Two skill don't seem to work. Why?

I'm new and stupid, but I do ask questions.

I've gone through the first series of areas and am back at Lioneye's Watch.

I'm trying to figure out my best key combos. There are two lists I have. The first is in the Options/UI = Bound Skill 1 - 13. The next is the key assignments in the bottom right Info box with the Info button. This, also, has 13 spaces. But no matter what I do in one, it doesn't seem to make much difference in the other.

The question is = how come Cleave and Vigilant Strike show up in the Info box, but I can't assign them to anything except to replace another skill? They seem to be in skill slots 6 and 9, but when I assign keys for them in the UI it doesn't work. There doesn't seem to be any more slots available in the Info box

I'm using a 2-handed Axe in case that's an issue.

I may not be understanding your question, but let's give it a shot...

The Options > Input box allows you to assign hot keys to bound skill slots.

The lower right bars allow you to assign the skills you want in those slots.

If you want Cleave on "Q", you left click the Q button in the lower right, and then left click Cleave from the panel of skill choices. (This will replace anything else that was previously assigned to Q.)

But if you want Cleave on, say, the "C" button, you will need to BOTH assign "C" to a slot, and then assign Cleave to that slot.

Slots that require <ctrl> are accessed by holding down <ctrl> first, then choosing a skill in the normal way. And of course you can change the hotkey in the Input interface.

If you're still having problems, say more.

In the lower right the should be a chapter on each of the skill icons that notate what they are bound to in options. Also, make sure to hit accept when changing them in options. Everything must have a keybind, so if you say bind skill 1 to 1, then you have to give flask 1 a different binding before the game accepts it.

Here's what I have set.

In Options > Input
Bound Skill 1 = LMB (grayed out - can't change)
Bound Skill 2 = MMB
Bound Skill 3 = RMB
Bound Skill 4 = Tab
Bound Skill 5 = 2
Bound Skill 6 = 3
Bound Skill 7 = R
Bound Skill 8 = 4
Bound Skill 9 = F
Bound Skill 10 = Z
Bound Skill 11 = Ctrl-E
Bound Skill 12 = Ctrl-R
Bound Skill 13 = Ctrl-T

In the SHOP Box the pattern looks like this.
.Default..|......MMB.....|...-----
............|......Sweep...|..Cleave
--------------------------------------
....Ctrl-R....|......Tab.....|......R
Punishment|.....Dash.....|...Phase Run
--------------------------------------
..3 and F..|......-----.....|...LMB and Z
Vaal M Sh.|.Vig. Strike..|....Cyclone
--------------------------------------
...------..|.4 and Ctrl-E.|.....RMB
Molten St.|.Steel Skin...|.Rallying Cry
--------------------------------------
...Ctrl-T...|.......2........|...Default
Inf Blow..|.Molten Shell.|

No matter what I do I can't seem to get rid of the double controls. They are NOT tied in the Options > Input. They only display the Options > Input in the icons on the face of the SHOP box. But when I click on one of those boxes to open up the grid pattern to go into it, that's where the double controls show up along with the ------ (no control). At the same time I can't see any way to assign Cleave or Vigilan Strike to any useable key. I don't seem to have Molten Strike, either, but it's linked to Dash in my gear so I don't know if that's important or not.

Correct, the assignment of a skill to a hot key has nothing to do with the Options > Input panel. (Although you obviously can't assign a skill to a hot key that you have not defined as a hot key in the Input panel.)

Assuming you like the above hot keys defined in your Input panel and plan to keep them...

Let's say you want to put Cleave or Vigilant Strike on your "2" key:

.. Left click on the "2" button in the lower right panel (should be second from left in the second row, because that is where bound skill 5 always goes)

.. Left click on the Cleave (or VS) icon from among the choices that pop up

Cleave (or VS) will replace Molten Shell in that slot, and should work whenever you hit "2".

Now let's say you want to get rid of the double assignment on Cyclone, which you can currently activate with either the LMB or the Z key. There are two ways to do this. You could assign something else to one of those hot keys by following the process above. Or, supposing you want to just drop the Z key assignment to Cyclone without assigning anything else to Z:
.. Hold down the <ctrl> key to bring up the second set of choices for the bottom row of the lower right panel.
.. Left click the Cyclone icon, which happens to be second from left in the second row here as well.
.. Click the "X" (Clear this slot) button that appears below all the skill choices
That slot should now be clear and Cyclone should only have the LMB assigned to it

You should be able to assign any gem you have equipped to any button using the steps above. You may not be able to USE the skill for a variety of reasons. For example, you need an axe or sword equipped to use Cleave, any melee weapon for Vigilant Strike, etc. And if you have a skill set up to trigger, say on CWDT, you can still assign it to a button, but there's no point because you cannot cast it manually.

Just to be clear (maybe) when you are in options, you are assigning keys to the UI buttons, not to the skills. You then assign skills to those buttons.

For example the top 3 buttons by default are LMB, MMB and RMB. I have had issues with using the middle mouse button (it's not designed for that much pressing I think) so I have the middle button assigned to SpaceBar.

So, LMB, SB, RMB, set in options. Now, in game I assign skills to those buttons, normally the 'move to here' action, then a movement skill (flame dash, leap slam, etc.) and finally main attack.

For me the lower buttons are assigned skills based on a pretty consistent pattern to minimize finger retraining between alts. I have my buffs on the ctrl-buttons (love that change!).

As noted above, when you click on the UI button you are given your skill options based on which gems you have equipped without regard for if you can actually use them. Best bet is to change them in your hideout where you can see if they are active or not. In town everything is disabled.

"

Best bet is to change them in your hideout where you can see if they are active or not. In town everything is disabled.

Yes - this might easily catch a new player.

Thanks for the details. That fixed it.

The simple CTRL key to bring up the second set of skill buttons was something I didn't find anywhere else. Also, the idea of using the Hideout to test skills which are disabled in town isn't listed anywhere I read.

The two new (to me) controls were the key. I hate to think how many more will eat my rear before I learn what I'm doing. Thank God for the Forum.