You're standing on a cliffside in Izuhara. The wind is howling, red maple leaves are swirling around Jin Sakai’s cape, and three Mongols are charging at you with shields. You go to parry, but your thumb slips. Or maybe you're coming straight from Elden Ring or God of War and your brain keeps telling you that R1 should be your light attack, not Square. It’s frustrating. Honestly, it’s enough to make you drop the controller. The default layout in Ghost of Tsushima is fine for some, but if you want to play like a true wandering samurai, you need a setup that feels like muscle memory, not a math equation.
Learning how to set up custom controls in Ghost of Tsushima isn't just about making the game easier. It’s about immersion. When the buttons disappear from your mind and the katana becomes an extension of your hand, the game changes. You stop fighting the UI and start fighting the Khan.
The good news? Sucker Punch actually gave us some decent flexibility here, though it’s tucked away in menus that people usually skip over in their rush to pet the first fox they see. Whether you're on PS4, PS5, or the PC port via Nixxes, you have options.
The Reality of Ghost of Tsushima Custom Controls
Let’s get one thing straight: Ghost of Tsushima doesn't have a "remap every single button" screen like a competitive shooter might. Instead, it relies on presets. But don't let that discourage you. Between the in-game presets and the system-level remapping available on PlayStation and Steam, you can basically build whatever monster layout you want.
Most players hunt for this because the default "Melee" layout puts attacks on Square and Triangle. For players used to modern action-RPGs, having attacks on the face buttons feels "old school" in a way that doesn't always click. If you’ve spent 100 hours in Sekiro or Dark Souls, you want those triggers to do the heavy lifting.
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If you go into the Options menu and head to Gameplay, you’ll find the Control Layout toggle. This is your starting point. You’ve got "Default" and "Melee Alternate." Switching to Melee Alternate moves your light and heavy attacks to R1 and R2. This is a game-changer. Suddenly, your right thumb is free to stay on the R-stick. You can rotate the camera while swinging your blade. It feels fluid. It feels right.
Why the Melee Alternate Preset Wins
Switching to Melee Alternate is the first step in how to set up custom controls in Ghost of Tsushima effectively. It shifts the entire flow of combat. In the default setup, you're constantly jumping your thumb back and forth between the attack buttons and the camera stick. In a game where positioning and parrying are everything, that split second matters.
By moving attacks to the bumpers, you gain a few technical advantages:
- Camera Control: You can track multiple enemies without stopping your combo.
- Trigger Haptics: On the PS5 DualSense, feeling the resistance of a heavy strike on R2 is just satisfying.
- Parry Timing: For many, the physical "click" of L1 for parrying feels more responsive when it's mirrored by R1 for attacking.
But wait. There’s a catch. When you move attacks to the shoulders, your "Ghost Weapons" (like kunai or smoke bombs) usually get bumped to the face buttons. This takes some getting used to. You might accidentally throw a kunai when you meant to slash a Mongol. It happens. Give it an hour of gameplay near a bandit camp to let your brain rewire itself.
Going Deeper: System-Level Remapping
If the in-game presets aren't cutting it, you have to go "under the hood." This is the pro move.
On a PlayStation 5, you can go to Settings > Accessibility > Controllers > Custom Button Assignments. Here, you can literally swap any button for another. Want L2 to be your dodge? You can do that. Want Circle to be your jump? Go for it.
The downside? This changes the buttons for the entire console. If you switch Circle and X, you’ll be pressing Circle to "Confirm" in the PlayStation store. It’s a bit of a headache. However, if you use the "Controller Profiles" feature on the PS5 DualSense Edge, you can save a specific "Ghost" profile and toggle it on only when you’re playing as Jin.
PC players have it way easier. Steam Input is a godsend. You can remap every single input, set up long-presses, or even create "layers." For example, you could set the touchpad to trigger specific stances. It’s infinitely more powerful than the console version, but it requires a bit of tinkering in the Steam Overlay.
The "Expert" Layout Concept
If you’re looking for the most efficient way to play, try this hybrid logic:
- Use the Melee Alternate in-game preset.
- In system settings, swap the L1 (Parry) and L2 (Aim) if you prefer the "bumper for defense" feel common in Soulslikes.
- Set Toggle Button Holds in the accessibility menu. This makes it so you don't have to hold R2 to swap stances. It saves your fingers from cramping during long play sessions.
Accessibility and "Ease of Use" Tweaks
Custom controls aren't just about "getting gud." Sometimes, they're about making the game playable for everyone. Sucker Punch included some fantastic accessibility features that function like custom controls.
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Take the Mini-Game Difficulty. If you find the bamboo strikes annoying or the button prompts too fast, you can set them to "Simplified." This removes the time limit. Also, the Simplified Controls toggle for things like the grappling hook or sneaking can save you a lot of frustration.
One of the best hidden "control" tweaks is the Projectile Indicator. It’s not a button remap, but it changes how you interact with the game. It adds a visual cue when an archer is about to fire. In a custom control setup where you might be fumbling with a new dodge button, this visual aid is a lifesaver.
Common Mistakes When Remapping
Don't overcomplicate it. I've seen people try to map everything to the back paddles of a Pro controller and end up confusing themselves so much they can't finish a duel.
The biggest mistake? Forgetting the Stance menu. In Ghost of Tsushima, you hold R2 to bring up your stances (Stone, Water, Wind, Moon). If you remap R2 via the system settings without thinking about how it affects the stance-swapping mechanic, you might find yourself unable to change stances mid-fight. Always test your new layout in a safe area—like near a peaceful temple—before wandering into a high-level Mongol territory in Kamiagata.
Another trap is the "Toggle" vs. "Hold" settings. For some, toggling the bow aim is a dream. For others, it feels clunky. Play with the Aim Toggle setting in the Gameplay menu. It’s technically a control customization that changes the rhythm of your ranged combat significantly.
How to Set Up Custom Controls in Ghost of Tsushima: The PC Advantage
If you are on PC, the "Custom" in custom controls actually means custom. You aren't locked into what Sucker Punch thought was best. Using the Steam Input API, you can map the "Stance" commands to a radial menu on the right thumbstick.
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Imagine this: instead of holding a button and pressing a face button to change to Water Stance, you just flick the stick in a certain direction. It makes the combat feel 20% faster. You can also map the "Wind Call" (the guiding wind) to a button that actually makes sense to you, rather than the default touchpad swipe which can be finicky on some third-party PC controllers.
Actionable Steps for Your Best Setup
Stop sticking with the defaults just because they're there. If you want a better experience, do this right now:
- Switch to Melee Alternate: Go to Options > Gameplay > Control Layout. Try it for 20 minutes. Don't quit after two minutes.
- Enable Toggle Holds: In the Accessibility menu, turn on "Toggle Button Holds." This makes stance swapping and aiming feel way more modern.
- Adjust Camera Sensitivity: Custom controls feel better when the camera can keep up. Most pros bump the sensitivity up to "Fast" or "Very Fast."
- Check Accessibility: Turn on the "Projectile Indicator" and "Simplified Controls" if you find yourself struggling with the mechanical complexity of the game’s later acts.
- System Remap (Optional): If you're on PS5 and have a DualSense Edge, create a specific profile that swaps the face buttons for the back paddles. This allows you to jump and dodge without ever taking your thumb off the stick.
The beauty of this game is that it's meant to be cinematic. When you find the right control scheme, the HUD starts to fade away in your mind, and you're just... the Ghost. Take the time to tweak these settings. It's the difference between a frustrating afternoon and a flawless victory at Castle Kaneda.
Go into your settings menu and make these changes before your next encounter. Start with the Melee Alternate preset and see how the R1/R2 attack flow feels. If it clicks, you've just unlocked a much more fluid version of one of the best action games of the last decade. If it doesn't, you can always revert to default with a single click. There is no "right" way to play, only the way that feels natural to you.