Warcraft 3 Guide - Control Groups Part 1 (Basics)

[@garagavia]

A game that came out in 2001 gets a video on how to play it in 2016 and that video gets 50 000 viewers, even thought the channel has less than 500 subscribers. This game might be the biggest classic out there. Certainly top 5 most important games ever made.

[@JudicialBrat]

This game has an impact on literally arena/moba games without it there would be no toxic waste called League of Legends

[@kr1st440]

It’s where DotA got originally made and started the rise of MOBA games

[@S4pp]

moba prolly wouldnt have existed without this

[@averagecommander]

I didn't know about that ctrl right clicking on control groups until now.

[@MemerDad]

exactly, me neither, damn

[@techniumunlimited4567]

doesnt work for me

[@rinkashikachi]

@@techniumunlimited4567 u need to mark "subgroup modifier key" in gameplay options to make it work

[@NoIDeaSynchro]

I was wondering this my whole life, woah have to try that out today

[@kanchantandukar6969]

ma also

[@nathan4350]

Very clearly explained, much appreciated.

[@xRubySky]

Now that reforged is out I startet playing again and this was very helpful. I had no idea how to do this and struggled to manage all my units with having a selection limit. Thanks for explaining!

[@Syntoren]

My pleasure, gl hf playing! :)

[@PupperfishWhoLikes_Drawing]

4 years later still useful until now

[@robson96]

Just had to search for it 2024 xd

[@Kalvis1]

wow, moving one unit type within a control group using ctrl is new to me! thank you!

[@cody4243]

Thank you so much for this video, just got back into WC3. Last time I played I was a kid and forgot all the hotkeys. Well done sir 💪

[@MemerDad]

can't learn enough about this game. Thanks for making this video. it was really helpful

[@ahmadrezamirebrahimi5950]

dude!!!! its 2019 here and i still play dota1 and i spam micro heroes like visage and beastmaster etc .. and i always had problem keep selecting a unit to cast spells (beside the main hero witch is f1 ) , this guide helped me alot dude , thank you very much (subed btw)

[@Syntoren]

I'm glad that it helped :D gl hf in your games! =)

[@sebon11]

Hello dude, I already knew some of this things (all up to 3 minute, which I'm on now), but I just wanted to let you know that your way of explaining things is very very clear and great. You don't rush, you don't assume that what you know, the listener knows as well - which a lot of speakers/teachers unfortunately, unintentionally do. I mean, I noticed it on 2:54 where you went to barracks and then went back to peasants. You explained that very well, even though it maybe was easy :) Best regards!

[@Syntoren]

Thank you very much for the feedback and kind words!

[@JhintendoTwitch]

Thanks for the undead one, didn't know that after all those years...

[@Syntoren]

My pleasure :) there's always something new to learn

[@Bulrockk]

been a while since i've last played wc3, this helped a lot thank you

[@itzggbits28]

Thanks it's been years since. No one wanted to teach me how it works in my neighborhood plus everyone now plays the newer games while I still play the older games

[@tsykin]

Thanks for a guide. I am new to the game and learned a lot from this :)

[@jpkit9721]

I miss this game

[@johncooney3940]

thanks a lot man this really helped me out A TON

[@Omaha760]

play some WC3 and always have problems with running away.... hope the trick with press STRG helps :D keep it going :D

[@Syntoren]

In order for the CTRL command to work you have to enable it in the ingame options: Options --> Gameplay --> Subgroup order modifier key gl hf in your games :)

[@obesechicken13]

I had to get used to using control to select a specific unit type and shift to deselect. In other games shift is only used to add. WC3 is the only rts I know of that does the opposite so it was really hard for me to override the muscle memory. I'm sure everyone hates not being able to deselect a unit from a control group easily. Seems like such a necessary feature in a game where you want to save units to heal and use later.

[@aca3o]

I watched the other video a while ago and will say both videos are (as Larry David would put it) pretty pretty good. Grüße aus dem Corona infizierten Berlin

[@cjcreep1329]

Thank you bro I can't even finish the undead campaign (reign of chaos) and the sentinel campaign (frozen throne)

[@Syntoren]

My pleasure, good luck beating the campaign!

[@keaiharu9346]

How did you control other units? Like how did you use other units at the same time? For example your using Humas at first then you can use the other units like Orc and Undead? Help me please I really wanna try it.

[@Syntoren]

I placed all the buildings and units in the map editor. Then I simply loaded the map ingame and thus had all the units that I previously placed in the map editor. Does that answer your question?

[@keaiharu9346]

@@Syntoren Yes, thank you

[@Aydvien]

Amazing Video, thank you so much!

[@_Kaelstrom_]

Who’s here in 2024??

[@homayoonrz8175]

Me😂

[@pgiulan]

The tip around the 9 minute mark about giving different directions to units in the same control group doesn't seem to work for me after having made a control group and holding control while highlighting units in the group :\

[@Syntoren]

It's about having one sub-group (here: the spellbreakers) selected and issuing a command (here: right-click) while holding control. If that is not working then go into settings in the main menu (right after starting war3), go into gameplay and enable "Subgroup order modifier key", then it should work.

[@pgiulan]

That did it man, checking that box in settings! Thank you.

[@Syntoren]

My pleasure, glad it helped :)

[@pgiulan]

It really does man. Working with heroes who are in a control group with other units just became appealing :))

[@keishito]

I don't seem to get the command that you explained at min ~8:43. Every time I select a group with different units, then use Tab to select the sub units then hold down Ctrl and press right click. It doesn't seem to do what you did. For me, the whole units in that group moves together. Am I missing something?

[@Syntoren]

Then you probably still need to turn on "Subgroup order modifier key" in the "Gameplay" tab in the Options. That should make it work :) I actually forgot to mention that in the video^^

[@keishito]

Yeah, that was the issue. hmmm, I wonder why it doesn't come enabled by default already. It's really useful I think. When you want some units to go ahead that others in the same group. Or when you have your riflemans in groups with mortars or heroes, but you want only your riflemans to attack the air units rather than the land melee units, etc. Well, now it works. THANKS FOR THE VIDEO AND INFO (>^.^)>

[@Syntoren]

It's my pleasure :> Yeah, I also think that it should be enabled by default, it's a really important function imo^^

[@koberyan2880]

Sir, thank you for the videos. Do you still play? I’d love more vids

[@Syntoren]

My pleasure! I barely play anymore, only every few months for a while usually.

[@daleprosser350]

I’ve tried holding ctrl to love a particular subgroup that I have selected but the whole Group still moves for some reason, so I need to have an option selected in he menu?

[@daleprosser350]

Sorted it now, I did have to check a setting lol

[@norskevikingen7189]

WOW thank you!! awesome guide for us casuals who need everything explained :)

[@LKW495]

Can you please tell me, in Warcraft 3 reforged how to assign camera control from arrows to buttons? In which file are these settings? Through the config you can, how? p.s know about third-party software launchers, etc. - looking for a native solution. Where the same should be written these buttons - arrows. The wrist hurts, the fewer movements of the mouse the better.

[@Syntoren]

I'm not aware of any native solution to your issue, sorry. Third-party software is probably the only possible solution right now.

[@MoisesDeadmau5]

Great video!! Thx for this but y have a question how i can delete groups? Becouse ir i miss click but i don't want a unir in that group how i can delete that unit or better that group?

[@Syntoren]

My pleasure! Unfortunately you can't delete control groups. What I usually do if I miss click like that: assign a unit or building to that control group that doesn't do anything if I accidentally use that group (for example a farm). If you just want to remove one unit from an existing group you can do that exactly how I explain it in the video.

[@MoisesDeadmau5]

@@Syntoren thx!!! Ok the only way ir shift and click that unit that u don't want to use

[@li028-x9i]

Is there a way to remove a unit from a group quickly ("shift + click" the unit and then "ctrl + #" is way too slow in the heat of a battle)? In starcaft, you can just do "alt + #" and it will steal the units from all groups and assign it to a new group. Is there a way to add the "alt + #" hotkey in warcraft?

[@Syntoren]

As far as I know doing "shift + click" on the unit and then "ctrl + #" to save the group with the current selection is the only way to remove a unit from a control group. The "alt + #" hotkey actually doesn't exist in Warcraft III. Just checked to make sure.

[@The_PersianAudioBook]

Thanks man

[@RobinOnTour]

Good one even for advanced players!

[@fundy16x]

Idk but the 8:30 doesnt work. I play reforged and hold control with the subgroup selected, but all group moves in the direction, not only the subgroup

[@Bagusts]

thank you

[@gorgeywinthsom9995]

Very useful

[@Ulve124]

really helpful

[@Syntoren]

That's what it's supposed to be^^ Thank you for the feedback!

[@alizaghir2214]

Hi Syntoren, when will the second video come out

[@Syntoren]

I'll try to release it on Monday. There will probably be two versions of the 2nd video. A shorter one with the more basic and important things and a longer one with a lot of examples and more detailed explanations.

[@magnustrygg5632]

Very good video! Superb..! Thanks!

[@Syntoren]

Thank you! Glad you like it!

[@wow-x2x]

The control controll movement command for tab targeted units doesnt work on reforged for me... :( whyyyyyyyy thats like my biggest problem

[@Syntoren]

Did you enable it in the settings?

[@wow-x2x]

@@Syntoren no… no i did not…

[@LaneWick]

Nice video really helpfull!

[@lekahuna]

Is it possible, to move the screen with WASD or to switch CTRL and ALT key behaviours without any 3rd party tool? Can't find this options in the CustomKeys.txt

[@Syntoren]

Unfortunately that's not possible as far as I know. CustomKeys.txt has quite limited capabilities :/ We can only hope for Blizzard to finally implement proper keybinding options. Until then your only option is using a 3rd party tool

[@lekahuna]

@@Syntoren Wow, that was a quick answer! Thanks, then I think I have to get used to edge panning and the CTRL key.

[@udaman100]

How did you expand your food cost to 400 like that?

[@Syntoren]

By placing all the units manually in the map editor

[@Qxoi90]

Maybe to late to the party, but how exactly do I get units out of my selected group? Lets say I have 8 Units selected and I just want one to be gone from that selected group

[@Syntoren]

I explained part of that at 02:02 --> Deselect the unit you want out of the group by pressing Shift + Left-Click (either on the unit or on its icon in the group). Afterward re-assign the control group by pressing for example ctrl + 1, if you want to permanently remove the unit from the control group.

[@Qxoi90]

@@Syntoren Oh I missed that! Sorry and thank you!

[@johncooney3940]

hey what is your opinion on the new Warcraft III Reforged?

[@Syntoren]

Tough question :D I wasn't able to check it out in too much detail yet as I haven't been home for the last 3 weeks. From what I've seen so far it looks really really promising, but there's also the possibility for blizz to screw it up so we'll have to see how it turns out. The classic team seemed quite promising though on the blizzcon panels. One thing that I think is a bit terrifying is that old WC3 as we know it will mostly cease to exist no matter how Reforged turns out to be. So I really hope that Reforged will be great and I/we won't have too much trouble getting used to all the new things. I hope that answers your question^^

[@johncooney3940]

@@Syntoren that definitely answers my question

[@jesterfield1]

thank you very helpful :)

[@ArthasHastingsMenethil]

I have probelm with group key since my fingers are too short which make it hard to press sometime I mis-press something

[@Syntoren]

Hmm not sure how I can help with that.

[@ArthasHastingsMenethil]

@@Syntoren any good way to train finger more flexible like reach any hotkey easier especially short finger ?

[@Syntoren]

@@ArthasHastingsMenethil no clue to be honest, cause I never had that issue...

[@bobbysiplayboy964]

man, i still didnt get it how to move it, without change control group like min 9.00

[@bobbysiplayboy964]

nvm i found it, u should check sub group modifier in option first

[@younesjaafar2216]

Thanks 🙏 👍

[@erd2650]

Can I ask you how you managed to manage the bots? Maybe I’m stupid and I don’t understand anything simple. But I just wanted to ask. If it’s not hard to say.

[@Syntoren]

There weren't any bots. I managed to get all the buildings + units by placing them all on the map in the map editor and then "played" on that changed map ingame.

[@erd2650]

@@Syntoren Understandably. Ehh I had assumptions about this, so I was hoping for some kind of bug or cheat code in the game itself. Thank

[@Syntoren]

@@erd2650 Ah I see. There's no such bug or cheat code though. Only possible through the map editor :)

[@feruzbekbaxshullayev5264]

How you control more bases? More heroes? How u do it? Thanks for answer..

[@feruzbekbaxshullayev5264]

If you can , make one video according to my question

[@Syntoren]

I placed all the units and buildings manually in the map editor and then loaded the map in game. That's the only possible way as far as I know.

[@feruzbekbaxshullayev5264]

@@Syntoren thank you bro

[@Bravura91]

can im change hmm Ctrl to another keyboard button?? im want hmm Caps Lock+ +2 etc no CTRL .. can im?

[@Syntoren]

Sure, but that would only be possible with a third party tool or via your keyboard software if it supports swapping keys. I'd recommend doing it with an AHK (AutoHotKey) script. Just google AutoHotKey, there are also plenty of tutorials on it.

[@Bravura91]

im try in autohotkey but im dont find this option and me english is just bad ;/, only find how to change kebinds like burrows or something like that..

[@Syntoren]

I never did it myself before, so I can't help you with that, sorry.

[@Bravura91]

np thanks for answer and time

[@maulbud]

I pressing 1 to back select all, but nothing happen. Why? How to custom keys for that?

[@Syntoren]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. There are no custom keys necessary for control groups. You should be able to select a control group by pressing '1' after you assigned a control group to 1 by pressing 'ctrl+1'

[@A_random_handle]

@@Syntoren same problem here im pressing 1 but nothing happens

[@Syntoren]

@@A_random_handle I'm not entirely sure what your problem is. Did you assign a control group with 'ctrl + 1' already?

[@A_random_handle]

@@Syntoren yes I did

[@Syntoren]

@@A_random_handle So you select units, assign them to control group 1 with 'ctrl + 1'. Then after deselecting them or selecting something else, if you press '1' it doesn't select the control group? I actually don't know how that could be possible. Those are standard keybinds of wc3. I don't see how they possibly couldn't work. So unfortunately there's not much more I can tell you about that. Unless you have another program that uses the same keybinds and somehow blocks the wc3 keybinds, assigning + selecting control groups should always work.

[@mevrix3365]

How do you have more than 100 people? It's just hack? Or is that possible to make more that 100? I think that 100 isn't really enough.

[@Syntoren]

I placed all units and buildings in the map editor instead of training them in game (I basically built a custom map). That's how I exceeded the supply limit. In a normal game it is not possible to exceed 100 supply (except for using banshees to posses other units when you are already at 100).

[@mevrix3365]

@@Syntoren thanks! I didn't expect your answer :D

[@zypeLLas]

8:25 why does that hold ctrl+right click does not work for me...

[@Syntoren]

You need to turn on "Subgroup order modifier key" in the "Gameplay" settings.

[@zypeLLas]

@@Syntoren thank youu I got it

[@ipiledrivedalexjones6935]

Is he holding control the whole time to see the life bars

[@ipiledrivedalexjones6935]

Or alt or whatever

[@Syntoren]

No I don't. There's a neat option in "Options --> Gameplay" that allows you to "Always Show Health Bars". That way you can always see the healthbars without pressing ALT. If you press ALT with that setting on, then it will disable the healthbars as long as you hold ALT.

[@GgEz-wl5sz]

can u help me how to make 2 group...like meepo dota...1 group own mepo...and 1 more group for others

[@GgEz-wl5sz]

cuz me no time to watch full video

[@averagecommander]

simple select any of the meepo you want to use or how many meepo you want then hold ctrl + [specific number Numpads(numbers on the right side of the keyboard) not included].

[@keanpalermo9113]

how to get in this mode?

[@Onif02]

Where can I download your custom keys

[@Syntoren]

Use this link if you have german keyboard layout (QWERTZ): puu.sh/puNT2/170a085723.zip Use this link if you have english keyboard layout (QWERTY): puu.sh/puOJ0/430cfb33a4.zip

[@huyget]

How do steal enemy unit ?

[@Syntoren]

I didn't. I placed all the units manually in the map editor and then loaded the map. In a normal game, you can steal enemy units with Charm (Dark Ranger ultimate) or Possession (Banshees with master upgrade).

[@iambatman6974]

How to bring more unit? I want to attack with all unit

[@Syntoren]

Not sure if I understand your question correctly. Do you mean if you can add more than 12 units to one group? That's not possible.

[@iambatman6974]

@@Syntoren yes that is what I mean, but is there any other way to make it easy to control multiple units?

[@Syntoren]

@@iambatman6974 I explain all the ways of how you can use control groups in the video. I give examples of how I usually do it in the part 2 video. Can't really tell you more than that, since that's all I know. Try and see what works for you.

[@iambatman6974]

@@Syntoren oh ok, thanks for information 🙏☺️

[@mortred3008]

Iwanna change my invertory hotkey

[@Syntoren]

That is currently only possible with third party tools. You can for example use AHK (AutoHotKey). There is a guide on the Warcraft 3 subreddit on how to do that.

[@jamesmamuad4305]

How do you have so many heroes plssssss

[@Syntoren]

I placed all buildings, heroes and units manually in the world editor.

[@Anna-iz1iu]

How can l play with two team with me And I control it

[@Syntoren]

Normally it's not possible. I control multiple races and more than 100 supply in this video because I placed all the buildings and units manually in the map editor.

[@mmxzz]

8:47 sub-group move not working

[@Syntoren]

Did you enable it in settings?

[@mmxzz]

@Syntoren No, I didn't know it had to be enabled from the menu. Thanks, bro.

[@dirktarongoy3593]

How do u have multiple heroes?

[@Syntoren]

I placed all the buildings/units/heroes manually in the world editor.

[@dirktarongoy3593]

@@Syntoren oh thank you so much

[@johncooney3940]

what do you do nowaday?

[@Syntoren]

I'm mostly busy with my apprenticeship/work and general IRL things. Flying back home tomorrow from a 3-week work experience trip in London. I might stream again sometime, but if at all I'll only be able to stream very rarely due to lack of time :/

[@johncooney3940]

@@Syntoren cool

[@byambadorjdecember6868]

sir how to control shared unit???

[@Syntoren]

Not sure what you mean exactly. Can you elaborate?

[@cjcreep1329]

@@Syntoren maybe he meant from the options on the custom game maps? Because there's an option there so you can control an Allie unit? Idk

[@Syntoren]

@@cjcreep1329 yeah idk either. I assume he means something about me having so many races, buildings, units, etc in this video. At least that's what most other people have asked about.

[@joelbournival762]

I think I'd hit the windows key too much

[@Syntoren]

That's why a lot of people disable their windows key through their keyboard software. If that is not a possibility they usually just take the windows key out of the keyboard completely (I did that with old keyboards). I also disabled caps lock because I missclicked on it quite a bit and it didn't have any use for me.

[@matttan8066]

How is the heck you get so many hero???

[@Syntoren]

I placed them all manually in the map editor.

[@matttan8066]

@@Syntoren oh yeah I still don't know how like hotkey to bring another full unit together with another full unit?

[@Syntoren]

@@matttan8066 By "full unit" you mean a full control group of 12 units?

[@matttan8066]

@@Syntoren yeah

[@matttan8066]

@@Syntoren and then switch to another 12 units

[@kevinjaredmichdelacruz42]

How to get alot of heroes

[@Syntoren]

Not sure why you're asking the same question as on another video, so just gonna copy my answer: I placed all the heroes/units/buildings manually in the map editor for that video. It isn't possible in a normal ladder game to have more than 3 heroes.

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

2:48

[@alberts6096]

good video but a bit to long to much explain but I watched it with 1.25 speed so everything is fine.

[@Rektek97]

7:44 - haha, tell that starcraft 1 players

[@Syntoren]

good point :D

[@lordofthepork7746]

omg talk talk talk talk talk talk talk xD would be more interestin if it wasn't mono tone voice xD

[@Syntoren]

You do realize, Timothy, that you can just not watch a video that you dislike, right?