My hotkeys and tips for OpenRA

openra.md

OpenRA hotkeys

• , cycle status bars
• Z to jump to selection
• H to jump to base
• Space to jump to last radar event
• Q to select all combat units on screen (double click for on map)
• Click on unit and W to select all units of same type on screen (double click for on map)
• Shift + Click on unit to add it to selection (also possible to drag over multiple units)

Cursor modes

• Y to place a beacon
• X to sell unit
• C to power down unit (good for radar and some defenses)
• V to repair unit (tanks in red are useless, service depot needed)

Build menu

• Shift + click on unit to queue 5 units
• Ctrl + click to add unit to front of queue
• middle click to cancel unit in queue without pausing production (else right click to pause and another to dequeue by one)
• Ctrl + middle click to cancel entire queue
• E to select building tab (and immediately select completed built to place it on map)
• D to select defense tab (and immediately select completed built to place it on map)
• R to select infantry tab
• F to select vehicle tab
• T to select aircraft tab
• G to select naval tab

Moving

• A while units selected and then right click to move in attack mode
• Ctrl + A + right click to move in attack mode including buildings (not needed in AttackAnything stance)
• Shift + right click to queue movements, fire focus, and capture orders to multiple points
• S to stop moving selected units
• < Deploy/Return to base

Stance

• Alt + A to scan, retaliate, and chases things (AttackAnything stance)
• Alt + S to scan, retaliate (Defend stance)
• right click to deploy unit

Groups

• 1 to select group 1
• Ctrl + 1 to create group 1 with selection
• Ctrl + Shift + 1 to add selection to group 1
• Alt + 1 to jump to group 1

Tips

• Place rally points for barracks, war factories etc. by clicking on it and then right-clicking a waypoint on the map to where new units should move to
• Always check that harvesters have enough ore and gems, otherwise send them to new fields and build new refineries near by
• Use scout vehicle to transport engineer and secure oil derricks or other static buildings on the map
• After 5-6 minutes you should have 4 ore refinieries, 6 ore trucks, 3 barracks, 3 power plants, and a war factory and service depot
  • power plant
  • barrack -> 15x rifle, 1x engineer, 5x rocket
  • 2x ore refinery
  • power plant
  • war factory -> 2x ore truck, 1x scout (fast, light vehicle)
  • ore refinery
  • service depot
  • power plant
  • second MCV to expand area
  • 2x barracks -> infinite infantry (3/1 or 2/2 ratio of rifle vs. rocket soldiers depending on opponent)
  • ore refinery -> infinite armor and static defense
• Never move infantry alone, place scout vehicles like the ranger in front for better sight and cover
• Place concrete walls around the base and important buildings; the outer walls with flamethrowers behind them
• Either attack specific units with aircrafts instead of attack moving so they automatically return to base to refill ammo, or focus on returning aircrafts with empty ammo to base during a fight