Open the Emote Wheel During Gameplay

To use an emote in Forsaken on PC, hold down the V key while you are in the game world. This opens a circular menu—called the emote wheel—that displays all the emotes your character currently has unlocked. The wheel appears in the center of your screen and stays open as long as you hold V.

Once the wheel is open, move your mouse to highlight the emote you want to perform. The name of each emote appears when you hover over it. Release the V key or click on the emote to perform it. Your character will play the animation when ready, and other players in your area will see it.

You can open the emote wheel at almost any time during gameplay—while standing still, walking, or even in social spaces. The only exception is during combat encounters where your character is in active danger; the wheel may not open or may close automatically if enemies are nearby.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the V key to open the emote wheel, then move your mouse to select an emote and release to perform it.
  • Emotes are cosmetic animations that other players can see but do not affect gameplay or combat.
  • You unlock new emotes through the Season Pass, the Exotic Engram system, or by purchasing them from the in-game store.
  • If the V key conflicts with another game setting, you can rebind the emote wheel to a different key in the Controls menu under Settings.
  • Some emotes play a sound effect or animation that lasts several seconds, so use them in safe areas to avoid interruption.

Rebind the Emote Wheel Key if V Does Not Work

If the V key is already assigned to another action in your game or if you prefer a different key, you can change the emote wheel binding. Open the Settings menu from the main screen or pause menu, then select Controls. Scroll down to find the entry labeled Emote Wheel or Emotes.

Click on the current key binding (usually V) and press the key you want to use instead. Common alternatives are Z, X, C, or a mouse button if your mouse has extra buttons. The game will confirm the new binding when ready. Test it in gameplay to make sure the new key works and does not conflict with other actions.

If you ever want to return to the default V key, you can reset all controls to their original state from the same Controls menu, though this will reset every keybind you have changed.

Unlock New Emotes Through the Season Pass and Store

Emotes are cosmetic rewards that you unlock through several paths. The Season Pass grants emotes at certain reward tiers as you progress through the season by playing activities and earning experience. You can view which emotes are available in the current season by opening your Season Pass menu and scrolling through the reward list.

The Exotic Engram system also awards emotes randomly when you decrypt Exotic Engrams at the Cryptarch. These emotes are rarer and often have unique animations. You can also purchase emotes directly from the Eververse Store using Silver (premium currency) or Bright Dust (earned through gameplay). The store rotates its inventory regularly, so emotes you see one week may not be available the next.

Once you own an emote, it appears in your emote wheel permanently and is available on all your characters. You do not need to own the Season Pass to use emotes you have already unlocked; the pass only determines which new ones you can earn.

Perform Emotes in Social Spaces Without Interruption

Social spaces like the Tower or Enclave are the best places to use emotes because you will not be interrupted by combat or movement. Stand in a clear area away from other players if you want others to see your emote clearly, since animations can be blocked by the environment or other characters.

Some emotes are longer than others—a few last only one or two seconds, while others play for five seconds or more. If you are in a public area and want to use a long emote, position yourself where you will not block doorways or high-traffic zones. Other players can still move around you, but they may have to navigate around your character.

Emotes do not affect your ability to move or act once they finish playing. If you need to leave quickly, you can cancel an emote by moving your character or pressing any action key, though this will cut the animation short.

Use Emotes to Communicate With Other Players

Emotes are one of the main ways to communicate non-verbally in Forsaken. Common emotes like waving, pointing, or sitting are useful for greeting other players, directing attention, or showing approval. If you see another player using an emote, you can respond with your own emote to have a brief social interaction.

In group activities like strikes or dungeons, emotes can signal readiness or celebrate a successful encounter. Some players use specific emotes as inside jokes or to mark their clan identity. Since emotes are visible to everyone in your area, they work across language barriers and do not require voice chat or text.

Emotes are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay, so using them is entirely optional. They exist for fun and social expression, not for any mechanical advantage.

Troubleshoot If Your Emote Wheel Does Not Open

If pressing V does not open the emote wheel, first check that you are not in a menu or cutscene. The emote wheel only works during active gameplay in the world. If you are in the world and V still does not work, verify that V is still bound to the emote wheel by opening Settings and checking the Controls menu.

If another action is bound to V, the game may prioritize that action over the emote wheel. Rebind one of the conflicting keys to resolve this. If you have recently updated your graphics drivers or game files, try restarting the game to may support all controls are loaded correctly.

If the emote wheel opens but appears empty or frozen, you may not have any emotes unlocked yet. New characters start with a small set of default emotes, but if you see none, check your inventory or the Season Pass menu to confirm you own at least one emote. If you still see nothing, restart the game and check again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emotes during combat or in dungeons?

You can open the emote wheel at any time, but performing a long emote during active combat will leave your character vulnerable. In dungeons and strikes, use emotes only in safe areas or after encounters are complete. Short emotes may finish before enemies reach you, but longer ones will interrupt your ability to move or attack.

Do emotes cost anything to use once I own them?

No. Once you unlock an emote through the Season Pass, Exotic Engrams, or the store, you can use it as many times as you want at no additional cost. There is no cooldown or limit on how often you perform an emote.

Can I see emotes that other players perform?

Yes. Any emote performed by another player in your area will play on their character and you will see it. You do not need to own the same emote to watch someone else perform it.

What if I want to use an emote but do not have the Season Pass?

You can still use any emotes you have unlocked through other means, such as Exotic Engrams or the Eververse Store. The Season Pass is only one source of emotes; it is not required to use emotes in general.

Do emotes work on all character classes?

Yes. Emotes are account-wide cosmetics, so any emote you own is available on all your characters—Titan, Hunter, and Warlock. The emote wheel and all your unlocked emotes appear the same way on every character.