Keep in mind games like MMOs reward players with good UIs and keybinds to help the players because we’re humans, we’re not anime characters, we don’t just win and become the best because we deem to be determined for 2 minutes. As far as giving easily accessible information to the player, Gw2’s UI isn’t super amazing but it is light years better than WoW’s by comparison. Non-costumized UIs are a normalization, however, we can fix some of the atrocious default settings+keybinds and I’d highly recommend taking advantage of that feature.

Whatever you do with your keybinds, it’s best to centralize combat around your keyboard hand (usually gravitated toward WASD keys, Minandreas being a good example of the exception)

Try a razer nostromo gaming keypad. I started using the nostromo about 10 years ago, and now I can’t/won’t game without it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823114015

Just copy-pasted this for you:
Hello!
There are two different keybinding methods:
First one is called “reach”: you use the ESDF for moving. You can easily press YAQW and RTG and SHIFT+RTG buttons. Easy combinations: 10
Second one is called “modifier”: you use your little finger to hold down SHIFT and/or the CTRL key. You can press Q, ERF, SHIFT+ERF, CTRL+ERF buttons. Easy combinations: 10
Also never forget: the easiest keystroke is the SPACE. So now I always have the SPACE+modifiers binded.

and this is the tread from the past:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/elementalist/Keyboard-layout/first#post4513868

Currently I’m using:
Q: weapon swap
ER: weapon skills #1 and #2
SHIFT+ER: weapon skills #3 and #4
CTRL+R: weapon skill #5
SHIFT+SPACE, CTRL+SPACE and CTRL+SHIFT+SPACE for three utilities
Redragon Perdition mouse Num pad: 4 profession skills, healing skill and the elite.
Extra button: dodge
If you don’t have a gaming mouse you can move the attunement bindings to the number keys.

This may sound strange but I havent changed a single keybind I think. But rarely uses the 6-0 keys. I use mouse left-click. Since Im not a hardcore-player where every 0,5sec should be as effective as possible, this works for me.

Well, buying all this stuff sounds well and good, but you may be asking yourself “Whatof I don’t want to buy all new stuff?”

Well, my good sir, look no further! I have all the answers and more! As many of the upstanding elementalists have been saying on this thread, it is a matter of key binding!
I personally use a very cheap keyboard and a brand new $15 mouse from best buy! Very high quality equipment that is very economical, and clearly doesn’t restrict my capabilities as a player since I 1v3 on a consistent basis in WvW and can solo keeps!
So, at this point, you may be wondering “How does this obviously incredibly skilled Oscuro fellow do it?”. That is a good question! Having previously mained thief, the plethora of skills elementalist has cede to and unique play style required some adaptation! I use the WSAD very much in combat, as it assists with turning the screen with the mouse quicker (in case you didn’t know that one ). So, I have my first Utility bound to the Q key, my second to the E key, and my third third to the C key! These are all very easy to reach from the WSAD controler layout and allow for very quick utilization. It’s best to have your “get out of jail free card” (E.g. Mistform) on C since it is a bit harder to reach! Also, the elite is bound to the Z key since I usually prep elites out of combat rather than mid combat!
Now, many people struggle with the f1-4 combinations for attunment swap! This is silly, but understandable! What happens is you have one hand to reach all the way from 0 to f1 and back to WSAD. With the new key ingles, you will find it much easier to access f1-4 without moving them!
GL, HF!

To summarise: practice and muscle memory.

You don’t really need a gaming mouse with buttons… They can get expensive and you really don’t need them (nor macro keys on a keyboard). Seeing everyone here tell you to buy better gear to play better actually makes me angry because this game is dependent on skill and swiftness of your fingers, not how much money you can shell out on gear.

I use the following and it works perfectly for me. F1-F4 keys aren’t that much of a stretch (even while pushing shift) since I have moderately sized hands. (I just moved them up a bit and hit shift with my pinky???)

F1= Fire Attune
F2= Water Attune
F3= Air Attune
F4= Earth Attune

1, 2, 3, 4, 5= Abilities, 1-5. [This is default]

Heal Skill= Mouse 3— Scroll Wheel click
Utility 1= Q
Utility 2= E
Utility 3= R
Ultimate= C
Dodge= Shift

Switch Weapon= Z
About Face= Tilde (~)

I remapped the default A, and D (which are turn/rotate your character) to Ctrl + A, and Ctrl + D. Instead, on A and D, I have Strafe. Essentially, I just took the default Q and E, put those on A and D, and put the default A and D on Ctrl + A, and Ctrl + D.

You do not need expensive gear or newfangled macro keys to be good. That eliminates part of ArenaNets philosophy of it being a game for everyone, based on skill.

Your biggest clickiness will come from F1 to F4 (and with next expansion, F5). I suggest you bind them to mouse and keyboard shortcuts.

Other keys not 1 to 5 should be bound with shortcuts as well, i.e. 6 is Alt+1, 7 is Alt+2