Forum: gaming.stackexchange.com
Tags: <starcraft-2>
Title: Which Starcraft 2 hotkey set should I use?
Question: I played a lot of beta SC2 games (as random) with the grid setup and managed.  Since then I've started watching  Day[9]  and some other commentators who seem to refer often to the default hotkeys in their recommendations for, eg., keeping drones building at all times.  My question is: to what extent are hotkeys mere preference?  If we took a random sampling of competitive players, would roughly 50% be using the grid layout, or would it skew for some relevant game-play reason?

Answers:
sents: text: I would argue that if you're just starting out, grid hotkeys are more efficient since you can memorize either which key it is or where on the unit-card
text: the button is located (visual cues tend to help memorization) - and if you don't know the hotkey, you can find it without mousing over the button.
text: Also, all the keys are on one side of the keyboard, meaning you won't have to move your hand as much.
text: That being said, the vast majority of players use the default keys either because A)
text: They don't know grid exists , or B)
text: They are already used to the default layout (grid was not an option in the beta), and/or were already used to the very similar layout of Starcraft 1; there really is no benefit to them learning a new layout if they already have the default hotkeys memorized.
text: Most competitive players would fall into this category.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/2578/BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
score: 11
sents: text: Another point to consider in favor of grid hotkeys is that in many cases you don't have to learn a separate set of keys for each race.
text: For instance: Z-Q makes a base in any race.
text: Z-W makes a "Vespene Gas thing" in any race. Z-E makes a Terran Supply Depot or a Protoss Pylon.
text: (Of course, with Zerg you have to make an Overlord instead.)
text: Z is the normal build key in any race, and X is the advanced build key.
text: Using T to attack feels weird at first, but in a few days you get used to it.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/2831/Kyralessa
score: 4
sents: text: It's mostly just preference.
text: You'll find that the standard set of hot keys is as efficient as the Grid.
text: The majority of the hotkeys, are left aligned after all.
text: Day9 and most commentators probably use the standard grid hot keys because they started playing in the beta--before the grid was an available option.
text: That and the fact that most Broodwar and Warcraft 3 players are used to the "Attack" and "Stop" hot keys being in the traditional spot.
text: It would be pointless to switch or "retrain" on grid layout when the benefit is very little.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/1919/rysama
score: 3
sents: text: It's really up to you, both settings can be done with the left hand
text: so your right is free for mouse work.
text: If you want the hotkeys to be the same across races more of them will be with grid mode.
text: Otherwise the keys are based on the name of the unit/action/upgrade/building/etc.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/2659/CloudMeta
score: 1
sents: text: As someone who uses a Kinesis Advantage keyboard, Grid layout is really my only option, anything else
text: and I have to take my right hand off the mouse and place it on the keyboard.
text: As for the control groups issue, I use a Razer Naga Epic mouse
text: so I have all my control groups on the left side of my mouse as thumb buttons.
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/22764/Wraithan
score: 1
sents: text: Certain schools of thought teach that the layout for standard is efficient when combined with the overall macro combinations one normally would use for team games.
text: Grid confines your keyboard use to one side thereby allowing your left hand to perhaps rest on a single point pivot.
text: This would allow laziness to creep into your adding to sloppy control group use or neglecting the higher 6-0 control groups.
text: Also the camera views etc etc
answer_details: author: gaming.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
Grid hotkeys are more efficient as you can memorize which is which. You don't have to leanr a separate set for each race.
Wether or not you are just starting to play, grid hotkeys are the most efficient.