Tides of Annihilation Controls Guide: Keybinds & Hard Mode

Getting the Tides of Annihilation controls guide right from day one makes the difference between flowing through combat and getting staggered by every Colossal Knight. Eclipse Glow Games built the Dual Frontline Battle System around quick knight summons, precise parry windows, and camera control during massive boss climbs — so knowing exactly which button does what saves you from fumbling mid-fight. This guide breaks down every default keybind across PC and console, walks you through the Tides of Annihilation difficulty settings, and lays out a practical Tides of Annihilation hard mode guide that carries into Tides of Annihilation new game plus runs. If you are chasing the platinum trophy or just want to survive Greater London, the Tides of Annihilation 100 percent guide sections here will keep you on track.

Default Controls and Keybind Reference

Before you even step into shattered London, you should remap a few things. The default layout works, but the Dual Frontline Battle System demands quick access to both knight summons, and the stock bindings on some controllers put those buttons a thumb-stretch away. Understanding the full control scheme first helps you make informed remapping decisions rather than guessing.

PC Keyboard and Mouse Layout

The PC version supports full rebinding, which is essential because the knight summon system requires you to toggle between two spectral allies mid-combo. Here is the default layout as reported by players who tested the demo build:

The parry window sits at roughly 8 frames on standard difficulty, which means you need to press F just before the enemy attack connects. Players report that remapping parry to a mouse side button improves consistency because your left hand stays on movement keys. The knight command system uses hold-to-issue inputs, so holding Q while pressing a direction sends Knight 1 to that position — useful for flanking Colossal Knights during climb phases.

Console Controller Bindings

Console players get a slightly different layout that prioritizes the Dual Frontline Battle System on the shoulder buttons. The PlayStation 5 version, which was showcased in the official PlayStation Blog announcement, uses the adaptive triggers for heavy attacks and knight commands:

The knight command system on console uses R2 as a modifier, which lets you direct both knights without taking your thumbs off the face buttons. This is a smart design because the Dual Frontline Battle System requires constant awareness of both knight positions during boss fights. If you find the default bindings uncomfortable, the game offers full remapping on console too — something many action games still skip.

Difficulty Settings and What Changes

The Tides of Annihilation difficulty settings go beyond simple damage multipliers. Eclipse Glow Games implemented a system that adjusts enemy aggression, parry windows, and even the climb stamina drain on Colossal Knights. Understanding these differences helps you pick the right difficulty for your skill level and your Tides of Annihilation 100 percent guide goals.

Difficulty Tier Comparison

The parry window reduction on Hard and Nightmare is the biggest gameplay shift because the Mirror Combat system rewards perfect parries with counter-attack windows. On Story difficulty, you can spam parry and still catch most attacks; on Nightmare, mistimed parries leave you wide open for follow-up combos. Players report that the climb stamina drain on Hard makes scaling Colossal Knights significantly more tense, since you need to find resting ledges mid-climb or risk falling.

Which Difficulty Should You Choose?

Your choice depends on what you want from the run. If you are following a Tides of Annihilation 100 percent guide for collectibles and trophies, Normal difficulty is the sweet spot because it keeps combat challenging without making exploration tedious. Hard mode suits veterans who want the Tides of Annihilation hard mode guide experience, but be prepared to die frequently against the Tyronoe boss fight — her second phase becomes brutal when the parry window shrinks to 6 frames.

The game does allow you to change difficulty mid-run, but switching from Hard to Normal locks you out of the Hard-exclusive trophy for that playthrough. Nightmare mode, according to community reports, is balanced around New Game Plus gear, so attempting it fresh is a masochistic exercise. Start on Normal, learn the Dual Frontline Battle System, then bump to Hard for your second run.

Hard Mode Strategies and Preparation

A proper Tides of Annihilation hard mode guide starts before you even change the difficulty setting. Hard mode punishes sloppy resource management, so you need to prepare your build, upgrade priorities, and knight loadouts in advance. The good news is that the skill tree system lets you respec, but doing so costs Grail Shards — so you want to get your build right the first time.

Essential Upgrades for Hard Mode

The parry window extension skill nodes are arguably the most valuable investment for Hard mode because they bring your effective window back to roughly 8 frames — matching Normal difficulty timing. This makes the Mirror Combat system far more forgiving and lets you focus on learning boss patterns rather than fighting the controls. The knight summon cooldown reduction also matters because Hard mode enemies have more HP, meaning you need more frequent knight-assisted combos to break their stagger thresholds.

Combat Adjustments for Hard Mode

Hard mode requires a different approach to the Dual Frontline Battle System. On Normal, you can play aggressively and rely on trading hits; on Hard, the 1.4x damage multiplier punishes that strategy. You need to lean into the parry-counter loop: wait for enemy attacks, parry to open a window, then unleash a knight-assisted combo. The knight command system becomes your primary damage tool because both knights attacking simultaneously can stagger even Colossal Knights.

Positioning also matters more on Hard. The climb stamina drain increase means you cannot spam dodge rolls, so you need to position yourself to avoid attacks rather than react to them. Learn each boss's attack patterns before committing to Hard mode — the London ruin bosses guide breaks down every Colossal Knight encounter with specific dodge timings and punish windows. Pair that knowledge with your parry timing, and Hard mode becomes manageable.

New Game Plus and What Carries Over

Tides of Annihilation new game plus unlocks after you finish the main campaign, and it is where the real endgame begins. The mode scales enemy levels, adds new enemy placements, and — according to community reports — introduces a few elite Colossal Knight variants that do not appear in the first playthrough. Knowing what carries over helps you plan your first run's upgrades.

NG+ Carryover Reference Table

The enemy scaling in New Game Plus means your level advantage disappears quickly, so you cannot brute-force encounters with raw stats. The skill tree carries over completely, which is why investing in the parry window extension nodes during your first run pays dividends in NG+. Players report that the elite Colossal Knight variants in NG+ have new attack patterns, so do not assume you know the fights — the endgame guide covers these new encounters in detail.

Preparing Your First Run for New Game Plus

If you plan to jump into Tides of Annihilation new game plus, your first run should prioritize permanent upgrades over consumables. The Grail Shard economy rewards thorough exploration, so following a Tides of Annihilation 100 percent guide for your first playthrough sets you up with maxed skill trees and weapon upgrades before NG+ even starts. The knight summon levels also carry over, so unlocking every knight and leveling them evenly gives you more flexibility in NG+.

One important note: the difficulty setting you choose for NG+ is independent of your first run. You can finish the campaign on Normal, then start NG+ on Hard or Nightmare immediately. The Tides of Annihilation hard mode guide strategies above apply to NG+ as well, but the enemy scaling compounds the challenge — so only jump to Nightmare if you have a fully upgraded build.

100 Percent Completion Roadmap

The Tides of Annihilation 100 percent guide covers collectibles, trophies, and optional bosses. The game has a substantial amount of content beyond the main story, and some of it is missable if you do not know what to look for. This section breaks down the completion checklist and the order you should tackle it.

Completion Checklist by Category

The Grail Shards are the core collectible — they function as both currency and progression trackers. According to community data, there are 120 total, and while none are permanently missable, some require revisiting areas after unlocking specific abilities. The Lore Fragments are trickier because 5 of them tie to story choices, meaning you need multiple playthroughs for a full collection. This is where Tides of Annihilation new game plus becomes essential for 100 percent completion.

Trophy Guide and Missable Achievements

The trophy list has 42 entries, and several are tied to difficulty and completion milestones. The Hard Mode Clear trophy requires finishing the game on Hard or Nightmare, which means you need at least one dedicated hard run. The 100 Percent Collector trophy requires all Grail Shards, Lore Fragments, and Knight Sigils — a significant time investment that rewards thorough exploration.

Players report that the No Damage Boss Fight trophy is the hardest in the game, requiring you to defeat any Colossal Knight without taking a single hit. This is significantly easier on Story difficulty because the parry window is more forgiving, but the trophy description does not specify difficulty — so you can cheese it on your lowest settings. The Speedrun trophy requires finishing the campaign in under 10 hours, which is tight but doable if you skip optional content and focus on the main path.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best keybinds for the Tides of Annihilation controls guide?

Most players recommend moving parry from F to a mouse side button and binding both knight summons to Q and E for quick access. The Dual Frontline Battle System rewards fast knight switching, so keeping summon buttons near movement keys reduces reaction time during boss fights. Experiment in the training area before committing.

Can I change difficulty mid-playthrough?

Yes, the Tides of Annihilation difficulty settings can be adjusted from the pause menu at any time. However, switching from Hard to Normal locks you out of the Hard-exclusive trophy for that run. Nightmare mode is only available after completing the campaign once, so plan your difficulty path accordingly.

Does New Game Plus increase the difficulty?

Tides of Annihilation new game plus scales enemies to your level plus five, which effectively removes your level advantage. Enemy placements change, and elite Colossal Knight variants appear with new attack patterns. The parry window stays the same as your chosen difficulty, so the challenge comes from unfamiliar encounters rather than tighter timing.

How long does a 100 percent completion run take?

A 100 percent completion run takes roughly 60–75 hours. This assumes you clear every Climbable Colossal Knight, collect all Grail Shards, and max Gwendolyn's skill tree on Normal difficulty. Playing on Hard Mode adds roughly 10–15 hours due to tougher boss fights and required grinding.

What is the best difficulty for a first playthrough?

Normal difficulty is the recommended starting point because it balances challenge with accessibility. The parry window at 8 frames gives you room to learn boss patterns without being punishing. If you are confident in action games, Hard mode is viable, but expect a steep learning curve against the Tyronoe boss fight.