Where are the Swarm Reign controls listed?

In the controls table below, compiled from the official and reference sources cited at the bottom of this page.

Is this Swarm Reign guide playtested?

No. This guide is source-checked from official and community sources, not playtested by GameTio.

Swarm Reign Controls and Crown Shards

Swarm Reign keyboard controls

WASD / arrow keys: move.
1 / 2 / 3: choose a level-up upgrade.
Escape: return to the menu.
F11: fullscreen, as listed in the game.

Escape is not a pause button. The inspected browser build stops the run scene and returns to the menu.

Read the three level-up choices

The developer’s level-up screen shows three cards, numbered 1, 2 and 3 from left to right. Read the change on each card before choosing: an existing upgrade can gain a level, while an Evolution changes a weapon.

For example, the pictured choice offers Obsidian Crossbow’s evolution, a movement-speed upgrade, or changes to Dark Tome’s cooldown, shots and speed. This illustrates the card types; it is not a guaranteed offer or a tested best build.

Spend Crown Shards between runs

From the main menu, choose Permanent Upgrades. The official upgrade screen shows your shard balance, each upgrade’s effect, its next cost and an Unlock or Upgrade button.

Upgrade	What it improves
Ancient Vigor	Starting health
Mark of the King	Base damage
Shadow Step	Base movement speed
Honed Instinct	Starting weapon cooldown
Greed of the Fallen	Base pickup radius
Broken Crown	Shards earned

These permanent improvements are separate from the choices inside a run. Use the cost shown in your game; the developer’s screenshot contains an example account with upgrades already purchased.

Where do shards come from?

The developer describes shards as boss rewards. The named bosses include the Herald of Ash and Ashen Sovereign.

The result screen separates shards earned in that run from your total balance, alongside survival time, enemies slain and level reached. Choose Play Again for another run, or Back to Menu to visit Permanent Upgrades.

Does Reset All Progress only restart a run?

No. Settings → Reset All Progress displays a warning that shards and permanent upgrades will be lost. Use Play Again on the result screen when you want another run, rather than erasing progression.

Open the game page and select Play to reach the browser version. This reference uses official screenshots and published build labels; purchases, farming routes and a complete playthrough have not been tested here.