Controls in Dark Souls 3 outline the input mechanisms for character movement, combat, and interactions within the game. While they remain largely similar to those in previous Souls titles, a few adjustments have been made to accommodate the introduction of Skills, which add unique combat abilities for each weapon. Listed below are details on the default control configurations for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Dark Souls 3 Controls
Dark Souls 3 Playstation Controls
Please click on the image above to enlarge it.
Above is the control layout for Dark Souls 3, as it was presented in Gamescom. The official screen showed an Xbox One/PC controller, so this custom piece is a PS4 approximation for the fans. We do not know if "Pause menu" actually means you could pause as this was disabled, it may simply be options. See the Wiki Article on Gestures and Skills for more information on those mechanics.
Please note that all control schemes are subject to change by the developer before release, and there may be specific control setup customization via in-game options.
Also for Asian users, Circle and X buttons are generally inverted.
- L2 is “Arts/Parry.” You have two stances with your shield, offensive and defensive. Selecting offensive will cause you to use a battle art, rather than parry. From the loading screen:
- Arts are unique to a weapon held in right hand or both hands. equip a kite round shield or wield two handed to perform arts. Some arts can be followed up with a special attack
- Parries are exclusive to small shields in left hand. Follow up with RB for riposte critical.
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Action
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| Left Stick
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Move Character
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| Right Stick
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Move Camera
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| R3
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Lock on/Camera reset
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| Right Stick
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Change Target
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| TouchPad (left)
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Open Gesture Menu
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| TouchPad (right)
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Open Start Menu
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| Options
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Open Menu
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| R1
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Attack with Right-hand weapon
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| R2
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Strong attack with Right-hand weapon
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| Left Stick + ○
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Roll
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| Left Stick + ○ (Hold)
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Dash
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| L3
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Jump
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| L1
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Attack with Left-hand weapon
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| L2
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Strong Attack with Left-hand weapon
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| D-pad up
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Switch Spells
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| D-pad left
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Switch Left-hand weapon
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| D-pad right
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Switch Right-hand weapon
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| D-pad down
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Switch Quick Items
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| □
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Use Item
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| △
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Two-hand weapon
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| ☓
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Interact
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| ○
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Backstep
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| Left Stick + R1
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Kick
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| Left Stick + R1
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Jump Attack
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Mechanical Tips for Dark Souls 3
- The Strength Bonus (Two-Handing): Pressing the two-hand button grants an effective 50% bonus to your current Strength stat (a 1.5x multiplier). This is an important mechanic especially with build theorycrafting, allowing you to wield heavy weapons that exceed your character's one-handed Strength requirements. Holding the button allows you to two-hand your left-slot equipment, granting access to its specific Weapon Art.
- The Riposte Buffer: To ensure a critical hit rather than a standard light attack after a parry or guard break, the recommended steps are as follows. Step forward into the enemy's hitbox, ensure the left joystick is in the neutral (center) position, and then press R1. Moving while pressing R1 can cause the game to interpret the input as a directional attack rather than a critical hit.
- Bow Aiming & Zoom: While aiming a bow manually with L1 / LB, pressing Up on the D-Pad triggers a zoom function. This is necessary for landing long-range headshots or pulling individual enemies from crowds without triggering a group aggro.
- Manual "Free-Aiming": The engine’s automatic lock-on range can be restrictive. A solution is that by holding the Binoculars (L1 / LB), you anchor the camera and establish a fixed center-point on the screen. This allows you to manually aim spells or projectiles at targets far beyond the standard lock-on distance.
- Plunging Attacks: Dark Souls 3 features forgiving hit detection for aerial attacks. Once you are in a falling animation, simply pressing R1 / RB will cause the engine to track and trigger a plunging attack upon contact with an enemy below you
