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Age of Empires Keyboard Shortcuts
These are the basic shortcuts. See below for common combinations.
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Shortcut |
Description |
Space Bar | Views the selected unit |
Arrow Keys | Scroll the game view |
ENTER | Enter chat mode or send chat message (Cheat mode as well) |
ESC | Unselect a unit or building, cancel an order |
+ / – | Increase / Decrease game speed |
TAB | Display next unit or building if multiple units or buildings are selected. Cycle through selected units and buildings. |
SHIFT (while selecting units) |
Add this unit to the selection already made. Select multiple units by dragging a selection box around them or shift-clicking individual units in turn. |
SHIFT (while selecting a place to build) |
Build multiple buildings by shift-click on the map where you want the buildings to be. Works for all buildings but the Town Center. |
SHIFT (while telling a unit where to go) |
You can set waypoints (a path) for unit(s) to follow by shift-clicking on the map where you want the waypoint to be. |
SHIFT+TAB | Cycle through units backwards, displays previous unit in a selection (Opposite direction of TAB) |
F1 | Help System |
SHIFT+F1 | Individual Help (Like the ? Button) |
F3 | Pause Game |
F5 | Debug Mode (Displays debug information in the top bar where the resource counters are normally) |
PAUSE | Pause Game |
F10 | Game Menu |
F11 | Displays Elapsed Time and Game speed (1.0 = Normal, 1.5 = Fast, 2.0 = Very Fast) |
1 – 9 | Select group assigned to the number |
CTRL+[1-9] | Assign selected units to the group number |
ALT+[1-9] | Select group assigned to number and center view on that group |
SHIFT+[1-9] | Select this group number in addition to units or groups already selected |
CTRL+A | Select and view Archery Range (Repeat to cycle through other Archery Ranges in turn) |
CTRL+B | Select and view Barracks (Repeat to cycle through other Barracks in turn) |
CTRL+D | Select and view Dock (Repeat to cycle through other Docks in turn) |
CTRL+K | Select and view Siege Workshop (Repeat to cycle through other Siege Workshops in turn) |
CTLR+L | Select and view Stable (Repeat to cycle through other Stables in turn) |
CTRL+P | Select and view Temple (Repeat to cycle through other Temples in turn) |
CTRL+Y | Select and view Academy (Repeat to cycle through other Academies in turn) |
H | Select and view Town Center (Repeat to cycle through other Town Centers in turn) |
B | |
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Shortcut | Description |
CTRL+A | Shows the collision boundary |
CTRL+B | Toggles the positioning grid |
Common Combinations
Building
Select one or more Villagers, then press B. Follow this with the letter of the bulding you want, e.g B+B will build a Barracks.
Special note – the Town Center and Storage Pit are special cases.
The Town Center is selected by the letter H but to build one is B+N.
The Storage Pit cannot be selected in the game with a shortcut key, but the shortcut for building a Storage Pit is B+S.
Training units
TC
Villager: Ctrl+H, C
Barracks
Clubman, Axeman: Ctrl+B, T
Slinger: Ctrl+B, L
All Swordsmen: Ctrl+B, Z
Archery Range
Bowman: Ctrl+A, T
Improved & Composite Bowman: Ctrl+A, A
Chariot Archer: Ctrl+A, R
(Heavy) Horse Archer: Ctrl+A, C
Elephant Archer: Ctrl+A, E
Stable
Scout: Ctrl+L, T
(Scythe) Chariot: Ctrl+L. R
Cavalry: Ctrl+L, C
Camel Rider: Ctrl+L, L
War & Armoured Elephant: Ctrl+L, E
Temple
Priest: Ctrl+P, T
Siege Workshop
Stone Thrower & (Heavy) Catapult: Ctrl+K, C
Ballista, Helepolis: Ctrl+K, B
Academy
Hoplite, Phalanx, Centurion: Ctrl+Y, T
Dock
Fishing Boat & Ship: Ctrl+D, F
Trade Boat & Merchant Ship: Ctrl+D, R
Small & HeavyTransport: Ctrl+D, T
Scout Ships & upgrades: Ctrl+D, E
Catapult Trireme & Juggernaught: Ctrl+D
Fire Galley: Ctrl+D, G