Controller Layout
No Rest for the Wicked ships with full controller support suitable for solo Early Access progression, Cerim Crucible runs, and four-player Together Realms co-op. Moon Studios maps every combat action to shoulder buttons, triggers, and face buttons in a layout familiar to Souls-like players on console. This page documents the standard gamepad profile and offers tips for stamina management, lock-on camera control, and menu navigation without dying to input delays.
Face Buttons & Shoulders
Light attacks typically sit on the right shoulder (RB / R1), heavy attacks on the right trigger (RT / R2). Dodge rolls use the south face button (A / Cross), keeping your thumb ready to panic-roll — though disciplined players dodge intentionally rather than spamming. Jump, if applicable to terrain puzzles in Marin Woods, shares or neighbors dodge on some patches; verify in Settings.
Block and aim occupy the left trigger (LT / L2), consuming Focus while raised. Focus abilities map to the left shoulder (LB / L1) or a face button combination depending on weapon type. Staff casters channel Intelligence and Faith spells through the same trigger hierarchy — practice in Sacrament before Breach Hardcore where mistakes are punished harshly.
Movement & Camera
Left stick moves your character; right stick controls camera independently of lock-on. This decoupling helps track Cyvion during Cerim Crucible floor 10, where the boss leaps across arena pillars. Sprint pushes the left stick click (L3) or a dedicated binding. Equip Load still alters roll animation speed — heavy armor users feel the difference on controller just as on keyboard.
Lock-on toggles via the right stick click (R3) or equivalent. Swap targets with the right stick while locked to focus archers in Rookery encounters or shamans supporting Breach elites.
Menus & Inventory
The view / select button opens menus; bumpers cycle categories in inventory for weapons, armor, runes, and consumables. Socket runes and review enchantments here — see runes guide and how to enchant for workflows. Map access uses D-pad or menu shortcuts; fog reveals match keyboard progression across Nameless Pass and beyond.
Co-op Considerations
Together persistent Realms (January 2026) support up to four players with shared world state. Controller players should disable accidental menu opens during combat and use wired connections when possible to minimize input lag in dodge-critical fights. Party members on mixed input (keyboard + controller) face identical enemy scaling — coordinate poise break calls verbally when the enemy poise bar setting is enabled.
Controller vs Keyboard
- Advantages — Comfortable long sessions, analog camera finesse, couch co-op friendly.
- Trade-offs — Precise mouse camera snaps on keyboard can feel faster for PvE learning.
- Recommendation — Use what you will practice with; swap only during respec planning, not mid-Crucible.
Compare digital layouts on Regular keyboard and Alternative keyboard pages. For build stats affecting roll speed, visit dexterity build guide.
Controller Maintenance and Setup
Update controller firmware via platform tools — outdated firmware occasionally causes double-input in menus. Steam Input users disable conflicting profiles forcing non-game defaults. PlayStation DualSense and Xbox controllers both map to documented layout with platform-appropriate button glyphs in UI.
Stick Sensitivity Tuning
Increase camera stick sensitivity if losing track of Cyvion during leap phases. Decrease movement stick deadzone if slow walk fails to register on narrow Nameless Pass ledges. Sprint activation via stick click should be tested before marathon Breach sessions — accidental sprint drains Stamina before combat.
Controller-Specific Combat Drills
- Right stick camera orbit while maintaining lock-on on training enemy.
- RB light chain into RT heavy on poise break with poise bar enabled.
- LT block single hit monitoring Focus bar drop.
- A dodge through wide arc attack with medium Equip Load.
- LB Focus ability on stagger window only.
Steam Deck and Handheld Notes
Steam Deck controls match standard controller profile when Steam Input passthrough disabled. Verify no community layout overrides game bindings. Handheld sessions shorten effective play windows — prioritize hub crafting before portable sessions end abruptly without save-scum opportunities in online Realms.