If you don’t know your parries from your Special Arts in Cuphead, we’ve put together a short guide explaining the basics. Cuphead is a tough game to master, but if you go into it knowing what to expect then you will definitely have an advantage. With that in mind, let’s start with the most basic of basics: the controls.

Default controls for Cuphead

Shoot

• Keyboard: X
• Xbox controller: X
• PS4 controller: Square

Jump

• Keyboard: Z
• Xbox controller: A
• PS4 controller: X

EX shoot

• Keyboard: V
• Xbox controller: B
• PS4 controller: Circle

Switch weapon

• Keyboard: Tab
• Xbox controller: Left bumper
• PS4 controller: L1

Lock in place

• Keyboard: C
• Xbox controller: Right bumper
• PS4 controller: R1

Dash

• Keyboard: Left shift
• Xbox controller: Y
• PS4 controller: Triangle

Default flying controls in Cuphead

Some sections of Cuphead have you take to the skies in a biplane. Here are the default controls for when that happens.

Shoot

• Keyboard: X
• Xbox controller: X
• PS4 controller: Square

Special

• Keyboard: V
• Xbox controller: B
• PS4 controller: Circle

Parry

• Keyboard: Z
• Xbox controller: A
• PS4 controller: X

Shrink

• Keyboard: Shift
• Xbox controller: Y or right bumper
• PS4 controller: Triangle or R1

Cuphead controls tips

If you are playing Cuphead on a controller, it can be hard to jump and fire at the same time with the default controls. This issue is solved immediately when you map the fire button to the right trigger, freeing up your thumb to perform the jumps as you continuously fire with the trigger.

Parrying in Cuphead

If you want to beat Cuphead, you need to master the parry. Anything that is pink can be parried. You simply jump into it, then press jump again at the exact point of contact. Successful parries fill up your EX Meter. Once the meter is filled, press the EX Shoot button to fire off your equipped Super Art.