![All Things Dark Souls II](../../images/titleDS2.jpg)
Optimize PC Keyboard and Mouse Controls for Dark Souls II
Updated November 27, 2023
Quick Index:
- Back to the Societal Enlightenment for Other Games
- Help! I Have Controller Buttons and/or Cannot Get Past Start!
INTRODUCTION
Hello!
Playing games is fun! But playing games that have issues with keyboard and mouse input on a computer is not so fun. So let us get down to business and optimize Dark Souls II for use with a regular keyboard and mouse so that we are not pulling our hairs out in frustration.
Please note that this article has nothing to do with controllers. If you are looking for controller support, you have not found it. Apologies!
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- CyberDiva -
HELP! I HAVE CONTROLLER BUTTONS AND/OR CANNOT GET PAST START!
When you first select New Game, you will notice that controller options are listed at the bottom of the screen. You may also notice that, beyond using the mouse to change the settings itself, it does not seem like you can save those settings without a controller.
But you CAN!
So... How do I save my settings?
- Right-Click anywhere inside the gray-brown settings box you are presented with.
- You will then be allowed to click Confirm to save your settings.
- This will take you to the next screen, where again you will have to Right-Click in order to Confirm your initial setting choices.
- Once you get into the game, you can use the instructions on this page to optimize your settings.
Important Note: You will not have the Confirm option via Right-Clicking once inside the game.
HOW TO SAVE KEYBINDINGS
Accept the fact that just selecting a new keybinding does not save your settings. Additionally, there is no button to click in order to make them save, either.
So, how do you get your keybindings to save?
If you double-left-click on your game screen outside of the menu options that you are changing, it actually saves.
Make sure that you are not double-clicking on any part of the menu.
Yes, you can set all of your options here before getting it to save.
You may get a message telling you that double-clicking is disabled. If you get this message, simply select the Yes option. That should fix the bug.
MOUSE BINDINGS
Note: To access your Mouse Binding settings, you must do the following:
- Log onto a character.
- Press the ESC (Escape) key.
- Use your arrows to select the pliers icon.
- Use your arrows to select Key Bindings.
- Press Enter.
- The computer mouse image under settings should be selected.
1. Set your mouse bindings.
* Make certain to set Disable Double Clicking to ON. You do this because it will generate a lot of lag otherwise. You may have to set this when you log back in. Sometimes there is a bug that changes this setting back to Off.
* You may leave the keybindings for Attack (Right Hand) and Attack (Left Hand) the way they are if you wish. I have, however, switched which clicks are used for each.
* Keep in mind: Attack (Right Hand) is your primary attack hand. Attack (Left Hand) is your secondary attack.
* Likewise, I have switched the order of the Strong Attack for left and right hand and set them to double-clicks. Set them to whatever you wish!
2. Set the following to Nothing:
- Use Item
- Interact
- Switch Right Weapon
- Switch Left Weapon
- Dash/Backstep/Roll
- Reset Camera / Target Lock / Release
- Open Start Menu
- Open Gesture Menu
- Jump
* I set everything else to Nothing because I do not wish my mouse to control these options. You will have a chance to set keybindings to these actions in other panels.
* Feel free to choose other mouse combinations for the rest of these settings.
KEYBOARD BINDINGS: MOVEMENT
Note: To access your Keyboard Binding: Movement settings, you must do the following:
- Log onto a character.
- Press the ESC (Escape) key.
- Use your arrows to select the pliers icon.
- Use your arrows to select Key Bindings.
- Press Enter.
- The running man image under settings should be selected.
Set your keyboard bindings for Movement to whatever you wish.
* IMPORTANT!!! Setting a jump keybind does not allow you to use that key to jump. In fact, setting the jump under Mouse Settings may not work, either! Call it bugs or bad programming, it matters not. So what is the deal with jumping?
* The only way to jump in the game is to hold down the Dash / Backstep / Roll button you have set and, once you have started sprinting, tap the sprint button again.
* Set your sprint button to something that you do not mind using as your jump button and can easily press.
KEYBOARD BINDINGS: CAMERA
Note: To access your Keyboard Binding: Camera settings, you must do the following:
- Log onto a character.
- Press the ESC (Escape) key.
- Use your arrows to select the pliers icon.
- Use your arrows to select Key Bindings.
- Press Enter.
- The man under a spotlight image under settings should be selected.
Set everything to random letters that you will never use.
KEYBOARD BINDINGS: SWITCHING
Note: To access your Keyboard Binding: Switching settings, you must do the following:
- Log onto a character.
- Press the ESC (Escape) key.
- Use your arrows to select the pliers icon.
- Use your arrows to select Key Bindings.
- Press Enter.
- The four boxes image under settings should be selected.
1. If you set any of the Switch Spells, Switch Items, Switch Left Weapon, or Switch Right Weapon options to your mouse (under Mouse Options), it does not matter what you set that same option on this screen to.
Or 2. If you set any of the Switch Spells, Switch Items, Switch Left Weapon, or Switch Right Weapon options to Nothing or random things you do not use (under Mouse Options), you must set a keybinding here.
* You will only ever really use either the mouse or the keyboard for these settings.
* There is never any need to use both keyboard and mouse settings unless you really like doing so.
* Because I already set these options to Nothing for the mouse, I need to set them to keybindings here and have done so.
KEYBOARD BINDINGS: ATTACKS
Note: To access your Keyboard Binding: Attacks settings, you must do the following:
- Log onto a character.
- Press the ESC (Escape) key.
- Use your arrows to select the pliers icon.
- Use your arrows to select Key Bindings.
- Press Enter.
- The man with a sword image under settings should be selected.
1. Only set these if you have not already set them under Mouse options:
- Attack (Right Hand)
- Strong Attack (Right Hand)
- Attack (Left Hand)
- Strong Attack (Left Hand)
- Wield Right Weapon Two-Handed
2. The things you need to be sure to set here are:
- Use Item
- Interact
- Lock Guard
* Set these three options to whatever you wish, but absolutely set them.
KEYBOARD BINDINGS: BASIC MENU OPTIONS
Note: To access your Keyboard Binding: Attacks settings, you must do the following:
- Log onto a character.
- Press the ESC (Escape) key.
- Use your arrows to select the pliers icon.
- Use your arrows to select Key Bindings.
- Press Enter.
- The character panel image under settings should be selected.
1. For the most part, select whatever you want as your options.
Note only that Toggle Menu (Left) and Toggle Menu (Right) are useless to a gamer on a keyboard and mouse setup.