Lost Ark works with most modern controllers on PC, including Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 DualShock, PlayStation 5 DualSense, and many third-party pads. The setup involves three parts: connecting the controller to Windows, enabling gamepad mode inside the game, and remapping skills to suit your class. If the game ignores your controller, Steam Input usually resolves it.
Supported controllers
Lost Ark recognizes the major controller families on Windows. DualShock 4 and DualSense pads work, but the in-game prompts always display Xbox glyphs (A/B/X/Y, LB/RB, LT/RT), so PlayStation users have to mentally translate the buttons. Third-party controllers vary; some pass through cleanly, others need Steam Input to emulate an Xbox 360 device.
| Controller | Connection | In-game prompts |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox One / Series X|S | USB, Xbox Wireless Adapter, Bluetooth | Native Xbox glyphs |
| PlayStation 4 (DualShock 4) | USB, Bluetooth | Xbox glyphs shown |
| PlayStation 5 (DualSense) | USB, Bluetooth | Xbox glyphs shown |
| Nintendo Switch Pro | USB, Bluetooth | Xbox glyphs shown |
| Third-party / Logitech | USB, Bluetooth (varies) | Often requires Steam Input |
Connect the controller to Windows
A wired connection is the most reliable. Plug the controller into a USB port and Windows should install the driver automatically. For wireless, Bluetooth pairing works for any controller that supports it.
Step 1: Open Windows Settings and go to Bluetooth & devices. Make sure Bluetooth is on.
Step 2: Click Add device, then choose Bluetooth in the pop-up window.
Step 3: Put the controller into pairing mode. On Xbox controllers, hold the small sync button on top until the Xbox logo flashes quickly. On DualSense, hold the PS button and Create button together until the light bar flashes.
Step 4: Select your controller from the device list (for example, "Xbox Wireless Controller") and wait for Windows to confirm the connection.
If you previously paired the same controller and it refuses to connect, remove it first using the three-dot menu next to the device, then add it again.
Enable gamepad mode in Lost Ark
Lost Ark does not switch to controller mode automatically just because a pad is connected. The toggle lives in the in-game settings.
Step 1: Launch Lost Ark and click the gear icon to open Settings.
Step 2: In the left sidebar, choose Gamepad, then open the Control tab.
Step 3: Tick the Use Gamepad checkbox at the top. The skill bar at the bottom of the screen should immediately switch to button prompts like RB+X, RB+Y, and LB+RB+X.
The Control tab is split into Combat, Sailing, and Other sub-tabs. Each action can be remapped to a different button or combination, and you can save macros from the same screen.
Tune feel through Additional Features
Under Gamepad → Additional Features, several settings change how the controller feels in moment-to-moment play. The auto-target option is particularly important because it changes how skills aim.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gamepad Vibration | Toggles rumble for different attack types; disable if it feels constant |
| Cursor Speed / Acceleration | Controls how fast the right stick moves the menu cursor |
| Combat Pointer Settings | Adjusts the targeting reticle behavior in combat |
| Deadzone (Left / Right Stick) | Eliminates stick drift; raise slightly if your character moves on its own |
| Auto Target | Locks normal skills onto the nearest enemy automatically |
| Switch Gamepad Mode | Changes how the gamepad handles UI vs combat input |
Auto target is convenient for chaos dungeons and general mobbing, but it can backfire in raids where you need to face a specific direction. Some encounters reward you for shooting away from the boss, and auto target may pull skills onto a side mob and cause a wipe. Many endgame players turn the first auto target option off and rely on the targeted-skill priority system instead.
Fix a controller that Lost Ark ignores
If the game does not detect your pad even after enabling gamepad mode, route the input through Steam. Steam Input wraps the controller and presents it to Lost Ark as a standard Xbox device, which solves most third-party and DualSense detection issues.
Step 1: Open Steam, go to your Library, and click Lost Ark.
Step 2: Click the controller icon on the right side of the page, next to the gear icon.
Step 3: In the Lost Ark Controller Settings window, click Enable Steam Input.
Step 4: Click the current layout name to view templates, then open the Community Layouts tab. Layouts such as "Lost Ark Extra UI Controls" or controller-specific configurations are good fallbacks if the default mapping feels wrong.
You can also configure the controller globally from Steam → Settings → Controller → General Controller Settings, where you tick the box for the type of pad you are using (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, or Generic).
A workable combat layout
The default scheme places eight skills behind LB and RB combinations, which works but can strain your left index finger over long sessions. A common alternative uses the triggers as skill modifiers and keeps the bumpers for utility actions.
| Action | Binding |
|---|---|
| Basic attack | X |
| Move / stand up | A |
| Skills 1–4 | LT + X / Y / B / A |
| Skills 5–8 | RT + X / Y / B / A |
| Awakening skill | LB + LT + X |
| Identity skill 1 / 2 | Y / B |
| Potions | RB + X / Y / B |
| Inventory | Left D-pad |
| World map | RB + Select |
| Game menu (ESC) | RB + Start |
| Interact / talk to NPC | Left stick click (replaces G) |
Identity skills mapped to the face buttons (Y and B) feel natural for most classes. Some players prefer to bind identity skills to the D-pad and put the awakening on Y instead, especially on classes with frequent identity activations such as Arcana.
Raid mechanics that need controller-specific input
A few endgame raid mechanics were designed around keyboard input. They still work on controller, but the inputs are unusual.
Pinging on the map. The default ping requires the keyboard. To ping with a controller, hold all four shoulder buttons (LB + LT + RB + RT) and press A, B, X, or Y for the corresponding ping type.
Typing mechanics in Vykas G2, Kakul-Saydon G3, and Brelshaza G2 use a fixed sequence of inputs. On controller you press the matching face buttons and D-pad directions in order rather than typing letters.
Mash mechanics in Kayangel G2 and the Hanumatan monkey-mash phase respond to rapid button presses. Pressing multiple face buttons at the same time fills the bar much faster than spamming one button. Avoid this in Kaya G2, where finishing too quickly can kill you.
Skipping dialogue normally uses Shift+G. On controller, alternating A and B continuously achieves the same skip.
Settings sync across devices
Controller bindings and gamepad options are stored on the game server tied to your account, not locally. If you log into Lost Ark on another machine, including a Steam Deck or ROG Ally, your full controller layout is already there. Navigating the menus and inventory with only the controller is still rough, but combat plays the same on a handheld as on a desktop.
Once the connection, the in-game toggle, and either the default or a custom layout are in place, the controller experience in Lost Ark is comfortable for both open-world content and raids. Spend a few minutes in Trixion or a chaos dungeon to confirm every skill fires before taking the layout into a legion raid.