TDS Reforged Controls & Hotkeys
Master every bind so your towers never wait on your fingers.
Controls are the bridge between your strategy and the board. Every second spent hunting for a hotkey is a second your defense is passive. This guide covers every bind in TDS: Reforged, explains targeting options, and gives drills to build muscle memory before you need it in a boss wave.
Core Placement & Management
| Action | Default Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open tower menu | B | Browse available towers before placing |
| Place tower | Left Click | Click an open slot on the map |
| Upgrade tower | F | Level up the selected tower one tier |
| Sell tower | G | Remove and recover a percentage of cost |
| Select tower | Right Click | Highlight a placed tower for info |
| Cancel action | Escape | Close menus, cancel placement |
Targeting Modes
Targeting controls what your towers prioritize. Default targeting fails against leads, hiddens, and bosses.
| Key | Mode | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First | Normal enemies, early waves |
| 2 | Strongest | Bosses, high-HP targets |
| 3 | Close | Fast enemies cutting through |
| 4 | Opposite | Long path maps, backdoor threats |
Switch targeting by selecting a tower, then pressing 1–4. Some players bind targeting to mouse side buttons for faster swaps mid-wave.
Hotkeys for Speed
Beyond placement, these binds separate clean runs from leak disasters:
- Shift + Click — Place tower at cursor without snapping to grid (if supported)
- Z — Quick-sell selected tower
- X — Quick-upgrade selected tower
- Tab — Open Loadout Planner mid-match
- M — Toggle map overlay showing enemy paths
- C — Open Cosmetics menu (不影响 gameplay)
- P — Pause (in supported modes)
- Spacebar — Skip dialogue or event animations
Video Demonstration
The embedded clip shows the Ultimate Beginners Guide section covering controls. Watch the targeting mode switch demo starting at 4:19, then load into a practice match to feel the timing.
Targeting Deep Dive
First is the default and works for most of a standard map. However, when bosses appear:
- Switch at least your main carry to Strongest
- Keep your slow/control towers on First or Close
- If the boss has a spawn of adds, consider Close on your AoE towers
Hidden enemies require First targeting on towers with reveal capability, or Close to hit them as they phase in. Practice switching targets between waves so you are not fumbling during a boss entrance.
Common Control Mistakes
- Using First targeting on leads — Leads require Strongest or they bypass your early DPS
- Selling mid-leak — Panic selling drops your defense; pre-sell before spike waves
- Forgetting Tab for Loadout Planner — Opens without leaving the match
- Not binding targeting to mouse — Manual keyboard switches are too slow in boss waves
Practice Drill
- Load a standard map with 3 towers
- Practice cycling: Select tower → switch targeting → upgrade → select next
- Time your full cycle. Target under 2 seconds per tower
- Run wave 1–10 focusing only on targeting switches
- Log which targeting mode saved the most HP on bosses
Related
- Getting Started — Start here before drilling controls
- Economy & Cash — Controls + economy awareness together
- Loadout Planner — Save your best binds
Controls are muscle memory. Drill them on standard maps until you react without thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Can I rebind controls?
TDS: Reforged uses Roblox default bindings. You can remap through Roblox settings, but core keys (F, G, B) are fixed.
Which targeting mode for hidden enemies?
Use First targeting on towers with reveal, or switch to Strongest once hiddens are visible. Close targeting can also catch them as they phase in.
How do I select multiple towers?
Currently one tower is selected at a time. Use quick-select by clicking the tower directly rather than cycling through all units.
Does selling refund full cost?
No. Selling returns a percentage of the tower's total investment. Check Economy & Cash guide for break-even timing.