FF14 Comprehensive Controller Guide
By Squintina Nightgard ~ Faerie
Welcome! Final Fantasy XIV is fairly well suited for playing on controller and I would highly recommend trying it out. While SE does provide a “PS4 Basic controls” guide, and it does have a good amount of in-game controller help, some things are not mentioned or aren’t clear. So this is my attempt at a super-comprehensive guide.
Yes I will be updating the guide in Shadowbringers! Aiming for July 9th.
If you find any issues, you can reach me at https://twitter.com/SquintinaTTV
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/8rd0xj/ff14_comprehensive_controller_guide/
Table of Contents
FF14 Comprehensive Controller Guide
Part 1: Controller Basics – System Configuration
Part 2: Character Config – Control Settings – General Tab
Do I pick Standard Type or Legacy Type?
Other settings in Character Config – Control – General
Part 2.5: Character Config – UI Settings – General Tab
Part 3: Controller Basics – Map, Questing, Inventory and other Basics
Handing in Quest Items and Collectables
Managing Inventory and Retainers
Scenario 2: Retainer Inventory
Scenario 3: Quests / Collectables / Supply And Provisioning Hand-Ins
Part 4: Introduction to the Cross Hotbar
Part 5: Cross hotbar Configuration – Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings
Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings – Cross
W Cross Hotbar Display Settings
Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings – Custom
Expanded Hold Controls (Cannot Use Toggle Type)
Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings – Sharing
Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings – Display
Part 6: Assigning actions/items/stuff to crossbar
Assigning an action via controller
Switching action locations or removing them
Part 7: Assigning Actions to a Keyboard Hotbar
Part 8: Targeting via Controller
Soft Targeting vs Hard Targeting
Part 9: Advanced Targeting: Character Config- Control Setting – Target
Target Type: Target Closest Enemies
Ground Targeting Settings (Gamepad Mode)
Part 10: Advanced Targeting: Character Config – Control Setting – Filters
Part 11: Macros that help for controller play
Part 12: Other Control schemes – Eureka, Command Missions, Deep Dungeon, Gold Saucer, Gpose
Part 13: My Setups – Opinion section.
Squintina’s Crossbar Philosophy
Part 14: M/KB vs Controller – Opinion section
Part 15: How to configure PS4 controller on PC
Part 16: How to set up Xbox controller on PC
Part 17: How to set up Other controllers on PC via X360ce
But what if it can’t find something online or it doesn’t come out quite right?
The game’s recognizing the controller but it’s acting strange
Part 18: PC Resolving Issues – Intermittent Behavior
Part 19: Connecting a controller for Mac version?
Part 20: Connecting a controller for PS4 version?
Before we get into the guide itself, let’s take care of a few misconceptions:
Common Misconceptions
If you are currently a mouse and keyboard player
You will be terrible at controller play at first. This is normal. If you’ve been playing FF14 (and other mmos) via mouse & keyboard, you will already have a lot of habits and muscle memory to help you become faster. If you are switching to controller, all those need to be relearned – and it’ll take extra time if it’s your first time! Don’t give up if it feels clunky after playing for 1 hour.
When I made the switch, it took a few days. Not only that but later on I had to switch back to mouse & keyboard for a little, and even that took me a few days. Muscle memory is an amazing thing that can easily fool people into thinking something they have not done at all (or in a long while) is unviable when it simply isn’t.
Controller doesn’t mean PS4
Sometimes people will say things like “Oh, I don’t play controller, I’m on PC”, when what they should say is that they’re a M/KB player or Controller player. Both systems can play mouse, keyboard, and controller.
Switching to Controller doesn’t mean giving up Mouse and Keyboard for everything
As long as you have enough USB ports (or bluetooth) to support it all, you can use all 3. Like to play controller on battle jobs, but use mouse for crafters? Totally doable. Prefer mouse and keyboard for combat but you wish it was faster to put items away in a retainer? Controller’s there for that.
As a controller player, I use my mouse and keyboard not just for chatting, but for also for PVP and crafting – and sometimes for playing when I forgot to recharge my controller. Even if you don’t use mouse and keyboard, you can still use the regular keyboard hotbars to put things like cooldown skills so you can see their timers at any time.
But someone told me “You can’t play as well on controller”
There will be a section at the end devoted to the debate for a more in-depth response, but the short answer is :You’re as good as what you practice to be good at. Everything has pros and cons, but if you practice enough, you can make whatever you pick be just as good as what someone else picked.
Let’s get started
Part 1: Controller Basics – System Configuration
Prerequisite: A controller is hooked up and the game recognizes it. While that may seem like it should have been part 1, it’ll be a large section only applicable to users who are having difficulty. PS4 users or PC users using a native xbox 360 or xbox one controller, or other controllers with excellent drivers, will have no such troubles so it makes sense to start where they can.
In this guide, I will try my best to write button directions in both PS4 and ABXY (Xbox) format – the 2 options available in the game. Unless otherwise stated, everything will be using default button configurations.
VIDEO GUIDE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkqB32JhJ4g
PS4
ABXY (Xbox)
Required Actions:
| Action | Icons | Text |
| Jump | PS4: TriangleXbox: Y | |
| Cancel | PS4: CircleXbox: B | |
| Select Target / Confirm | PS4: CrossXbox: A | |
| Open Map / SubcommandSubcommand just means submenus, the same as right clicking for mouse users. | PS4: SquareXbox: X | |
| Select HUD | PS4: Select/TouchpadXbox: Back | |
| Open Main Menu | PS4: Start/OptionsXbox: Start | |
| Highlight Left Hotbar | PS4: L2Xbox: LT | |
| Highlight Right Hotbar | PS4: R2Xbox: RT | |
| Auto Run | PS4: L1Xbox: LB | |
| Change Hotbar Set | PS4: R1Xbox: RB | |
| Navigating menus | D-pad | |
| Move Character | Left Analog | |
| Move Camera | Right Analog | |
| Virtual Mouse | + | PS4: L1 + R3Xbox: LB + R3 |
What’s R3?
When you click in your analog, that’s “3”. L3 = left analog click, R3 = right analog click.
Do note I didn’t list the actions associated with just clicking L3/R3. This will be explained shortly.
Using the above, let’s make our way to where you can configure this.
First, access the System Configuration Menu.
- Start
- Left D-pad (should end up on “System”)
- Confirm
- Down D-pad 4 times
- Confirm
If you have a mouse hooked up, of course feel free to use that. It’s easier and I would highly recommend using a mouse when it comes to configuring your game.
You want to make your way down to the Gamepad section.
Enable Gamepad
Obviously this enables the controller and it will be turned on. If it’s not turned on, you need to do so using a mouse.
Device
The controller you are using. If you have more than one hooked up I suppose.
Gamepad Type
Whether you want ABXY (Xbox set up) or one of the 2 PS4 setups
Changing between ABXY and either of the PS4 versions will change which button icons you see in help text, so please pick whatever suits you best (requires a restart of the application).
Keep gamepad enabled when client is inactive
Keeps the controller working even if you tab out of the game or click on another program window – this is mostly an option just for PC players. Entirely up to your preference.
Enable vibration
Whether or not you want your controller to vibrate (if it can)
Enable Auto run
The Auto Run button is a required button. That being said, you can disable it here. Unfortunately you cannot reassign that button to another action, but if you’re afraid of accidentally auto-running this would be the place to turn that off.
Enable window zoom via R3
If you’re in a window (like the inventory menu for example) and you press R3 , it cycles through different sizes.
If you disable that, it will not.
Analog Stick Sensitivity
How much your camera moves with your analog stick. Because this is a System setting and applies to everyone, if you’re sharing with others, it’s best to pick something around the middle and let other players adjust more in the Character Configuration “Turn Speed” instead.
Enable Virtual Mouse
Enables a mouse cursor that’s controllable via the controller.
To enter virtual mouse mode, use + . (it’s also the command for exiting)
You can then use for left clicking, for right clicking.
If you disable it, the command will no longer enter virtual mouse mode.
Funny enough: If you turn on virtual mouse, then disable it in config, it doesn’t turn it off. And because the command no longer works, you can’t turn it off :D. So you have to re-enable it, turn it off, and then re-disable it.
Calibration
Takes you through a series of tasks asking you to press your buttons to assign them. This is mostly useful for PC players using other controllers that have emulation going (such as me using a Switch Pro controller via x360ce).
Button Configuration
Takes you to the button layout.
Please note that your configuration options are limited. The required actions are always required and must always be a part of that group.
There are essentially 4 groups
- Triggers and bumpers – for autorun and hotbar set up
- Face buttons – for selecting, jumping, menus, etc…
- Analogs – moving character or camera
- L3/R3 – actual real customizations!
I would highly recommend to keep everything as default except for L3 and R3.
By default, those are Draw Weapon/Lock On and Change Camera. Unless you really like Lock On, those are fairly useless (and could honestly be moved to macros you end up putting on your hotbars).
You will see the options and easily the better ones are:
- Face Target
- Assist Target
- Face Camera
- **** Execute Macro 98
- **** Execute Macro 99
**** My personal recommendations.
We’ve gone through all of the controller configuration available at a System Configuration – level (and because these are System Configs, changing them will change them for all players. So if you are sharing with someone else, and they do not like your set up, be prepared to change this often until you convince them that your way is better).
I will also add that having one of them be a Sprint macro is super useful.
There are more configuration options in the Character config.
Part 2: Character Config – Control Settings – General Tab
I will be covering most of the Character Config, such as targeting, in a different section. However there are a few things worth checking out immediately so we’ll do Character Config -> Control Settings -> General tab now.
If you go to character config, there is a small icon switch for “Mouse mode” or “Gamepad mode”. Both of which are usable with a controller but they do change certain things. Most of it is cosmetic, though there is one feature (the map) that does change its behavior slightly.
Gamepad mode
In Gamepad mode, the system menu is no longer on the screen as a HUD component, but becomes available as a gigantic menu when pressed.
Help text will use gamepad buttons, and new help text will exist for features like the map to help you out. (Not everything is listed, but most are).
In gamepad mode, keyboard shortcuts with letters/numbers no longer work and by default it will assume you are typing into the chat when you press a key (though that can be changed).
Gamepad mode is great if you’re far away, or if you’re still learning controls (though I do have them in the next section of the guide as reference).
Mouse mode
In Mouse Mode, you retain the system menu that is seen by default for PC users.
All help text will also be assuming you have mouse and keyboard.
Keyboard shortcuts keep working.
Mouse mode is ideal for players who just prefer the look.
If you are in mouse mode and you like the idea of the system menu only showing up when you press the Menu button, you can do so by going to UI Settings and having Display Main Menu turned off.
What mode do I pick?
What you choose is up to your personal preference.
Do note that all the differences between gamepad mode and mouse mode are default differences, they’re all customizable. The only full uncustomizable difference is the help text. Not only that but these settings are stored separately. So if you’re moving from mouse to gamepad and are afraid of changing you config, everything in Character Config’s “Control”,”UI Settings” and “Hotbar settings” is stored independently for each mode.
I used to prefer Mouse mode before I realized all of the above. Now I use gamepad mode and I have everything set the same between the 2 modes so that the only difference I have if I switch is the help text.
Standard Type VS Legacy Type
Another basic character config relevant to controller play is Standard Type vs Legacy type (found in the Control Settings section).
Standard Type will have a camera that mostly controls itself and your movements are based on you. Because of this, pressing down will make you do a backstep. Your character will also strafe instead of turn.
Legacy Type will have a camera that doesn’t move as much on its own and you’ll have to control it more. Since you are on controller, that should be fairly natural as it’s no different than console games that use both analog sticks. This mode will also make you move down when you press down instead of doing a backstep.
Do I pick Standard Type or Legacy Type?
You might be expecting a “pick whatever you like best” and normally I would favor letting people choose what they’re comfortable with… but not for this.
If you’re not interested in difficult content, sure. Do whatever you want.
If you are interested in any current-tier content of Extreme, Savage, or Ultimate difficulty however (or older tiers actually synced), it’s very much recommended to use Legacy type. This is especially true on controller where you won’t move your camera as quickly (unless you have crazy good reflexes and turn up the sensitivity).
You will dodge mechs a lot faster with a Legacy Type – and because you are on controller it should feel very natural. This is one of the main benefits of controller and it only applies if you are on Legacy Type – so make sure you’re on it.
Note: Standard Type might be better for jump puzzles because that slow backstep can help you not fall off if you need to adjust for a jump.
Other settings in Character Config – Control – General
Whether typing a letter allows you to use keyboard shortcuts or if it’ll always assume you’re chatting.
So Off = I can use keyboard shortcuts. If I want to chat, I need to hit enter first.
On = any keyboard entry will go to chat.
While this may seem out of place for a controller guide, you might still want a keyboard around to chat and do quick shortcuts and it’s ON by default in Controller Layout, and OFF by default in Mouse layout.
Beyond the others, you can also change your analog axis directions.
And turn speed:
Part 2.5: Character Config – UI Settings – General Tab
Including here because it’s such a small section (as far as things that specifically affect controller play):
As mentioned in Part 2, Mouse Mode + Display Main Menu means the mouse mode’s Main Menu is visible at all time. If you turn it off, it’ll be visible only when you press the main menu button.
Map Settings “Reverse analog sticks” are pretty self-explanatory. Edit as you prefer.
Part 3: Controller Basics – Map, Questing, Inventory and other Basics
Now that we have the absolute basic settings done (and you’ve chosen your Mode), here’s how to do certain things. People in gamepad mode will notice most of these on the various help text, but there might be a few new unwritten ones you will see.
Screenshots
| Hide HUD | + |
| Take a screenshot | + |
So if you want to take really pretty environment screenshots, do + ->.
Using your Map
| Move within the map | |
| Move slowly within the map | + |
| Select an aetheryte/map link | |
| Navigate using map dropdown and map menu | |
| Reset back to your map and location | |
| Move around while map is open (this will unfocus the map from being able to use Camera Analog or D-pad) | |
| Re-focus on map (to be able to re-use Camera Analog) This one will actually differ based on your Display mode (covered in Character Configuration section) | Mouse Display Mode:(Hud button to cycle through HUD elements) Using the Map button again in this mode will close the map. Gamepad Display Mode:Use Map button again You can also use the HUD select button in this mode as well, but it’ll require more button hits. |
| Close map (both modes) | |
| Zoom in/out | + |
| Flag | + |
| Switch map type (local vs region area) |
The last one is interesting in that it’s the only control behavior I’ve really noticed changing between Mouse and Controller display modes.
So in case it isn’t clear I’ll explain it in a different way here:
Mouse display mode scenario 1 (Map button only):
Map button -> open map
Move -> map goes out of focus
Press Map button again-> closes map
Mouse display mode scenario 2 (With HUD select button):
Map button -> open map
Move -> map goes out of focus
HUD select button -> refocuses map
Press Map button again ->closes map
Controller display mode scenario 1 (Map button only):
Map button->open map
Move -> map goes out of focus
Press Map button again-> re-focuses map
Press Map button again-> closes map
Controller display mode scenario 2 (With HUD select button):
Map button->open map
Move -> map goes out of focus
HUD select button -> focuses on something that is most likely not the map (Duty list for me)
HUD select button until it reaches map -> refocuses map
Press Map button again -> closes map
So if you’re using Mouse display, the most efficient way to refocus is using HUD select.
If you’re using Controller display, the most efficient way to refocus is using Map button.
Mouse users are able to click on quest items directly from the Duty List HUD.
So can controller users – you just gotta know how.
- If the item needs a target (ex: leve target), target it
- Use the Select HUD button to navigate to the Duty List.
- Use D-pad up/down to get to quest
- Use D-pad left/right to get to item
- Press confirm button
If you need to target a monster or NPC, I would recommend targeting it first before doing the above.
Handing in Quest Items and Collectables
Mouse users will tell you that they can just right click on the quest item (in the hand-in box) to select one. So can controller users – and ours is slightly faster.
When you get to a hand-in box, your controller select will already be focused there by default.
Use the Subcommand button to quickly select the item you need.
Handing in a bunch of supply and provisioning items quickly has never been easier.
For quests with multiple hand-in items, once you’re done selecting one, use D-pad to get to the next hand in and repeat.
Managing Inventory and Retainers
For this section, I’ll be assuming you have at least some inventory open already (you can open either via the menu, macro, or a button from the Skills menu which you can assign to your hotbars).
- D-pad = navigate items
- L/R bumpers = inventory tabs
- Subcommand button = access subcommands like Use, link, search, etc…
- Cancel = close
Inventory switching
If you have certain inventories open, the jump button will also enable switching.
Scenario 1: Chocobo Saddlebag
Using the Jump button will switch to player Inventory or Armory Chest
Using the Cancel button will go back to the Chocobo Saddlebag
Scenario 2: Retainer Inventory
Using the Jump button will switch to player Inventory, Armory Chest, or Chocobo Saddlebag
Using the Cancel button will go back to the Retainer Inventory
Scenario 3: Quests / Collectables / Supply And Provisioning Hand-Ins
Pretty much anything that allows hand ins to an NPC will have a switch for Inventory and Armory Chest.
When in “switch” mode (the inventory that’s not the original inventory), using the Confirm button will transfer the item to the inventory that spawned the switch (Saddle bag in Scenario 1, Retainer in Scenario 2) without any confirmations or sub menus. Obviously this doesn’t apply to Scenario 3 because those are NPC hand ins and not a switch from an “original” inventory.
This means adding items to retainers is a lot faster via controller than via mouse (whereas withdrawing items still uses the sub menu of needing to say “Retrieve from retainer”).
It would be safe to assume other types of inventories that I omitted, or are added in the future, would perform similarly.
Chat Controls
If you have the chat boxes selected (via the HUD Select button), you also get the following controls:
| Change tabs | Left/Right Bumpers |
| Big Chat | Jump button |
| Get to “Add Chat”, “Settings”, or selecting specific chat types (Party, Local, etc..) | D-Pad left/right, then Confirm |
| Hide chat | Subcommand Actions |
| Bring back hidden chat | HUD Select Action |
| Scroll through chat | D-pad up/down |
| Get back to bar quickly when done scrolling through chat | Cancel button |
If you are on the bar and press Confirm (which makes a cursor appear), you get different options:
| History (of things you’ve typed and sent before) | D-pad up/down |
| Auto Translate | Right Bumper |
| Auto Translate up/down | D-pad up/down Right Bumper also works for going down (left bumper does not work for going up) |
| Auto Translate enter/go back categories | D-pad left/right |
Other Small Shortcuts
If you use both bumpers at the exact same time ( + ), it will also do Sheathe/Unsheathe. Another reason why the default of having it on L3 is pointless and should be removed.
Touchpad Controls
Controls for people using the PS4 controller:
Clicking the touchpad acts like the HUD Select button
Otherwise the touchpad is used to pretend it’s a mouse
Dragthe touchpad to move the virtual mouse
Tap the touchpad to click the left mouse button
Double tap and hold to do a left mouse button hold
Two-finger tap to do a left mouse button hold + lock
PC players using DS4Windows may be able to remap these to have specific keyboard mappings for “swipe left” or “swipe right”, thus able to have more skills accessible.
Part 4: Introduction to the Cross Hotbar
So many pages and yet I’m only now mentioning the cross hotbar! Please note I will also call it Crossbar as a shorthand. Also note that the acronym for Cross Hot Bar is not CHB, it’s XHB. That’s how the game calls it so…Deal with it.
This section right now is an introduction to the various configuration styles available to you. Configuring these options will be mentioned right after.
The Crossbar is a type of hotbar that is grouped in 4’s. Players can use crossbars and hotbars to assign skills. (And yes, you can have both for either input. Even non-controller players can technically play with a crossbar, I actually made a MMO-mouse setup for crossbar when I was waiting on a new controller I bought to arrive. It was a fun experiment.).
In a cross hotbar, you activate part of your bar via a trigger (or bumper if you changed it) and then use the face buttons and D-pad. Thus 2 triggers x 8 face buttons = 16 skills on a crossbar.
Cross bar with Right Trigger activated:
You can switch from one cross bar to the next by using Right Bumper to cycle through.
Or by use Right Bumper + a face button to access a specific one.
A visual reminder will be there (even if you have Mouse mode on) for which one you have currently when you hold Right Bumper.
WXHB
Next, there is also a “WXHB” cross bar:
It’s a separate visible cross hotbar. The “W” stands for “Double” because with a japanese accent they sound very similar.
I’ve put a red rectangle around the WXHB:
WXHB is acquired by double tapping a trigger.
Simultaneous Triggers
There is also the option to have a half cross bar when using both triggers together . You can have it be different if you do Right Trigger hold plus Left Trigger (+) – or if you do Left Trigger Hold plus Right Trigger ( + ). For most jobs in this game, you will have more than enough skill room to have them be the same so that you don’t have to worry about hitting them in the correct order.
Cross bar changed to Simultaneous Triggers:
Notice WXHB is not affected.
Part 5: Cross hotbar Configuration – Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings
So you need to ask yourself what kind of configuration you want:
- Using bumper to switch? Good for jobs with small skill sets
- Using WXHB? Takes up more room, but good for visibility
- Using simultaneous triggers? Do you want to treat either direction the same or different?
Note: don’t worry if you don’t see a WXHB. I’ll show you how to turn it on when we get to Hotbar Settings->Custom, but first we start with the Cross menu:
Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings – Cross
General Settings
Enable Cross Hotbar: whether you want to use one. Yes, you do.
Display Hotbar help: Whether you see skill names when you push down on a trigger to select a side.
Turned on:
Turn off:
Having it turned on does take up more room, but it can be very helpful if you’re playing jobs you’re not as familiar with.
Use Pet Hotbar:
Whether you want the pet hotbar to be part of the rotation.
This replaces all crossbar quick tab switching. So if you press right bumper (and let it tab by not pressing any face buttons) it will always go back and forth between your current crossbar and the pet one. Therefore if you use this option you either HAVE to use Right Bumper + face button or rely entirely on using Simultaneous Triggers and WXHB (which is very doable).
This is a personal choice. Personally I like it off since I allocated the pet skills directly.
Use Mount Hotbar:
Switches hotbar to mount when applicable.
Enable Duty Action Input
There is a special command for using Duty Action and that’s Right Trigger + R3 ( + ). it will not use whatever else you normally have on R3 when it does this.
Display Control Guide
When you hold a trigger for around half a second or more, a button guide shows up
If it’s turned off, it doesn’t
XHB transparency when not in use:
How transparent the non-activated cross bars are.
80% transparency:
Notice WXHB is also affected
Up to personal preference, though I will point out that if you make it too transparent, it’ll make it hard to see your cooldown timers.
Cross Hotbar Controls
So the options for this are “Hold”,”Toggle”, and “Mixed”.
If you use “Hold” that means you need to Hold your trigger to activate and thus press your face buttons while it’s being held.
If you use “Toggle” it means you only need to tap to activate. If you let the trigger go, it stays activated. You can use the other trigger to switch, or tap on the same trigger to cancel out. It will have issues if you try to Hold the trigger.
If you use “Mixed”, it’ll do both. If you tap, it’ll keep it activated. If you hold it, it’ll deactivate once you let go.
Please note that if you intend to actually use WXHB, or use Simultaneous Triggers, you are required to have “Hold” on. If you want the WXHB for visibility, but plan on using crossbar switching to actually use the skills, you can use the other modes.
Cross Hotbar DisplayType
This one’s easier to explain by showing:
Choice 1: Using Right Trigger shows these:
Choice 2: Using Right Trigger shows these:
I find choice 2 to be super confusing, but if that’s what you prefer…go ahead. I don’t pay your sub.
W Cross Hotbar Display Settings
Always Display WXHB: whether you want to see WXHB even when it’s not being activated.
Return to XHB after WXHB: whether you want it to return to the normal cross hot bar after you use a skill on WXHB.
Position WXHB separately from XHB:
So WXHB is always separate from the regular cross hot bar (XHB). However, if you have this one, you get to move it around in the HUD instead of using its default location.
WXHB input timer: How long you have in between taps to register as a double tap. This seems to be in milliseconds or something else that’s smaller than seconds.
You want to give yourself enough time that you can double tap comfortably, but not so much that you’ll accidentally “double tap” when switching triggers.
Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings – Custom
This is the section where we get to enable Simultaneous Triggers (both triggers together, either direction), as well as WXHB.
Now I know it says “PVE Settings” but really what it means is “default settings”.
If you don’t turn “PVP Settings” on (below), it’ll use the “PVE Settings”.
Both sections are identical, other than PVP settings has be turned on.
As such, I will only cover it once and if you want separate settings for PVP, follow the same instructions, but do it in the PVP Settings section (and turn it on).
Expanded Hold Controls (Cannot Use Toggle Type)
And by definition, can’t use “Mixed” type either.
The first one is for turning on Simultaneous Triggers
Then you assign half of a cross bar for LT+RT (+)
And assign the other half of a cross bar for RT+LT (+)
This means if you want them to be the same you have two choices
- Assign them to same half, but if means you’ll have to do that for all your jobs
- Leave them separate and for the jobs where you don’t want them to be different, simply assign the skills the same in both, like in the picture below:
Example (for #2) – my WHM simultaneous trigger (both directions) set up:
Which means that any simultaneous trigger activation, regardless of order, always gives me:
Using #2 allows me the flexibility to have SCH and SMN (the only jobs where I feel it has enough buttons to warranty having a separate simultaneous triggers) do this:
The second one is for turning on WXHB.
If you leave it as “Enable only 4 buttons”, you will only get half of the WXHB – the parts that use only the regular face buttons and not the D-pad.
If you enable direction buttons, you get all of them – for that full cross hot bar above like I have.
Assign each half cross hotbar as desired.
WXHB from first option (half)
WXHB from second option (full)
Set Selection
Set Selection is actually really neat.
If you turn on the first option, it puts your crossbar back to the first “allowed” crossbar when your weapon is sheathed (aka, when you get in battle).
If you turn on the second option, you can select specific cross bars to have available to “tab” to when sheathed or not.
Please note this doesn’t affect WXHB, double triggers, or using cross bar select ( + face button). It’s only for using just RB to cycle across crossbars. This means if you don’t use anything but 1 bar as an actual regular cross hotbar, you can have only that one selected and never accidentally switch by pressing RB .
It also means for people that are using RB for cycling, that you can make sure you don’t have non-battle cross bars when you’re fighting. So you can dedicate specific cross bar sets for non-battle things like gear sets, mounts, etc… and never worry about having to cycle a lot to get past them.
Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings – Sharing
Which cross hotbars are shared among all jobs.
Character Configuration – Hotbar Settings – Display
There isn’t much here that’s specific to cross hotbars, but if you’re a SCH/SMN, you probably want to read on and scroll to the “Pet Hotbar Display Settings” section.
So, when you have a pet summoned.
The first option will have the cross hotbar and the normal pet hotbar. This is great if you plan on assigning your pet skills to your cross hotbar, but you want to see the pet’s cooldowns separately.
The second option will not show the normal pet hotbar, so you’ll probably want to have the pet hotbar as part of the switch and/or assign all pet skills you plan on using to your main or WXHB cross bar, where visibility is high.
The third option seems to work the same as the first option. I’m not sure why it’s there, maybe it has something to do with regular hotbars for non-controller players.
The last option replaces cross hotbar 1 with the pet hotbar when mounted.I’m not sure why anyone would want this turned on. Please note this doesn’t affect when you are mounted and get special mount actions.
Part 6: Assigning actions/items/stuff to crossbar
So once again I’ll concede that using a mouse for configuration purposes is still easier. So if you have one, I would recommend that for assigning your actions. Just drag them into the crossbar.
You do need to switch into the crossbar first.
So put crossbar set 1 to allocate that one, set 2 to allocate that one, etc..
Since WXHB and Simultaneous Triggers are using assigned crossbars, you need to switch into them first (using to either cycle into them or use Face buttons to select it). You cannot assign actions to WXHB via the actual WXHB.
Set 3 is my WXHB. So I switched into Set 3 to be able to assign actions into it. This is why the XHB and WXHB are identical in this screenshot.
Assigning an action via controller
Of course,if you don’t have a mouse, you need to know how to assign actions via the controller itself.
- Open up the Actions menu (or the minions/mount/gear set/ inventory menus if you want to assign those).
- Use D-pad to locate the action you wish to allocate
- Press Subcommand button and it’ll open up the Hotbar Palette (really just a reminder of what you’re allocating)
- For other menus, such as gear set, it might open up a list where you need to pick “Set to hotbar” first
- Use the combination you wish to use and it’ll allocate it.
Switching action locations or removing them
Maybe you don’t want to assign a new action, but you realized you want to switch swap some of them.
Press one of the triggers ( or ) and then use the HUD button to enter edit mode.
Do a button combination to select an action to move
Do another button combination to move it there.
If there was already another action in the new location, they will swap.
Before:
After:
If you pick the same location, it’ll ask you if you want to remove it:
You can use the HUD select button or the Cancel button to leave edit mode.
Part 7: Assigning Actions to a Keyboard Hotbar
A lot of controller players will use regular keyboard hotbars to keep track of their CDs.
Some people do it because they don’t have all of them visible, as not everyone likes using WXHB heavily (or at all).
Others does it, even if it’s visible, to have them in groups. Maybe a group for all-defensive cooldowns for a quick glance of what’s still available.
Personally I don’t do this, but it’s an excellent practice – though I do use the pet keyboard hotbar for being able to quickly glance at Eos’ cooldowns.
You can enable them in the HUD layout or Character Configuration->Hotbar->Display
Though you’ll probably want to use the HUD layout so you can reposition them.
In the hud layout, you can still use R3 to change the size. You can also you Triangle to toggle on or off.
Right analog is used to move the element you’ve chosen
Placing them on the hotbars
If you have a mouse, that’s of course very easy.
But if you don’t, you’ll need to use the Virtual Mouse.
As a reminder, to enter Virtual Mouse, use LB + R3 ( + ).
To drag the skill, use “Left Click” , which is Left Trigger , and hold it. Use the right analog
While holding to drag it to the hotbar. Let go of of the button and it’ll leave it on the hotbar.
Part 8: Targeting via Controller
Targeting is the one downside of controller. With a mouse, you can just click on what you want to target. With a controller,well…Not really. (Though if you have the touchpad, you can use the virtual mouse and tapping to do that, but as I do not have that feature I cannot comment on how well it works, but I’d imagine that during battle it’s probably inconvenient to use it for Targeting purposes. User Lekceh on reddit, who does play with a PS4 controller, says that using this method is slow and awkward and only uses it for non-battle things like moving HUD elements)
So it’s really important to know how to target!
Party Members
You can use D-pad up/down to cycle through the party.
Wait a second, you mean that if I’m in an 8-man party, I have to cycle 7 times!?
Only if you’re being inefficient. The cycle keeps going. So let’s say you were healing the 8th place person, and now you need to heal the tank (2nd place most likely). Sure you could move the d-pad up 6 times and be inefficient. Or you can move the d-pad DOWN (which will go from 8th to 1st) twice to get to the 2nd spot.
8th + down = 1st
1st + up = 8th
So at most you have to d-pad 4 times. You’ll get used to it.
Doesn’t that make healing more difficult?
For party healing? Not really. 4 d-pad presses is pretty quick. Even if you panicked and forgot you can shortcut and end up doing 5-7 presses, it’s still pretty fast.
Besides, in most 8-player content your single heals are primarily for the 2 tanks (which most healers would have in their 2nd and 3rd spot assuming you didn’t change default settings) and most DPS are healed via AOE heals unless they mess up or are chosen for a mechanic. Having to use the d-pad every once in a while for targeting a dps is hardly a hindrance – and if your DPS is messing up that much that they need frequent single target heals instead of AOE heals, you probably have more to worry about than your targeting. They need to start doing mechanics right.
Alliance Members
Here’s where healers (and rezzers) are at a disadvantage for targeting.
To select an alliance member, you need to use LB + d-pad left/right ( + ).
While, once again, this is a cycle, so you can move from the 1st alliance to the last (3rd) alliance, and vice versa, somewhat quickly, it can be a lot to cycle though. Getting to the 3rd alliance’s tank, for example, will usually take 8 presses. Getting to the 2nd alliance’s tank can take around 9 – 12 presses depending on where you started from. Overall, you’re looking at a maximum of 12 presses IF you’re being efficient with cycling. If not, you have 23 potential presses.
Of course, realistically ,if it’s every once in a while, it’s not a huge deal. You’ll definitely lose at least 1 GCD, but you just deal with it. If you have to do it multiple times though, it’s a hindrance – but at the same time…if you’re constantly in need of having to heal/rez people in other parties for your alliance, those parties are probably bringing the whole alliance down if their healers are unable to keep their own party up so you were probably going to have a terrible run no matter what.
It may be faster for people who have a PS4 controller (or other controller with a working touchpad) to use the virtual mouse to target.
Enemies, objects, and NPCs
Enmity List
You can cycle through the Enmity List (the list of monsters with some aggro) by using Left Bumper and Up/down on D-pad ( + )
Bumper targeting
You can “tab” target using Left Bumper or Right Bumper (with no d-pad), while having an active cross bar (so, while one/both of the triggers is on). Tab targeting works strangely, but in essence: right bumper goes “right/near”, left bumper goes “left/far”. This is based on your target (or you if you have nothing targeted).
There is a setting in the next section for whether it’s doing left/right or near/far.
It’s always based on enemies that are viewable. So you can move your camera, zoom in, to make it easier to target.
Filter and Confirm Targeting
There’s this concept of a filter. If you’re not doing anything, it probably say “All” and it’s by your HP bar.
When you use the d-pad left/right , it does filter targeting.
All = literally anything that’s targetable. This is one way to target objects.
Confirm targeting is by pressing the confirm button when you currently have nothing targeted. It picks the nearest target to you. Useful for walking up to retainers or event NPCs.
If your weapon is sheathed, the default one is Enemies:
Which, as you can probably guess, is only Enemies.
Unlike Bumper targeting, Filter targeting is based solely on map left/right, and not distance. So sometimes it can be easier to target something specific via that.
You can make your own filters, which will be covered in Part 9.
Soft Targeting vs Hard Targeting
To the best of my knowledge, this concept is unique to controller and it’s actually really cool if you plan on using it.
There are 2 types of targets. A “hard” target is one you’ve definitely chosen.
A “soft” target is on you’ve temporarily chosen. Using an action on a soft target will then revert it back to your hard target. If you had no hard target, it will become one.
Need to use an action on someone but you know you’ll still be hitting the boss? Soft target that someone, use your action, bam, you’re automatically back on the boss.
Soft Target:
Use d-pad to target and don’t hit the confirm button.
Notice soft target has a highlight on party list, and target itself has a circle.
Hard Target:
Use d-pad to target and use the confirm button
Notice hard target on party list has blue highlight, and target itself has an arrow.
Soft targeting is only available for targeting types that have d-pad.
So: party, alliance, enmity list, and filter targeting all have soft targeting unless you use the confirm button to hard target.
“Tab” targeting (using the bumpers) and “Confirm” targeting (just hitting the confirm button with nothing actually targeted) are always hard targets.
Recap of targeting
D-pad up/down: Party
D-pad left/right: Filter targeting (filters are covered more in Part 9)
+ LB + d-pad up/down: Enmity List
+ LB + d-pad left/right: Alliance other parties
LB or RB by themselves = “tab” targeting of enemies only (covered more in Part 8, which is the next section)
Confirm targeting: When nothing is targeted, turns nearest target into hard target
When using d-pad targeting, turns soft target into hard target
Part 9: Advanced Targeting: Character Config- Control Setting – Target
I’ll only cover the ones that seem relevant to controller.
Target Type: Target Closest Enemies
This setting is how “tab” targeting works. For KB players, that’s literally the tab key (unless they remap it). For you it’ll be Right/Left Bumper (unless you remap it)
Using Ignore depth will be a literal left is left (bumper), right is right (bumper). This is very similar to how Filter targeting works.
Using Cone will do it based on distance from you or your target. This can be helpful with trying to select monsters that aren’t super far away just because they’re visible to you, but it does make it less predictable.
My recommendation is to use Cone. If you want predictable, just use the filter targeting, but it’s completely up to you.
Ground Targeting Settings (Gamepad Mode)
So this section is specific to controller users.
Target Ring: Locked to Cursor or Unlocked.
Locked to Cursor
As mentioned, playing on controller doesn’t mean giving up mouse and keyboard. You might still have a mouse hooked up, in which case you probably have a mouse cursor on your screen. Locked to Cursor will put your ground AOE marker there. This means to move it you either need to move the mouse (not ideal) OR move your camera.
Please note this Cursor can also be the cursor from a Virtual Mouse, if you have that enabled. Therefore even if you do not have a Mouse, you can still use this type of targeting if you prefer to control your AOE locations solely via the camera analog stick.
Unlocked
When you use Unlocked, the AOE’s placement is controller via Right Bumper + Left analog stick ( + ), though you can also use camera movement to make use of clever angles to move it. It has its location set on a white dot(visible in screenshot) instead of on the cursor.
The next time you use an AOE, it’ll start from where you left that “white dot”.
Which one to pick.
With Cursor, as long as you leave your cursor an expected spot, let’s say upper center, (whether it’s a physical or virtual mouse), that means that “in front of me” is where your aoe is, so it’s very natural to have to use camera manipulation to handle that.
With Unlocked, the first ground aoe you’ll be fine with and you do have the choice to use camera manipulation as well. However, let’s say you actually do use the non-camera manipulation and place it all the way to the left. 15 minutes later, in another instance, you want to use a ground AOE and forgot what you did before. Now you’re expecting for it to be around the center and you’ll be shocked that it’s not. Without expecting that, it can be slow to react to it.
That being said, the benefit of unlocked is that if you do prefer camera manipulation, and have an actual physical mouse, and you accidentally move it because you elbowed it or whatever (and thus the cursor with it), instead of having to take your hand off the controller to move the physical mouse to get the cursor back to the middle, you can just always leave the white spot in the middle and use camera manipulation still to target.
So overall, Unlocked is better in the long run, it just takes practice.
Try both ,see what you like.
Cursor Speed (When Unlocked)
A little self-explanatory: how fast the unlocked movement is.
Part 10: Advanced Targeting: Character Config – Control Setting – Filters
So before, we introduced filters.
Well, you can customize the 2 “default” filters – the one when you’re in battle and the one when you’re not.
On the left: the filter when you come out of battle or teleport to a new area or unsheathe..When you’re not in battle.
On the right: the filter when you are in battle
Then you can create 4 custom filters. You can use these with left bumper + the designated button ( + ). Enable the button combination you want and select what you want the filter to have.
If you don’t want to manually click, you can set them to premade lists (such as “All”,”Friends”,”Party Members”, “Engaged Enemies”) from the drop down. This will edit the filters for you to turn on/off what is needed to make it match the premade list. If you make your own filter and it matches one of these lists, it will also give it that name in the drop down. If you make a list that matches NONE of the premade lists, it’ll say Custom.
Me enabling one of my filters. Notice how above my HP it say ‘A’ (because I have ABXY mode on and and that’s the filter that uses ) and ‘Friends’. This is an indicator of which filter you have on.
Do note the filter name sometimes mismatches. For example my filter, which says “Engaged Enemies” in the config menu, will actually say “Battle” on the HP-area
Part 11: Macros that help for controller play
Sprint
/action sprint
/micon sprint
Ideal for R3 or L3 (to the point that I don’t know how people who don’t do this live without it).
Ground targeting
Ground targeting macros can be very helpful to not have to deal with targeting.
Here’s an example of a macro that will put a ground AOE at my target – but if I have no target, it’ll put it on me:
/ac “Earthly Star” <t>
/ac “Earthly Star” <me>
/macroicon “Earthly Star”
Note: always put macroicon last. Don’t use macros if your FPS is really low as, this might sound stupid, but FPS actually affects how macros run. Macroicon is left last so it doesn’t have a potential for causing a skip of the next one if the FPS drops at the moment it’s executed.
Here’s another one that will do at at the target, but will NOT put it on me if there is no target, it’ll show a ground aoe marker so it can be used manually if desired.
/ac “Shadow Flare” <t>
/ac “Shadow Flare”
/macroicon “Shadow Flare”
The next macros for controller will not be actual actions, but hotbar management.
Cross Hotbar swaps
For my scholar, I actually change my cross bar based on the pet. Cross bar 5 or 6 is copied into cross bar 1 by having the summon macro. Now, obviously you don’t have to do that. But if for some reason you want the ability to have a macro to copy one cross bar into another rather than having to switch into cross bars, then this is the way to do it:
/merror off
/pac “Fey Wind” <me>
/pac “Obey” <me>
/ac Summon <wait.3>
/crosshotbar copy Scholar 6 Scholar 1 <wait.1>
/pac “Obey” <me>
/micon Summon
Action swaps
At one point instead of copying entire crossbars, I would just allocate actions into my crossbars via macros. It’s another way to have some dynamic crossbar editing.
Please note you cannot allocate a macro to your cross bar this way.
/crosshotbar pet “Embrace” “Eos” 1 RA2
/crosshotbar “Physick” 4 RA2
More information for the /crosshotbar command (whether for copying or setting) can be found here:
Please note that pvp cross bars use /pvpcrosshotbar , and is also found in the above link.
The last type of macro will be statuses.
Removing Friendly Statuses
Mouse users will tell you that they’re able to “click off” certain actions. Controller users can also do so by using the hud select button to get to the buff bar, using the d-pad to get to the buff desired, and clicking confirm to remove. This is tedious, but I suppose if you really want that Regen to come off, you can do that.
Or…you can make a macro.
And because this is not an action, it doesn’t affect you using actions.
My particular favorite use is to make a non-action version of AST’s “Undraw Spread”. Thus being able to “click off” the bad Spread that Sleeve Draw gave me without having to waste an OGCD. This can be used while casting Malefic (you can even literally press this at the same time as you press an ogcd and they’ll both work – the only thing it won’t do at the same time is another macro. So if you have an earthly star ground aoe macro and you use it at the same time, one of the macros will be interrupted – another reason why you should not macro too many actions and only the absolute necessities)
/micon “Undraw Spread”
/merror off
/statusoff “Arrow Held”
/statusoff “Balance Held”
/statusoff “Spire Held”
/statusoff “Bole Held”
/statusoff “Ewer Held”
/statusoff “Spear Held”
So tanks, if you want to be able to remove that Regen, go right ahead and make a macro for it. And machinists, just make a single macro to statusoff both Fey Wind and Arrow and you’ll never have to worry about them messing with your rotation again.
Targeting Specific Enemies
While targeting in the sense of marked enemies isn’t really something I’d particularly recommend doing for PVE, mostly because it’s unnecessary, it can be done if you have the space for it (or willing to make a cross bar just for it). Where it most shines though is PVP.
The one good thing about the skill rework in pvp that so many people hate is that you now have a lot of space on your crossbars, so you can make a bunch of targeting macros for attacking specific targets.
<attack1> (and 2-5 for the others)
<bind1> (and 2-3)
<ignore1> (and 2)
<square> <circle> <cross> <triangle>
So if someone Signed an enemy, that’s one way to easily target them.
/target <attack1>
And the following are useful as well.
Assisting someone’s target is <tt>
Last enemy to attack/bind/whatever you is <c>
Make a macro, put each of these on your crossbar, then that would be how to quickly target such enemies.
Note: macro targeting using /target is a hard target.
Part 12: Other Control schemes – Eureka, Command Missions, Deep Dungeon, Gold Saucer, Gpose
Eureka
There isn’t much that’s special controller-wise about Eureka. Just use your HUD select button to get to the elemental wheel and use Subcommand or Confirm button to turn the wheel.
Use cancel button to leave the elemental wheel.
Subcommand is counterclockwise
Confirm is clockwise
Command Mission
Command Missions do come with some actions for controller your squadron. And yes technically they’re in the Actions menu and you can allocate those to your cross hotbars.
That’s your choice.
Personally, I don’t see the value in messing with my cross hotbars to accommodate these because there’s a menu inside command missions to do all of these.
If you don’t see this menu, go into Actions and use “Display Order Hotbar”
You can use the HUD Select button to get to it.
Now I know what you might be thinking:
Isn’t it inconvenient to have to keep using the HUD select button to get to it?
No, not really. Once you’ve reached it, it stays there.
See how I have my crossbar activated while still having the command menu on Engage?
The system knows which one you mean based on whether your crossbar is activated.
So if I want to engage, or use the d-pad to get to Disengage or Squadron Limit Break, I just need to stop activating my crossbar (let go of triggers) and it’ll know that my Confirm or D-pad presses will be used for the command menu.
Deep Dungeon
POTD Map
If you have it unlocked:
- Map button will open/close
- Hud select button to focus
- Cancel button to close
- Close icon to close
- Start (main menu) button to close
If you have it locked
- Map button to open
- Hud select or map button to focus
- Close icon to close
POTD Item Menu
If you have it unlocked:
- Use Duty Information Character Info to open
- Start button (main menu) will close
- HUD select to focus in
- Cancel button to close
- D-pad + confirm to use items
If you have it locked
- Use Duty Information Character Info to open
- Use close icon to close
Gold Saucer
Chocobo Racing
There’s nothing special about this controller-wise. 🙂 It’s exactly as you’d expect if you read the guide so far.
Lord of Verminion
Verminion on controller is at times better and at times worse than m/kb. It really depends on what you’re doing.
| Browse your minion bar | D-pad | |
| Select a minion from minion bar | Confirm button | |
| Active Minion List: Browse minions | + | Left Bumper + D-Pad |
| Active Minion List: Select Nearby minions (same kind of minion) | + | Left Bumper + Jump button |
| Active Minion List: Select All minions of that kind | + | Left Bumper + Confirm Button |
| Active Minion List: Select nearby minions (any kind of minion) | + | Left Bumper + Cancel button |
| Active Minion List: Activate special attack | Left Bumper + Subcommand button | |
| Change Gate Terminal | R3 | |
| Enemy list | RT | |
| Help menu | Start | |
| Selection Circle | Jump button | |
| Select summoning queue | L3 | |
| Move ground target pointer (without moving camera) | RB + Character Movement Analog | |
| Record map jump points (release to go back): allows you to go check out map and come back to where you started when you release | LT | |
| Map jump point selection | + | LT + Camera Movement Analog |
| Restore map jump point | + | LT + R3 |
Triple Triad
Should be fairly intuitive
Gpose
Enter Gpose by using the chat to type in /gpose or map to your crossbar via a macro.
| Open up g-pose menu | Subcommand button | |
| Move camera | Character movement analog | |
| Rotate/Tilt camera | Camera movement analog | |
| Zoom in/out | + | Left Bumper + Camera Movement Analog |
| Reset camera | L3 | |
| Freeze character motion | LT | |
| Freeze target motion | RT | |
| Enable/Disable Light 1 | RB | |
| Face Camera | Triangle |
Duty Recorder
| Move Camera | Left Analog(Character Movement Analog) | |
| Reset Camera | L3 | |
| Change focus target | D-pad | |
| Pause/Play | Jump button | |
| Change playback speed | Right Trigger | |
| Open/Close Controlers | Subcommand Button |
PVP
Once again, nothing particularly different from using controller in PVE. Everything was already mentioned in the guide so far.
Just obviously you’re grabbing your PVP skills from the PVP Profile menu and not the Actions menu.
Whether or not it’s efficient though..well, I’ll cover in the M/KB vs Controller Opinion section later in the document.
It’s possible Rival Wings might have something to note for the Mechas, but it’s been a while and I don’t remember – and the queues are dead right now so it’s impossible to go test.
Part 13: My Setups – Opinion section.
I’m going to share all of my setups!
Now, I don’t have all jobs at 70 as of when I last wrote/edited this section. I did set up the bars for all jobs assuming they’d be 70 and I did take some into POTD to at least test up to 60, but obviously I won’t know how good they are at max level until then. I will mention which ones I’ve fully tested and which ones are theoretical.
However, first….
About the Author:
Before I explain my set ups, I need to explain ME. I have played MMOs on mouse and keyboard before. I switched to an MMO mouse and I have played FF14 with both regular M/KB and MMO-mouse/KB before making the switch.
The reason I got an MMO mouse (originally for WoW) is because I have small hands so reaching for both Ctrl + the keys hotbar is really uncomfortable. Using Ctrl + a MMO mouse was a lot better, but since the MMO mouse is being used heavily for my actions, I relied on WASD for movement more. Moving while using Ctrl is also uncomfortable.
When I played Tera, which has less buttons (at least when I played, as a lowbie), I heard it was good on controller and made the plunge – but my controller (a Gamecube controller with an adapter) didn’t have 2 bumpers so it wasn’t usable with FF14, hence the switch back. It probably helps that I’m very good at controller buttons, being one of those weirdos who played the hardest difficulties of Guitar Hero on controller. <3 you Controller Hero.
After months of playing on M/KB, switching to MMO M/KB, on FF14, I yearned for controller play for the same reasons. So I switched. It was hard at first, but practice makes perfect and now I play better than I’ve ever played. I love FF14’s controller play and I’m not switching back – except for PVP, where I still play MMO M/KB.
Along the way, I messed with my hotbar + cross hot bars a lot and developed a few guidelines for myself about what makes a good set up.
I am a healer main.
Squintina’s Crossbar Philosophy
Obviously all of these are subjective to my personal tastes. These are my guidelines rules that I try to abide by, though there are of course exceptions if it made the job feel clunky in any manner.
Muscle memory is important.
So ALL role actions are allocated even if they’re not turned on. I want to use muscle memory to know where they are if I switch – not have to remember that “oh, yeah, this was Esuna before, but now I put Surecast there”. If something is truly useless where there is no situation in which I would even use it, I skip it. For example, the Healer “Break” fits in that category. While it does have a use (MP-less attack for progging something blind where people are dying left and right and using up lots of MP in rezzes and heals), it is not a use that would ever beat any of the other role actions, there are no instances in which 5 other role actions wouldn’t be preferable. But that requires having enough experience in the job/role. So for my non-70’s, I literally have ALL of them allocated because I don’t know if any of them are fully useless yet.
This means I have more buttons allocated than most people, yet I still fit it all within my next principle:
Only 3 cross bars for battle content
Battle = Cross bar 1, Cross bar 2 (Simultaneous Triggers), Cross bar 3 (WXHB).
I do use 5 and 6 for SCH for macro purposes, but not for actual use (you’ll see why).
3 cross bars = 48 skills/items for battle play. If you need more than 48, you’re doing it wrong. Most jobs I end up repeating skills so that Simultaneous Triggers are the same in both directions – SCH is the only job where I actually use all 48 slots with unique actions. Everything else doesn’t even come close.
I do have other cross bars for gear seats, mounts ,etc..
Cross bar Tabbing/Selecting < Simultaneous and WXHB.
Using (with or without a hotbar identifier) for tabbing isn’t for me. Think of it this way: double tapping is super fast because it’s the same finger. Simultaneous triggers is also fast because it’s separate hands, but still a “top” finger. In both cases, you don’t need to move your “top” (bumper/trigger fingers) because the very act of changing also activates the cross bar, and you don’t ever use your “face button” fingers..
But for cycle crossbar, you have to press you top finger on the bumper, then move it to activate it.
Using selection cross hotbar selection, once again you are your top finger on bumper, then you have to sacrifice a Face button finger (what if you wanted to multitask and change targets or something?), then move your top finger to active. When it comes to finger movement, this is simply the inferior speed option.
So I have all of them disabled from tabbing during battle play (when weapon is sheathed). If I accidentally press RB by itself, it won’t change on me. Using Simultaneous and WXHB is far more comfortable and faster so that’s what I use. Once again, this might be because I’m very comfortable with quick controller actions from being a proficient music-game player.
I do use cross bar selection outside of combat to get to my Gear Set cross bars (which also has my mount) and I use cross bar tabbing (once again, outside of combat) for gatherer/crafter classes’ actions.
Same actions go in the same spot
Role actions go in the same spot regardless of job. My SCH Lucid is in the same combination as my AST lucid, as my BLM Lucid, as my SMN lucid.. Etc.. If it’s the same skill, it’s in the same spot. Same goes with Limit break and Potions.
An exception for pet movement/behavior/summon was made.
NO keyboard hotbars for battle actions
A lot of people will say you should use keyboard hotbars for your CDs, and that’s how I started off. This is a perfectly viable method of keeping track of your CD’s if you wish to do so.
Then I realized I don’t need them. Anything that has a CD of 5 seconds or higher is on crossbar 1 or WXHB (cross bar 3). There are no long CDs on my crossbar 2 since that’s the simultaneous trigger, which is not visible at all times.
Therefore all of my CDs are visible at all times, while also showing me the accurate location of how to press the skill (useful for lesser used jobs).
This isn’t to say I don’t use hotbars – I do. But it’s for things like Food, chat macros, or Key Items I use often because I do have a mouse still and I click on those when needed.
But I am me. And you are you. This principle is definitely not a common one in the controller community, most people use keyboard hotbars for their CDs.
GCDs go on the non-dpad face buttons
In general, X/Y/A/B (Triangle/Square/Cross/Circle) are for GCDs. Why?
If you have to move, you have your left hand occupied to move you. Therefore GCDs need to be on the right hand since they are the most commonly used actions.
So first I allocate those, then I allocate the ogcds. If the ogcds don’t fit all on crossbar 1 & 3, I move some GCDs to crossbar 2’s right-side buttons.
Left Trigger = Flank, Right Trigger = Rear
I don’t play melees often, because I’m still leveling them and I only do that for about 1 hour a week, which makes it hard for me to remember directionals.
So if I do have directionals, Flank is on the left trigger, Rear is on the Right trigger. When I switch jobs, I just have to check “does this job have any directionals” by hovering on the skills. If yes, then I know to use that to my advantage. Will I change that when I get to 70 on melees? Maybe, and I’ll update the guide then.
Instant GCD is always on Right side’s X (Square) button.
Aside from the ranged jobs, which this doesn’t apply to, most jobs only have 1-2 instant ranged GCDs. These are useful to keep uptime for both melee and casters while running away from an AOE.
Because of this, I use the same button – though I do switch whether it’s on the Right trigger or the Expanded trigger (it’s never on the Left trigger only).
This makes for some consistent uptime while dodging.
Gauges go between WXHB
Self-explanatory. Usually in Simple mode.
Sprint is a macro
Sprint is my macro on R3. I was originally going to do on L3, like a FPS, but the slight hiccup in movement when clicking could potentially lead to not moving out of something in time. R3 was the better choice.
Fully tested setups
SCH
This will be the only one that’s complicated to explain. All the other jobs will be 2 quick pictures.
Main Bar + WXHB when Eos is out:
Main Bar + WXHB When Selene is out:
The pet hotbar is for a super quick pet-only CD check.
You can see the pet skills are in the same place.
I store Eos’ cross bar on Set 6 and Selene’s on Set 5, and I use a macro to put 5 or 6 into cross bar 1 when I summon them. The macro for embrace is in case I use a focus target, as that is really the only time I feel the need to force her to use embrace on a specific person instead of letting her pick who she wants to pick.
Simultaneous:
SCH and SMN are the only jobs where I use the separate Simultaneous triggers. I also violate the 5-second OGCD rule because Bane is so situational, I think I can manage to remember whether it’s up or not without needing to see it (that and 10 seconds isn’t a huge CD)
AST
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
WHM
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
SMN
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
BLM
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
I violated the GCD rule because..well.. Blizzard 2, Freeze, and Sleep aren’t used very often so it doesn’t really matter if I didn’t put them on the more accessible side.
RDM
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
Hypothetical setups
PLD
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
WAR
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
DRK
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
MNK
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
DRG
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
NIN
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
SAM
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
BRD
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
MCH
Main Bar + WXHB
Simultaneous
Part 14: M/KB vs Controller – Opinion section
Alright, here’s the controversial part: what’s better M/KB v Controller?
Obviously there’s only 1 answer: whatever fits you best. Whichever one is most comfortable for accuracy, dodging, and pressing buttons is the right one.
Now that the technically correct answer is out of the way, let’s get into details.
| M/KB | Controller |
| Dodging can be awkward as it means either releasing a hand for WASD or having to control both your camera and movement via mouse at once, for people with common keyboard setups. Moving in a diagonal means either moving your camera (so it’s no longer a diagonal) or having to press 2 keys at once. This can be overcome by configuring your keyboard setup and taking advantage of mouse controls. Just like a good controller needs a good crossbar and controller config, a good M/KB needs good hotbars AND keyboard configurations. | Dodging ground markers is instinctive even with default controller configuration. Just move the analog in the direction you want to go.This is the main benefit of Controller. |
| Target by clicking or F keys (or other keys). This is the main benefit of mouse and keyboard. That being said, having to move your hand to move the mouse or reach an F key in itself takes time, so it’s only as fast as your are. If you’re too slow or inaccurate, you can still waste or clip a GCD. | Annoying targeting for large scale content (raids and pvp and light/full party instances with a LOT of monsters to choose from IF you actually need to choose and not just use AOEs) |
| You can greatly customize your keyboard layout. SE did a great job with customization options. ‘Nuff said. | While SE does give a lot of customization options, as far as your actual gamepad layout goes, it’s far more limited. (if someone wanted to use bumpers and triggers to use actions and face buttons to activate a crossbar, for example, they cannot do that without 3rd party programs to essentially remap it and make the game believe those buttons are the other buttons) |
| Your key movements are as good as your hand size and arm movement accuracy. If you have no trouble reaching keys from 1 to 9 quickly, reaching keys while using ctrl, remapping keys like E or Q, or whatever, then yeah you can be fast. If you have trouble, whether it’s because of small hand size or bad circulation or just not having very good accuracy and you end up having to look down at your keyboard, then it’ll be slow. Players with hand issues (whether a disability or just having small hands…) may need to invest in getting specialized keyboards – which takes a lot of retraining. As with anything, it takes practice, so you can’t judge how good your motor skills are until you’ve had a chance to practice and hone them. But if you’re still having trouble playing as well as you should be after several months, chances are no extra amount of practice will help. | Your button movements are as good as your ability to move fingers. If you’re fast at moving fingers and tapping, you’ll be fast. If you’re not, you’ll be slow. If you can’t handle that a few of your skills might be hidden and you forget they are there, that’ll slow you down. Bad circulation and hand size matter less as all buttons will be fairly within reach. Players who needs to accommodate for that will have an easy time finding a variety of controller sizes without having to learn a whole new layout as most controllers are variants of the playstation layout. As with anything, it takes practice, so you can’t judge how good your motor skills are until you’ve had a chance to practice and hone them. But if you’re still having trouble playing as well as you should be after several months, chances are no extra amount of practice will help. |
| Massively entering items into inventories (retainers, saddlebag) takes as while as that requires right clicking to add (except when dragging into a free slot or if you actually know where the item to stack with is). That being said, doing your own sorting is usually a bit faster on mouse. | Mass inventory management is faster on controller because there is a quick add without needing to have a submenu each time. It’s very quick to just tap on everything to see what stacks up if you have a lot of inventory. But doing manual sorting can be much more tedious. |
| “Next” hand-ins (like Eureka, POTD, or Diadem lockboxes) are very tiring on mouse because constant index finger clicking is not a natural movement. Using Numpad 0 (or another key press that’s bound to Confirm) is slightly more natural. Auto-clickers can of course fix that, and make it very easy, but..you’re not supposed to use those; they’re against TOS. | “Next” hand-inds (like Eureka, POTD, or Diadem lockboxes) are very easy because thumb presses are a more natural and ergonomic movement than index finger movement. Plus if the controller’s wireless, can keep opening even while moving away. |
Specific concerns: Healing
I actually kind of covered this in the targeting section so..I’ll just copy paste and rewrite it in case you skipped that section:
4-man parties are definitely not difficult to target.
8-man parties are where people think it might be difficult, but 4 d-pad presses is pretty quick. Even if you panicked and forgot you can shortcut and end up doing 5-7 presses (but please learn to do the short version of at most 4 presses), it’s still pretty fast.
Besides, in most 8-player content your single heals are primarily for the 2 tanks (which most healers would have in their 2nd and 3rd spot assuming you didn’t change default settings or a tank entered late) and most DPS are healed via AOE heals unless they mess up or are chosen for a mechanic. Having to use the d-pad every once in a while for targeting a dps is hardly a hindrance – and if your DPS is messing up that much that they need frequent single target heals instead of AOE heals, you probably have more to worry about than your targeting. They need to start doing mechanics.
Alliance raids are where healers (and rezzers) are at a disadvantage for targeting – if they actually need to help people in the other parties. Overall, you’re looking at a maximum of 12 presses IF you’re being efficient with cycling. If not, you have 23 potential presses. That is a lot.
Of course, realistically ,if it’s every once in a while, it’s not a huge deal. No one cares cares enough about alliance raids that losing a GCD here and there because you’re targeting someone in the other party would become some humongous loss. You’ll definitely lose at least 1 GCD, but you just deal with it. If you have to do it multiple times though, it’s a hindrance – but at the same time…if you’re constantly in need of having to heal/rez people in other parties for your alliance, those parties are probably bringing the whole alliance down if their healers are unable to keep their own party up so you were probably going to have a terrible run no matter what.
Specific Concerns: PVP
Large scale PVP is the one place where controller players are definitely at a disadvantage. Not as much in the Feast, because it’s less enemies/allies to target.
But in larger scale (and I include even 8x8x8, that’s a potential 16 enemies!), it’s a hassle.
Imagine if you’re in the 24x24x24. The party composition does not guarantee healers for every party and even if they people are all over the place sometimes so their healers might not be nearby. So while in an alliance raid healing cross-party something that’s only done when things go wrong, in pvp going cross-party is pretty normal depending on how the party compositions/locations end up. Suddenly all those presses matter a lot more.
Then for attacking, that’s a potential 48 enemies. Considering how objective-based the PVP in FF14 is, it’s pretty common to have a LOT of players in the same place because of trying to use the same objective. Trying to target among 15-40 people for a specific person, like maybe the healer, is difficult.
Now, there ARE ways around it. If other people Sign them, and you put on your bar targeting for each of these Signs (which can be done via macros that have no action queuing delay if they’re only targeting and not doing an action), then yeah you can make sure you’re targeting and killing those people..but if other people don’t use Signs, it kind of sucks. You can also use assist targeting to pick the same target as someone from your party, which that’s definitely much easier to do, but once again you’re relying on other people.
For reference, those macros are in the Recommended Macros part of the guide.
This isn’t to say you can’t play pvp well with a controller. Of course you can! But you’re going to have to be extra good to make up for it. Or if you just want to hit things, then sure…You can just target the first enemy it lands on and try to kill it even if it might not be the most logical enemy to attack, but that’s not a winning attitude!
Alright, the Opinion section is over, now onto the technical sections.
Part 15: How to configure PS4 controller on PC
You should be able to connect your controller to your PC and calibrate using Controller Settings as FF14 did eventually add native PS4 support. You will also need to calibrate in-game.
I don’t have a PS4 controller so my screenshot is using a different controller. Obviously, yours will be called something different.
That being said, while it will natively support it, the touch pad might not work.
Steam Problems
If you are using Steam, open Steam Big Picture > Settings > Controller Settings > Uncheck “PS4 Configuration Support” if for some reason FF14 is acting like it’s an xbox 360 controller.
Try DS4Windows
If you are still having issues, you should use a program called DS4Windows. Rather than writing up directions, I’ll link to another guide (or you can google it), to my understanding it should be fairly straightforward:
You can also try using x360ce in Part 16. DS4 has touchpad support. X360ce does not.
Part 16: How to set up Xbox controller on PC
Oh this one is really easy.
- Buy a Wireless adapter for the controller you’re using
- Let windows handle the drivers
- Press the sync button on the adapter
- Press the sync button on the controller
- Wait for it to sync – You need to be Player 1
- Start up game
- Check that gamepad is on in system settings
- Done
Part 17: How to set up Other controllers on PC via X360ce
What is x360ce?
It’s a program that allows you to tell your computer to treat a controller like a native xbox 360 controller. So applications that support xbox 360 controllers will also support my Nintendo Switch Pro controller.
Is x360ce against TOS?
No.
Let me explain. There are 2 types of gamepad inputs widely supported. One of them is D-input, and that’s the native controller input windows has when you apply a controller, put drivers (if necessary), and calibrate and the controller just works. Less and less games nowadays support D-input, but FF14 does seem to support it slightly. I don’t know if it’ll work for all controllers, but no harm in trying to see if it’ll recognize it without any special software first.
If your controller works by just plugging it in, maybe updating a few drivers, and calibrating it, GREAT. You don’t need x360ce. Just go play. But if it has issues, like mine did (because Nintendo won’t release an official driver and whatever Microsoft has for my controller doesn’t work well), then x360ce is your friend. There are some other programs out there that do the same thing, but I’ll only mention this one because that’s the one I use.
When I tried my Switch controller in d-input it recognized and used it. Unfortunately the driver for that controller is not great and there was no “dead zone “ on the right analog, which means the only way to stop the camera from moving was to literally be exactly on the center. It drove me insane.
The other methods is called X-input, and that’s the newer input method microsoft made specifically for their xbox 360 controllers (and xbox one and I’ll assume future xbox console controllers as well). FF14 support X-input via its Direct X 11 adaptation (I’ve had issues with DX9, not sure if it’s my computer or if X-input doesn’t work well with Direct X 9). X-input and Direct X (9 or 11) are NOT SE programs. They’re Microsoft programs that SE uses because they’re standard libraries that do things and it’s completely normal for game makers to use that so they don’t have to write their own.
X360ce is a program that edits the X-input portion of the Direct X library. So it is not a program that affects ff14 or anything from SE, nor does it use anything from FF14 (unlike ACT which while it doesn’t affect FF14, it does use its networking to read the logs). X360ce only affects how Microsoft’s Direct X reads your controller.
So while it is placed inside the FF14 program files folder, that’s because that’s how programs in windows work. The libraries are loaded inside something called the GAC (Global Assembly Cache), but those microsoft libraries can be overwritten by putting them inside the program folder of the program that uses them. Technically you could replace it inside the GAC, so that the adaptation would be for every program that ever uses Direct X controller support, but that’s a far more complicated and technical guide and I don’t want to be liable for messing up your GAC libraries, thank you very much.
So it doesn’t break the rules regarding interacting with FF14 itself. It also doesn’t break the rules about providing anything other players can do – as all this does is map your controller so that it’s playable. It has no special advantages.
Configuring for X360ce
Obviously first you need to download it.
Use Download for 64-bit. While FF14 itself is installed in the 32-bit folders by default, DirectX11 is 64-bit, and as stated above this is not a program to alter FF14, but a program to alter Direct X, so you need that version.
Place the x360ce_x64.exe into FF14’s “game” folder.
Open in administrator mode
When you open it, it’ll create a x360ce.ini file and a DLL file, that’s the configuration file it stores to know how to convert it. If that DLL file isn’t called xinput1_3 for whatever reason, just rename it.
If you have nothing there yet, it’ll ask you if it can search in its online repository for your controller. Sure. If they already went through the trouble of having it pre-configured, go right ahead.
When it’s done, touch buttons and move the analog and see how it looks on the “xbox 360” controller featured in the middle. The green crosses on the analog will move as you move yours, and the buttons will light up when you hit your buttons.
Trigger and “Y” buttons are lit up because I hit them on my controller:
But what if it can’t find something online or it doesn’t come out quite right?
First, click on Game Controllers.
Select your controller and click properties.
Go to the settings tab and hit Calibrate:
Follow the instructions.
Once done, go back to the Test tab and try things out. I recommend leaving that tab open for the next step.
In x360ce (the program with the controller image in the middle), assign your buttons. You’ll notice they’re called “button 1” or whatever and not necessarily what you might see on your actual controller. That’s why the “text” tab from controller properties is helpful as you can see the buttons there.
Button 1 lighting button when I pressed it on my controller:
It’s a little harder to tell for the Axis (the analog sticks), but just keep trying them until it works.
If you need to set up dead zones (how much the analog sticks DON’T recognize movement) like I had to for my Switch controller, so that it doesn’t require inhuman levels of accuracy to stop moving – go to the left or right Thumb (whichever stick needs the dead zone) and set it.
Configuration for FF14
Now, Xinput has a variety of options and different software support different options. So x360ce needs to know which ones to pass to XInput to make it work with the options FF14 expects from xinput.
Go to the Game Settings tab in x360ce, click “Add…” and select ffxiv.exe and ffxiv_dx11.exe (the first one is DX9. Maybe you’ll be lucky and it’ll work with it, but I could only get it to play nice in DX11). So might as well do for both.
Make sure COM, DI, and PIDVID are all selected.
Close x360ce.
(Re)Boot FF14, hope it worked.
The game’s recognizing the controller but it’s acting strange
Try Calibrating again. I had to calibrate about 5 times before it played properly. Some controllers are harder to calibrate than others.
And by that I meant that I had to use the Calibrate in the Game Controller -> Properties- > Settings -> Calibrate AND FF14’s Calibrate each time.
Calibrate controller:
Calibrate controller in FF14:
Part 18: PC Resolving Issues – Intermittent Behavior
Ever have issues where sometimes the analog just keeps going?
Or it’s not listening to button presses AT ALL for a few seconds?
That’s usually because your computer can’t handle having too much going on.
When I had that happen, it was because I had a Backup Software (to backup my computer into the cloud) running in the background and even though it certainly didn’t look like a spike, it didn’t like it.
Solution 1: Turn off unnecessary background programs
I also have it happen, because my controller is a bluetooth controller and I also have a bluetooth headset, when I connect or disconnect my headset because Windows Device Manager gets confused so.
Solution 2: Don’t connect/disconnect devices at times when you’re expecting to hit buttons, and if you have extra devices there, disconnect them if you’re not using them just in case they’re having hidden connection issues that are making Windows Device Manager work extra in the background without you realizing.
Solution 3: Ask SE in forums for help 😀 It’s not their problem ,but they usually have a list of solutions to try out from having to deal with players thinking it was FF14’s fault and filing bug reports over the years.
Part 19: Connecting a controller for Mac version?
I don’t have that so…
If someone wants to write that up, I’ll be very thankful.
Part 20: Connecting a controller for PS4 version?
Press connect button on charged working PS4 controller
Done
Future updates – Maybe
Astragalos – When queues are no longer dead: Check what the controls were for summoning a mech. It’s probably d-pad to choose, Confirm to summon, which wouldn’t need its own section as that’s really obvious, but without trying it and confirming this, I have to remember to check.
Eureka Pyros+ – Logo actions mappings
Mahjong controls
Touchpad controls – I’ll need to ask someone with a PS4
Controllers people have admitted to using: Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One with touchpad, Nintendo Switch Pro,Xbox controller combined with ReWASD
Sources
If I recall correctly, I had originally learned my basics (way back when) in this reddit thread:
I did check out https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/playguide/ps4/manual/
But learned nothing new.
PS4 controller to PC came from:
Hookset for ff14 x360ce came from:
G-pose OF guide:
Reddit contributions:
BigBadDrag :Map Slow Movement Combination and the meaning of “W” in “WXHB”
Bluecenter: Reminded me to put up the Sprint macro
FawksFawks: Reminded me to put up a section on how to set up Keyboard hotbars
Miyako09: Pointing out that for alliance targeting, touchpad might be easier
NegZero: Found a missing image and reminded me to put up a section on how to set up Keyboard hotbars
(When 2 people remind me, that’s how you know it was really necessary!)
Th3rdRaven: Character Config -> Control Settings – Chat Mode Settings, disabling the “Enable direct chat.” options gives you back the standard press enter to chat behaviour when in Gamepad Mode (letting you use keyboard shortcuts and stuff regularly).
Controller button icons:
(“HD Controller Buttons + Tutorials Pack” Preview link)
Everything else was from memory & personal experience, turning on gamepad mode, testing things out by just trying out a bunch of button combinations just in case there was a hidden one (which there often are),and going over my existing x360ce setup.
