Controls & Settings Guide — Keybinds, Controller Setup & Performance

Sephiria is a fast-paced action roguelite where precise inputs matter. This guide covers the core actions you'll use every run, how to set up keyboard/mouse and controller to your comfort, and the settings tweaks that give you the smoothest experience.

Settings vary by version and platform — the in-game settings menu is the authority. This guide covers what most players change.

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Core Actions

Every Sephiria run uses the same core actions:

Action	What It Does	Note
--------	-------------	------
Move	Walk the tower rooms	Standard WASD on keyboard
Attack	Your weapon's primary attack	Mouse-button driven on keyboard/mouse
Dash	The core dodge tool	Keep it on a key you never fumble
Block	Defensive stance (Sword & Shield block, others deflect)	Hold, don't tap
Interact	Open doors, shops, pickups	Keep near movement keys
Inventory / menu	Artifacts, tablets, settings	A key you can hit mid-fight

Rebinding advice:

• Keep dash and block on your strongest fingers. They're your survival tools — in boss fights you'll press them constantly.
• Move interact off a key you need mid-combat if possible — you never want to loot when you meant to attack.
• Mouse side buttons are great homes for any frequently-used action.

Block is not optional. Sephiria's enemies telegraph attacks, and blocking is the difference between a clean run and a dead one — see the Beginner's Guide.

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Controller Setup

Controller Basics

Sephiria supports controller play. If you play with a controller:

• Enable Steam Input for the game (right-click the game in your Steam library → Properties → Controller → Enable Steam Input). This handles most modern controllers.
• Prefer wired if you experience input lag — Bluetooth adds latency, and fighting games feel it.
• Recalibrate in Steam's controller settings if the stick drifts.

Controller Advice by Build

• Melee builds (Sword & Shield, Greatsword) feel great on controller — aim direction is less critical.
• Ranged builds (Crossbow, Staff) are easier on keyboard/mouse, where independent aiming is more precise.
• If the game offers aim assistance, it helps ranged builds on controller — try it and see.

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Graphics & Performance Settings

Sephiria is a pixel-art game with modest system requirements (per the official Steam store page, a GeForce GTS 750 minimum) — it runs on most hardware. If you want it smoother:

Setting	Recommendation	Why
------	------	------
Fullscreen	Borderless window	Faster alt-tab; fewer input-lag quirks
V-Sync	Off	Reduces input lag — screen tearing is minimal on pixel art
Frame rate	Match your monitor	Higher FPS = more responsive dashes
Particles/effects	Lower if drops occur	Boss fights get busy with full effects

Co-op Performance

4-player co-op adds effects from all players. If your FPS drops in multiplayer:

1. Lower particles/effects settings
2. Cap FPS during co-op sessions if needed
3. Have the player with the best machine host — the host bears most of the load

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Accessibility & Comfort

Sephiria is an action game — most of it is inputs. If you want a less demanding experience:

• Bind attack to a comfortable key (e.g., a key or mouse button you can press for long stretches) as an alternative to constant clicking.
• Use block (hold, not tap) as your primary defense — holding a button is less input-intensive than constant dashing.
• Pick a weapon that suits your play rhythm — Sword & Shield rewards steady blocking; Crossbow rewards kiting. See the Weapons Guide.
• Passive-damage artifact setups reduce how much active input you need per room (see the Artifacts Guide).

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Settings FAQ

Q: Can I rebind keys?

Yes — Sephiria's settings menu includes keybinding. Set your survival actions (dash, block) first.

Q: My controller isn't detected — what do I do?

Enable Steam Input for the game, try wired instead of Bluetooth, and verify the controller works in Steam's own controller settings first.

Q: The game runs slowly — what should I change?

Lower the particle/effect settings, disable V-Sync, and try borderless window. Sephiria's minimum spec is modest, so drops are usually settings-related.

Q: Do settings matter for co-op?

The host's machine and connection matter most. See the Multiplayer Connection Fix Guide for connection-side fixes.

Related Guides

• Beginner's Guide — Core mechanics and first steps
• Weapons Guide — Pick a weapon that suits your controls
• Boss Guide — Where your block and dash skills pay off
• Hard Mode Guide — When settings start to matter
• Multiplayer Connection Fix Guide — Co-op performance fixes