Controls

From Wikidsouls

Overview

Before jumping into the game, you're going to want to know how to control your character and what actions are at your disposal. Below are some quick reference charts which will tell you just that.

Basic Controls

Control		Gameplay Actions	Menu Controls
Left Analog Stick		Move character	N/A
Right Analog Stick		Control camera	N/A
Directional Buttons	←	Change left-hand equipment	Navigate menus
	→	Change right-hand equipment
	↑	Change equipped magic
	↓	Change equipped item
✕		Interact with object or character	Confirm / Display command menu (Inventory)
O		Sprint / Roll / Backstep	Cancel
☐		Use equipped item	Toggle item list display / Remove equipment (Inventory)
Δ		Toggle one-handed/two-handed use	Toggle status display
R1		Right-hand or two-handed equipment action	Jump down in lists
R2		Right-hand or two-handed equipment action	Move to previous menu
L1		Left-hand equipment action	Jump up in lists
L2		Left-hand equipment action	Move to next menu
R3		Toggle targeting / Reset camera	N/A
START		Open main menu	Close main menu
SELECT		Use message system (when online)	Display help text (Status)
L3		Not used

Actions

There is a variety of different actions, both offensive and defensive, that the player can take when traversing the world of Demon's Souls. Make sure to familiarize yourself with all these in order to ensure you can handle any situation.

Left- and right-hand actions depend largely on the type of equipment in hand. These types include (melee) weapons, which can be small or large; shields, which can also be small or large; catalysts and talismans; and bows.

Note: All directional inputs (← ,→ ,↑ ,↓) or references to "a direction" are to be done with the Left Analog Stick, unless otherwise noted.

Action	Control	Notes
Standard Attack	R1 or L1	When wielded in the right hand, shields will attack as well. Only smaller weapons can attack with L1, and when they do, the attack will not combo like it will when using R1.
Strong Attack	R2 or L2	When wielded in the left hand, only large weapons and shields will attack.
Combo Attack	R1 (repeatedly)	Only weapons will combo. Each weapon type has a unique string of attacks that will occur.
Cast Magic	R1 or L1	Catalysts and talismans will attack if L2 or R2 is used.
Ready Bow	R1 or L1	The button used depends on what hand the bow is wielded in. A bow must be readied before it can be shot or go into precision shooting mode.
Shoot Bow	R1 or R2	Regardless of what hand the bow was originally in, once readied, only R1 or R2 will shoot it. Hold the button to keep the bowstring held after drawing it. Moving will reset this.
Enter Precision Shooting Mode	L1 (L1 or Δ to exit)	This will go into a 1st person aiming mode, where the Right Analog Stick is used to aim. You can still move around with the Left Analog Stick in this mode.
Zoom In/Out with Readied Bow	↑/↓ (Directional Buttons)	Depending on the bow and arrows used, you can zoom in closer than what the arrows will actually hit. Although you can still hit faraway targets by aiming above them, if the target can't be hit with the aiming reticule placed directly on them, less damage will be done.
Backstab Attack	R1	Must be pressed when directly behind and near an enemy. Only works on humanoid enemies.
Shoving Attack	↑ + R1	This attack will push enemies away, leaving them in a temporary stun state. Rapiers and curved swords do a different attack instead, which will see your character backstepping afterwards.
Guard	L1	All shields can guard, but only larger weapons will do so.
Sprint	Hold ↑ + O	Sprinting consumes stamina. You will stop sprinting after your stamina is depleted. Your sprinting speed and startup time till the sprinting starts depends on your equipment burden. Being overburdened means you can't sprint at all.
Backstep	O	Backsteps are useful for evading short-range enemy attacks and being ready to quickly attack back.
Sprinting Attack	Sprint + R1 or Backstep then R1	Sprinting attacks don't have much of an advantage over standard attacks and are more of a variation attack that occurs when sprinting or after a backstep.
Roll	Tap a direction + O	You can roll in any direction, which is useful for evading attacks with greater range or area of effect. You are invincible while rolling, so you don't necessarily need to avoid an attack to avoid damage from it. This includes rolling through flames or lava.
Roll Attack	Roll then R1	Roll attacks are much like sprinting attacks in that they are merely a variation on attacking after a roll. Any increase in damage or stun is usually minimal.
Climb	Hold ↑ against object	Only certain short barriers can be climbed over. You'll have to experiment to find out which ones.
Parry	L2 upon being attacked	Only smaller weapons and shields can parry. In order to be successful, the parry must be executed right as an enemy's attack is about to hit you. Only melee attacks similar to the ones at your disposal can be parried.
Riposte	Parry then R1	A riposte is a special critical attack that can only be executed after a successful parry, while the enemy is stunned. Only melee weapons can riposte.
Switch On Targeting	R3 (press again to exit)	If an enemy is not around, then R3 will merely reset the camera behind your character.
Switch Targets	Any direction on Right Analog Stick while locked on	Press in the direction of the enemy you want to switch to.