Learn the ins and outs of Salt and Sanctuary's controls. Master melee, magic, and item usage with this quick guide to button mappings and actions.
Alright, let's get you familiar with how to actually play Salt and Sanctuary. It's a bit different from other games, so knowing your buttons is key. We'll cover the main gameplay controls here; the menus have their own set of buttons, which we'll get to later.
Think of your controller like this:
| Button | Action | Notes |
| Square | Attack (Light) | This is your bread-and-butter attack. If you have a sword or axe, it's a quick swing. If you're using a staff, it's your first equipped spell. Bow users can hold Square to aim. |
| Triangle | Attack (Heavy) | This hits harder but uses more Stamina. For melee, it's a slower, stronger swing. For casters using a staff, it's your second equipped spell. You can hold Triangle to aim ranged attacks too. |
| Circle | Use/Interact/Confirm | This is your main interaction button. Use it to talk to people, open chests, and importantly, to reveal 'secret doors' – just walk up to one and press Circle. |
| X | Jump | Self-explanatory! Leap into the air. |
| Options | Open Menu | This brings up your main game menu, where you can check your stats, manage your gear, and look at the Bestiary. We'll dive deeper into the menu later. |
| Directional Pad (Left/Right) | Cycle Inventory | Quickly switch between your equipped items, weapons, and spells. |
| Directional Pad (Down) | Light Torch | Got a torch? Hold this button down until it lights up. Let go too soon and it won't work. You need a torch equipped to do this, obviously. |
| R1 | Use Item/Spell | This uses whatever item or spell is currently highlighted on your HUD, right under your health and stamina bars. |
| R2 | Roll/Slide | Your primary dodge move. Rolling is crucial for avoiding damage. Hold R2 on a ladder to slide down it quickly. If you press Square right after rolling, you'll do a special 'dodge attack' – super useful for getting out of sticky situations and hitting back immediately. |
| L1 | Swap Weapon Set | Quickly switch between your two different weapon/spell loadouts. Handy for adapting on the fly. |
| L2 | Block/Use Offhand | If you have a shield or a suitable weapon in your offhand, this is your block button. Like Square and Triangle, you can hold L2 to aim spells or ranged weapons equipped in your offhand. |
| L2 (Hold) + Square | Parry | This is a high-risk, high-reward move. You need to time it perfectly, pressing L2 and Square just as an enemy's attack is about to land. If you nail it, you'll deflect their strike and open them up for a counter-attack. Works with shields and some weapons. |
| Left Analog Stick | Movement | Standard movement control. Walk, run, strafe – it's all here. |
| Right Analog Stick | Camera Pan | Control your view of the world. Look around, scout ahead, and keep an eye on your surroundings. |
That covers the basics of how you'll be interacting with the world in Salt and Sanctuary. Get a feel for these, especially the roll and parry, and you'll be much better equipped to handle what comes your way!
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