Optimal Setup for PS5 Players

Hi, all!

So I returned to the game a few weeks ago, and have been playing it on PS5. Previously, I played it on PC, and it's been quite a transition.

I am still getting used to the mechanics of playing with a controller, and tweaking settings, etc. However, I do have a keyboard and mouse combo hooked up as well - I don't really use the mouse, but I use the keyboard to chat during group content.

I am curious if there are any other users with the same setup that use the PS5 controller primarily, but still use the keyboard/mouse for more than just chatting, and if so, what gameplay elements they use them for. I am considering using the keyboard for target assist when I heal. I haven't delved a lot into macros for FF14, but I could see a keyboard being useful for that as well.

Any other suggestions? I've contemplated buying a tray for over my bed and just going back to playing on keyboard/mouse only on my PS5, but I'm trying to stick it through. I really like the analog sticks for movement so much more than WASD.

I play on PS5 primarily and use Keyboard and Mouse only. Many years ago I played on ps3 and played with Keyboard and controller, but I cant do it anymore.

To be honest I'm not sure how anyone plays on controller! Doesn't seem like there would be enough buttons... Do you guys use hella amounts of macros or something? :O

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Originally Posted by Aedwyn

To be honest I'm not sure how anyone plays on controller! Doesn't seem like there would be enough buttons... Do you guys use hella amounts of macros or something? :O

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The game is better optimized for controller then you might think. There are options that let you filter targetting to make the d-pad very quick for enemy/party selection, options to automatically change your hotbars based on whether your weapon is drawn or not, and an "expanded hotbar" option that gives you more slots to work with based on which L/R buttons youre holding down. Chatting on the virtual keyboard sucks(if you play on a PS5, strongly consider investing in a cheap wireless keyboard!), but everything else works just fine. And in fact, there are plenty of competitive savage and world-first level raiders who do indeed use the controller.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aedwyn

To be honest I'm not sure how anyone plays on controller! Doesn't seem like there would be enough buttons... Do you guys use hella amounts of macros or something? :O

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I only use <t> macros for area-skills (like Sacred Soil). There are so many buttons available in a second on controller. I have about 40 right away, could be more but I have some shared ones. I actually don't understand how people play on mouse and keyboard, I legit couldn't even make it through Sastasha before hooking up a controller on the PC before I went back to PS5.

I play exclusively on controller (I never had a gaming PC growing up, only consoles, so that's what I'm used to). I find keyboard very painful for my wrists (though I'm super envious of ya'll having buttons more visible).

That being said, I don't really have a problem with "lack of buttons." For me there's:

• Hold RT = Single targeting basic combo(s), distance closers, and commonly used buttons. (8 slots)
• Hold LT = AOE basic combo(s), ranged attack (on non-ranged classes), and commonly used buttons (tank shields, major heals, etc). (8 slots)
• Hold RT then LT = Other single targeting stuff (usually with longer cooldowns). (8 slots)
• Hold LT then RT = Other AOE stuff, more tank shields/healer heals, and run. (8 slots)
• Double tap RT = Mounts for overworld, tank invulns, other things I may use less but still want easy access to. (4 slots)
• Double tap LT = limit break, stances (including kardia/dance partner), summon carbuncle/fairy, tank invulns (again, so I can access easily from AOE or single). (4 slots)

This gives me about 40 slots to work with. Technically I could expand the double tap ones to 8 each also if I wanted. I tend to just put a tiny floating hotbar with certain major cooldowns purely for visual reference off to the side so I don't forget anything on the back bars (the show cross hotbar only really shows the double tap ones, and I prefer the hold one then the other more more commonly used stuff).

You can easily cycle between party members with up and down on the D-pad. I do have a shirk macro to just auto-pick second in party list, but that's more because I'm a tish lazy than it being difficult to do. I can position shukichi/healer bubbles/etc. just fine on controller.

I know PC players get pretty freaked out by console/controller play, but it's not nearly as limiting as it seems. They've done a really good job of making it comfortable. It just requires more messing with settings than PC does.

The one thing I will say if targeting can get a bit tough in crowds. PVP is a bit annoying since I can't just click who I wanna aim for. So I could see someone wanting to keep with mouse/keyboard for that, at least.

Ever since I played on PS3 a long time ago, I've been playing with a controller and a trackball. I use mouseover macros on L1 + D-Pad or double-tap L1 + D-Pad. I assigned L3 button (left analog stick press) a macro which swaps XHB1 and XHB2.

/macrolock
/crosshotbar copy share 2 share 4
/crosshotbar copy share 1 share 2
/crosshotbar copy share 4 share 1
/crosshotbar copy current 4 share 4

I also use XHB8 when holding R2 and L2. I assigned targeting macros on shared XHB8 and single target heals/buffs on non-shared XHB8.

Macro to heal current target or me:

/macrolock
/crosshotbar share 8 off <wait>
/crosshotbar share 8 on

Macro to heal <2>:

/macrolock
/target <2>
/crosshotbar share 8 off <wait>
/crosshotbar share 8 on
/targetlastenemy

These macros are to target a party member and make non-macro actions accessible.