Phantom Blade Zero controls: default buttons and keybinds
Updated
Phantom Blade Zero controls on PS5 put light attack on Square, heavy attack on Triangle, blocking on L1 and dodging on R1. On PC, the default keys are WASD to move, Left Mouse for light attack, Right Mouse to block or parry and Left Shift to dodge. The Fextralife fan wiki has the full PS5 list, and the phantom-blade-zero.xyz fan guide and the SteamToday fan guide add the PC keys, so the table below merges them with the Game8 list and the Keymap layout page.
Phantom Blade Zero controls table for PS5 and PC
The table lists each action with its default PS5 button and default PC key, grouped roughly by movement, combat and menus. A dash means no key for that platform was given in text on the pages checked, so look at the in-game Controls menu for those rows.
| Action | PS5 | PC |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Left Analogue Stick | WASD |
| Sprint | Hold Left Analogue Stick + R1 | Hold Left Shift while moving |
| Light attack | Square | Left Mouse |
| Heavy attack | Triangle | F |
| Block and parry | L1 (hold to block, tap to parry) | Right Mouse (hold to block, tap to parry) |
| Dodge | R1 | Left Shift |
| Interact or talk | Circle | E |
| Jump or special movement | Cross | Space |
| Power Surge | L2 | Q |
| Phantom Edges | R2 | Left Ctrl |
| Special skill 1 | L1 + Triangle | — |
| Special skill 2 | L1 + Square | — |
| Crouch | L3 | C |
| Run or walk | Left Analogue Stick | Alt (toggles walk and run) |
| Lock on | R3 | Middle Mouse |
| Switch lock-on target | Left or right on Right Analogue Stick | — |
| Rotate camera | Right Analogue Stick | Mouse |
| Assassinate | — | — |
| Chain assassinate | — | — |
| Switch primary weapon | D-pad Left | 1 |
| Switch Phantom Edge | D-pad Right | 2 |
| Use lower or upper medicine | Down D-pad or Up D-pad | R and T |
| Mind's Eye | Swipe up on the Touchpad | — |
| Open map | Touchpad | M |
| Use items | — | — |
| Open menu | — | — |
| Equipment menu | — | Esc |
Lock on, camera and special skills
On PS5, press R3 to lock on, then move the Right Analogue Stick left or right to switch targets, as the Fextralife fan wiki lists. The Right Analogue Stick also rotates the camera. On PC, the Middle Mouse button locks on, per the SteamToday fan guide, and the Game8 controls list says the mouse can move the camera too.
The two special skills use L1 with a face button. L1 with Triangle is Special Skill 1, and L1 with Square is Special Skill 2, according to the Fextralife fan wiki. The PC tables do not list a key for either one.
Map, medicine and Mind's Eye
On PS5, the Touchpad opens the map and a swipe up on it activates Mind's Eye, per the Fextralife fan wiki. The D-pad uses medicine: Down D-pad for the lower medicine and Up D-pad for the upper medicine.
On PC, M opens the map and the R and T keys drink the lower and upper medicine slots, as the phantom-blade-zero.xyz fan guide and the SteamToday fan guide both list.
Blocking, parrying and dodging
Blocking and parrying share one button. Hold L1 (or Right Mouse on PC) to block, and tap it just before an attack lands to parry. The SteamToday fan guide and the phantom-blade-zero.xyz fan guide both describe this tap timing.
Dodging is R1 on PS5 and Left Shift on PC. The Game8 controls list notes that dodging does not consume Sha-Chi, which makes it the cheaper way out of a hit.
- Hold L1 to block. Continuous blocking consumes Sha-Chi.
- Tap L1 just before a strike lands to parry. A parry does not consume Sha-Chi.
- Tap R1 to dodge. Dodging does not consume Sha-Chi.
Sprinting, crouching and stealth
On PS5, sprint by holding the left stick with R1. On PC, Left Shift does both jobs: tap it to dodge, and hold it while you move to sprint, as the phantom-blade-zero.xyz fan guide and the Game8 controls list describe.
Crouching lowers the chance that enemies notice you. The Game8 controls list says crouching reduces detection by moving low and slowly, and that tall grass gives extra cover. Crouch is L3 on PS5 and C on PC. The same guide advises against sprinting while you play stealthily.
Weapon switching and Sha-Chi refill
With two main weapons equipped, D-pad Left on PS5 or key 1 on PC switches between them and fully refills Sha-Chi, according to the phantom-blade-zero.xyz fan guide. The switch has a short cooldown, so use the refill on purpose rather than as a repeatable block.
Switching Phantom Edge uses the Right D-pad on PS5 and key 2 on PC.
Changing the Phantom Blade Zero controls layout
Control Scheme 1 is the default layout, and players can save a custom mapping in the Options menu, per the Game8 controls list. On PC, the default preset cannot be edited, so choose Custom 1 or Custom 2 under Settings, then Controls, then Button Bindings, as the phantom-blade-zero.xyz fan guide explains.
On PS5, the Controller Layout row cycles through presets, and Controller Preset 1 is the default, according to the Keymap layout page.
Where the fan guides disagree
Two labels differ between the guides. The phantom-blade-zero.xyz fan guide lists Circle as Execute on PS5, while the Fextralife fan wiki lists Circle as Interact or Talk. On PC, the same guide maps E to both Execute and Interact, while the SteamToday fan guide maps E to interact and F to execute at a prompt. Check the on-screen prompt before you rely on Circle or E for a finishing action.
Our take on the Phantom Blade Zero controls
If you learn only two pairs first, make them L1 hold versus tap and R1 tap versus hold. Holding L1 blocks and spends Sha-Chi, while tapping it parries without that cost. Tapping R1 dodges, and holding it while you move sprints. Once those two pairs feel automatic, the rest of the table is a lookup.
Frequently asked questions
What are the default Phantom Blade Zero controls on PS5?
On PS5, light attack is Square and heavy attack is Triangle. L1 blocks or parries, R1 dodges, L2 uses Power Surge, and R2 uses Phantom Edges. Cross jumps, Circle interacts or talks, and L3 crouches.
What are the PC keybinds for movement and combat?
On PC, WASD moves, Left Mouse is light attack, and F is heavy attack. Right Mouse blocks or parries and Left Shift dodges. Space jumps, Q uses Power Surge, and Left Ctrl uses Phantom Edge.
How do I parry with the Phantom Blade Zero controls?
Tap L1 on PS5 or Right Mouse on PC just before an attack lands. Holding the same button blocks instead, and continuous blocking consumes Sha-Chi while a parry does not.
How do I sprint or dodge in Phantom Blade Zero?
On PS5, tap R1 to dodge and hold R1 while moving to sprint. On PC, tap Left Shift to dodge and hold it while moving to sprint.
Can I change the Phantom Blade Zero controls?
Yes. Control Scheme 1 is the default, and custom mappings can be saved in the Options menu. On PC, the default preset cannot be edited, so choose Custom 1 or Custom 2 first.
What happens when I switch primary weapons?
With two main weapons equipped, switching with D-pad Left on PS5 or key 1 on PC fully refills Sha-Chi. The switch has a short cooldown, so it cannot be repeated instantly.
Sources
- Controls | Phantom Blade Zero checked 2026-11-01
- List of Controls | Phantom Blade Zero (PBZ)｜Game8 checked 2026-11-01
- Phantom Blade Zero Controls: PS5 Controller Layout & Settings checked 2026-11-01
- Phantom Blade Zero Controls: Full PS5 and PC Button Layout checked 2026-11-01
- Phantom Blade Zero Controls: Full Button Maps for PS5 and PC checked 2026-11-01
- Phantom Blade Zero Controls for PC and Controller (Full Key Bindings) checked 2026-11-01