Welcome to the complete controls guide for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice! To survive the lethal encounters across Ashina, mastering your mobility, deflection timing, and reflexes is absolute paramount.
Below is a complete breakdown of every single input mapped out across PlayStation (PS4/PS5), Xbox, and PC (Keyboard & Mouse).
1. Core Movement & Evasion
- Move: Use the Left Stick (PlayStation / Xbox) or W, A, S, D (PC).
- Sprint (Run Fast): Hold down the Dodge button (Circle on PS, B on Xbox, Shift on PC) while moving your character to sprint indefinitely.
- Dodge / Step-Dodge: Tap the Dodge button (Circle / B / Shift) while moving in any direction to perform a quick evasive dash.
- Jump: Press the Jump button (X on PS, A on Xbox, Spacebar on PC).
- Wall Jump / Head Stomp: Press the jump button while in mid-air against a flat wall to vault higher, or press it right above an enemy performing a sweep attack to bounce off their head for massive posture damage.
2. Essential Combat Mechanics
- Attack: Press the Attack button (R1 on PS, RB on Xbox, Left Mouse Button on PC).
- Deflect / Guard: Press the block button (L1 on PS, LB on Xbox, Right Mouse Button on PC) just as an attack lands to perform a Deflect. If you hold the button down, you will simply guard against standard attacks, but your posture will build up faster.
- Mikiri Counter: Must be unlocked from the Shinobi Arts tree. When an enemy performs a perilous thrust attack (indicated by a glowing red danger symbol 危), press the dodge button (Circle / B / Shift) right before the strike lands. Pushing the movement stick directly toward the attacker allows you to step on his blade for massive posture damage.
- Use Shinobi Prosthetic: Press the Prosthetic button (R2 on PS, RT on Xbox, Ctrl on PC) to deploy your equipped arm tool.
- Switch Prosthetic Tool: Press the switch button (Triangle on PS, Y on Xbox, Z on PC) to instantly cycle through your three equipped tools.
- Lock-On: Press the Right Stick down (R3 / RS) or the Middle Mouse Button to lock onto an enemy so your attacks and deflects always face them.
3. Exploration & Swimming
- Grappling Hook: Look for circular green grapple icons on rooftops, trees, or ledges and press the Grapple button (L2 on PS, LT on Xbox, F on PC) to quickly zip toward them.
- Vacuum Loot (Collect Sen/Items): Hold down the Action button (Square on PS, X on Xbox, E on PC) to automatically suck up dropped gold and items from defeated enemies.
- Swim Fast: Once in a body of water, hold down the Dodge/Dash button (Circle / B / Shift) to paddle faster across the surface.
- Dive Underwater: Requires the Mibu Breathing Technique (unlocked by defeating Corrupted Monk). Once acquired, press the Prosthetic button (R2 / RT / Ctrl) to dive below the surface, hold Sprint to swim fast underwater, and press Jump (X / A / Space) to resurface.
- Crouch / Stealth: Press the Crouch button (L3 / LS / Q on PC) to enter stealth mode, allowing you to hide in tall grass and sneak up on enemies for instant deathblows.
Quick Reference Input Table
| Action |
PlayStation |
Xbox |
PC (K&M) |
| Attack | R1 | RB | Left Mouse |
| Deflect / Guard | L1 | LB | Right Mouse |
| Dodge / Sprint | Circle | B | Shift |
| Jump / Vault | X | A | Spacebar |
| Prosthetic Tool | R2 | RT | Ctrl |
| Switch Tool | Triangle | Y | Z |
| Grapple | L2 | LT | F |
| Loot (Vacuum) | Square (Hold) | X (Hold) | E (Hold) |
| Crouch / Stealth | L3 | LS | Q |
| Lock-On | R3 | RS | Middle Mouse |
Practice these fundamentals with Hanbei the Undying at the Dilapidated Temple until they become second nature!
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