- Lean — Q (left) and E (right) on PC; D-Pad on console; on-screen buttons on mobile
- Crouch / Prone — C and B on PC; B on console; on-screen buttons on mobile
- All bindings above are from the official game description
Why Leaning Wins Fights
In a realistic shooter, the first thing an opponent sees of you is usually 30% of your body. Leaning is how you control that percentage. Press Q or E and your character tilts out from cover just far enough to scan an angle, then returns. The exchange is lopsided in your favor: you see them, they see a sliver of you.
The habit to build is simple — lean before you peek, every time. Walk to a corner, stop short of it, lean out, scan, then decide. Players who swing their whole body around corners are donating information and hitbox to whoever is waiting. Once leaning is automatic, layer it with stance: a crouched lean around a low cover is one of the smallest targets in the game.
Crouch and Prone: When Each One Pays
- Crouch (C on PC)
Your go-to stance inside buildings. A crouched silhouette clears low window frames and furniture, presents a smaller target through doorways, and steadies your aim for aimed shots. Crouch is cheap — use it constantly.
- Prone (B on PC)
The specialist stance for long sightlines: hallways, approaches, anything beyond close quarters. Prone makes you nearly flat, but it is slow to leave — never go prone somewhere you might need to move quickly from.
- Stand only to reposition
Standing full-height is for moving between cover. If you are standing still and visible, you are easier to hit than you need to be.
Platform Differences
The mechanic is identical everywhere; only the inputs move. Console players lean with the D-Pad and toggle stance with B — worth five minutes of practice in a safe area, because D-Pad leaning is slower to reach than Q and E until it is drilled. On mobile, check your Settings: make lean and crouch buttons large enough to hit without looking, and place them where your thumbs rest naturally. The full platform table is in the Controls Reference.
Drills That Build the Habit
- Doorway drill: approach five doorways in a row leaning first — no full-body peeks allowed
- Stance drill: clear one room crouched, the next prone along a hallway
- Break the reload-in-open habit: lean back behind cover before pressing R, every time
These drills feed directly into the positioning section of the Tips and Tricks.
FAQ & Troubleshooting
Can I lean while crouched or prone?
The official description lists lean, crouch and prone as separate documented mechanics but does not specify their combinations. In practice, treat combined stances as something to test in-game — this wiki will not assert what is not documented.
Why lean instead of just strafing out?
Strafing exposes your whole body at once. Leaning exposes a slice, and only for as long as you hold the key. In a game built around realistic weapon handling, the smaller exposure usually wins the trade.
Do console players lean with the sticks?
No — the official control listing puts leaning on the D-Pad. Aiming stays on the sticks; the D-Pad is your peek tool.