Controller Chords

If you do not have extra controller buttons, now you do.

Controller Chords fills a simple but important gap for controller players in Valheim: many great mods use keyboard hotkeys, while a controller only has so many free buttons. This mod lets you press two controller buttons together and makes Valheim see a keyboard key instead.

For example, you can hold RB and press A to send Left Control to another mod. That means one controller can comfortably run more mod features without reaching for the keyboard.

What it does

• Adds up to 12 configurable controller button combinations.
• Each combination sends a virtual keyboard key that other mods can use as their hotkey.
• Supports quick tap combinations for toggle-style actions.
• Includes Hold Mode for mods that need a key held down, such as climbing or similar actions.
• Can optionally stop the modifier button's normal Valheim action when a chord activates.
• Keeps chords out of menus and text boxes by default, so you do not accidentally trigger mod actions while using the UI.

Default chord

The first chord is enabled by default:

The other 11 slots are present but disabled until you choose what you need.

Installation

1. Install BepInExPack Valheim.
2. Place ControllerChords.dll in: BepInEx/plugins/ControllerChords/
3. Start Valheim once.
4. Open the generated config file: BepInEx/config/marc.valheim.controllerchords.cfg
5. Set each chord to the controller combination and keyboard key required by your other mods.

Setting up a chord

Every chord has its own section in the config file.

• Enabled — turns that chord slot on or off.
• Modifier — the button you hold first. Supported modifier buttons are RB, LB, RT, and LT.
• Button — the second button you press while holding the modifier.
• TargetKey — the keyboard key that Controller Chords sends to other mods.
• HoldMode — set this to true when a mod needs the key held continuously. Leave it false for normal quick hotkey presses.
• BlockModifierDefaultAction — set this to true only when you need to prevent the held modifier from also doing its normal in-game action.
• VirtualPressFrames — how long a normal tap stays visible to another mod. The default of 2 is usually right.

Example

To make LB + X activate a mod that uses the G key:

[Chord 07]
Enabled = true
Modifier = LB
Button = X
TargetKey = G
HoldMode = false

For a feature that must stay held down, set HoldMode = true. The virtual key stays pressed only while both controller buttons are held, then releases cleanly when you let go.

Suggested controller layout

Here is a simple way to keep things memorable:

You are not locked into these ideas. The point is to make your own controller layout feel like it has room to breathe.

Compatibility

Controller Chords is designed for controller players using keyboard-hotkey mods. It does not add a new on-screen menu or change your saved world. It reads Valheim controller input through ZInput and exposes the configured key press through both Unity input and Valheim input checks, helping compatible mods recognise it.

Notes

• Chords are disabled in Valheim menus, inventories, stores, text fields, and the console by default.
• Set AllowInMenus = true only when you deliberately need chords to work in menus.
• Set LogChordEvents = true if you need to check whether a combination is firing. The results appear in BepInEx/LogOutput.log.
• Avoid using the same button for both the modifier and trigger in one slot.
• Start with one or two chords, make sure they feel natural, then add more. No need to turn your controller into a piano overnight.

Support

When reporting an issue, include:

• Your Valheim version.
• Your controller type.
• The relevant marc.valheim.controllerchords.cfg chord section.
• Your BepInEx/LogOutput.log file.

Plugin GUID: marc.valheim.controllerchords
Version: 0.2.0