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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/kasimeka/balatro-typist-mod/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

This guide will get you playing Balatro with Typist’s keyboard controls in minutes. You’ll learn the core keybindings needed for a complete run.
All keybindings shown are for QWERTY layout. If you use Dvorak or Workman, see the Keyboard layouts page for your mappings.

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The two essential keys

Typist’s design centers around two primary actions:
1

Space - Proceed

space is your “yes” button. It:
  • Plays the selected hand
  • Selects the upcoming blind
  • Uses consumable cards
  • Selects highlighted pack items
  • Starts new runs from game over screen
  • Clicks “play” or “continue” buttons in menus
2

Tab - Dismiss

tab is your “no” button. It:
  • Discards the selected hand
  • Moves from shop to blind selection
  • Sells consumable or joker cards
  • Skips booster packs
  • Closes overlay menus
  • Exits to main menu from game over screen
You can start a complete run from game launch to the first blind using only space!

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Selecting cards in hand

During a round, select cards using the home row keys: 
 a s d f g h j k l ;
 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
  • a toggles the first card
  • s toggles the second card
  • d toggles the third card
  • And so on…

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Quick selection helpers

These keys help you select multiple cards at once:
  • , - Select the leftmost 5 cards
  • . - Select the rightmost 5 cards
  • n - Deselect all cards
  • m - Invert card selection
These positional keys adapt to your keyboard layout, so Dvorak users would use aoeu for the first four cards instead of asdf.

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Playing a round

1

Start the blind

Press space to select and start a blind.
2

Select your hand

Use asdfgh... to toggle cards you want to play.Or use quick selectors:
  • , for leftmost 5
  • . for rightmost 5
3

Play or discard

  • space to play the selected hand
  • tab to discard the selected hand
4

Repeat

Keep playing or discarding until you beat the blind or run out of hands.

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Using the shop

Navigate and purchase items without your mouse:
  • asdfgh... or number keys (1-0) - Select items in the shop
  • c - Buy the selected item/pack/voucher
  • v - Buy and immediately use the selected item (or buy pack/voucher)
  • r - Reroll the shop
  • tab - Leave the shop and proceed to blind selection
In the shop, the number row gives you quick access to all slots without needing to use leader keys.

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Managing jokers and consumables

Typist uses “leader keys” to access different card areas:

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Consumables (Tarot, Planet, Spectral)

Hold ' (apostrophe) + a selection key: 
Hold ' + a = Select first consumable
Hold ' + s = Select second consumable
Then:
  • space to use the selected consumable
  • tab to sell it

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Jokers

Hold [ (left bracket) + a selection key: 
Hold [ + a = Select first joker
Hold [ + s = Select second joker
Then:
  • tab to sell the selected joker
  • \ while selected to drag it out (useful for Amber Acorn boss!)

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Quick access with number row

For faster access, use the number keys without a leader:
  • 1-5 typically maps to your jokers
  • 6-0 typically maps to your consumables
This varies based on how many cards you have in each area.

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Hand manipulation

Organize your hand for better decision-making:
  • c - Sort by suit
  • v - Sort by rank
  • b - Sort by enhancement and score (glass cards to end, lucky/mult cards to beginning)
These are mnemonic keys that don’t change across keyboard layouts.

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The cheat layer

Typist includes helpers for finding the best hand to play: Hold p (cheat layer leader) + action key:
  • p + b - Select the best hand from available cards
  • p + f - Fish for the best flush in hand
  • p + s/d/c/h - Find flush in specific suit (Spades/Diamonds/Clubs/Hearts)
These helpers make decisions for you. Use them to learn or to speed up gameplay, but be aware they may not always align with your strategy (especially regarding discards and joker synergies).

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Additional useful keys

  • x - View run info (when available)
  • z - Hold to preview your deck
  • s - Skip blinds (when you have a skip tag)
  • r - Reroll shop or boss blind options
  • Escape - Open options menu

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Opening booster packs

When you open a booster pack:
  1. Use asdfgh... to select cards from the pack
  2. Hold Shift + / to select cards from your hand (for Arcana/Spectral packs)
  3. Press space to confirm selection
  4. Press tab to skip the pack
Booster pack hand manipulation is currently a bit clunky and may be redesigned in future versions.

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Complete example run

Here’s a typical early-game round flow:
1

Select blind

Press space to start the small blind.
2

First hand

Press p + b to let Typist select the best hand.Press space to play it.
3

Second hand

Press , to select leftmost 5 cards.Press space to play.
4

Beat the blind

Continue playing hands until you win.
5

Visit shop

Press a to select first shop item.Press c to buy it.Press tab to leave the shop.
6

Repeat

Press space to select the next blind and continue.

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Changing keyboard layout

If you use Dvorak or Workman instead of QWERTY:
  1. Create a file named typist-layout in your Balatro directory (same location as the Mods folder)
  2. Write either dvorak or workman in the file (no spaces or extra lines)
  3. Restart Balatro
See ~/Library/Application Support/Balatro/ (Mac) or %AppData%/Balatro/ (Windows) or the Proton prefix path (Linux).

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Next steps

You now know enough to play a complete run with keyboard controls!
1

Practice

Start a run and practice the core keybindings until they feel natural.
2

Explore advanced features

Check out the complete Keybindings reference to discover advanced features like moving cards and custom overrides.
3

Customize

Learn how to create your own keybind overrides in the Configuration guide.
For visual learners, watch the video demo to see these keybindings in action.

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