Hell Maiden uses straightforward PC controls built around movement, dashing, and automatic weapon attacks — freeing you to focus on positioning, deck-building choices during level-ups, and spell token timing. AstralShift targets Steam Early Access on July 16, 2026 with full controller support planned; this guide covers keyboard and mouse fundamentals that apply from the demo through Early Access Limbo and Lust content.
Movement and Dash
WASD controls character movement in all directions. Movement is continuous with no stamina limit — you can kite indefinitely while weapons auto-fire. Diagonal movement combines keys normally for eight-directional positioning.
Dash provides a short invulnerability or rapid reposition burst on cooldown. Dash through Limbo fire traps at 5:35 and 10:05 rather than walking through hazard zones. Dash timing against Minos slams and Scarmiglione charges is core skill expression — practice perpendicular dashes away from telegraphed attacks.
Movement speed charms from Beatrice at odd levels starting level 7 increase travel speed slightly. Movement speed ranks below Attack Speed in charm priority for most builds — see charm guide.
- W / A / S / D — Move in four directions
- Dash — Quick reposition with cooldown
- Diagonal input — Eight-directional movement
- No stamina — Continuous kiting possible
Auto-Attack Weapons
Weapon Cards fire automatically on attack timers without attack button input. Each equipped weapon cycles its pattern independently — Dragon's Breath cones forward, Selenic Bloom bursts radially, Blade of Augustus thrusts in facing direction. You control positioning; weapons control damage output.
Attack speed from charms and Boost mods reduces interval between attacks. Facing matters for directional weapons — orbit enemies with radial weapons when possible to avoid facing dependency.
Full weapon behavior on the weapon cards page. Mod Cards modify auto-attack patterns — mod guide for Effect and Spread changes.
Spell Tokens on Timer
Spell tokens are collectible pickups that charge active abilities on a cooldown timer. Collect tokens during waves to fill charges; activate when ready for burst AOE, defensive shields, or utility effects depending on spell type collected.
Spell tokens do not fire automatically — you trigger them manually when charged. Save tokens for elite surges at minutes 4, 7, and 9 in Limbo or boss phases against Minos, Scarmiglione, and Libicocco. Token types and pickup locations on the items guide.
Some charms reduce spell cooldown or increase token magnet range. Spell-focused builds are secondary to weapon damage in Early Access meta but accelerate boss kills when timed correctly.
Level-Up Screen and Pausing
Collecting enough experience gems pauses gameplay and opens the level-up screen with three choices: Weapon Cards, Mod Cards, stat upgrades, or Beatrice charms at odd levels from 7 onward. Game time stops during selection — no pressure to decide quickly beyond personal preference.
The level-up screen displays your weapon hand layout for Spread placement decisions. Review neighbor slots before accepting Spread mods. Reroll options may appear via charms or items in some configurations.
Deck-building fundamentals in the beginner guide and Spirit Cards overview.
UI, Mini-Map, and Timer
The Limbo and Lust timer displays at screen top — critical for trap events at 5:35 and 10:05 in Limbo. Mini-map shows quest markers (Horace rescue at 3:30), temple locations, and elite spawn density indicators in some configurations.
Health bar, experience progress, and charm icons appear in standard HUD positions. Eight languages supported in interface and subtitles — English, Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese per Early Access info.