Fortress Merge - Controls

Fortress Merge is a strategy game built around placing buildings, merging matching structures and preparing your fortress before each enemy wave. You do not directly control knights, archers or mages during battle. Most of the important inputs are used while arranging the board, buying buildings, merging them and deciding when your defense is ready to fight.

The console version uses a board cursor designed specifically for controllers, while PC players can manage almost everything with the mouse. The controls below focus on the current PlayStation, Xbox and PC versions released by QubicGames.

Fortress Merge PlayStation Controls

Fortress Merge also displays contextual button prompts around the interface. If a particular screen shows a different action beside a button, follow the prompt shown by the current version.

Fortress Merge Xbox Controls

Fortress Merge PC Controls

Fortress Merge can be played almost entirely with a mouse on PC. Steam also supports full controller play if you prefer the console style board navigation.

How to Place Buildings

Choose a building from the shop and move it onto a free board tile. On PC, simply drag the building with the mouse. With a controller, highlight it, hold the Select button and move it to the desired position.

Placement is important because enemies follow routes toward your castle. Barricades should slow enemies where your towers and ranged units can keep attacking them.

You can move buildings before the fight

Do not treat the first position as permanent. Rearrange the board while preparing the wave and make sure important damage buildings are protected.

How to Merge Buildings

Two matching buildings of the same level can be combined into a stronger version.

Drag one building directly onto its identical match. If the buildings are eligible, they merge and free one board tile.

Merging also contributes toward battle experience, which eventually gives you a choice of temporary upgrades.

Do not merge everything immediately

A stronger building is useful, but two separate unit producing buildings can sometimes create more bodies than one upgraded structure. Merge when the extra strength or free board space is more valuable than keeping both copies.

How to Start a Wave

Press R1 on PlayStation or RB on Xbox when the fortress is ready. PC players can click the Fight button.

There is no reason to rush this input. Check the enemy path, castle position, barricades and ranged coverage first.

How Reroll Works

Reroll replaces the current choices when the shop or upgrade screen gives you options you do not want.

On controller, R2 or RT is used when the reroll command appears. PC players can click the Reroll button.

Shop rerolls consume resources, and repeated rerolls become increasingly expensive during a run. Use them because your board is missing something important, not simply because you want a perfect roll.

How to Sell Buildings

Buildings that no longer help your strategy can be sold when the interface allows it. On PC, drag the structure into the sell area. Console players can select the structure and follow the Sell prompt displayed on screen.

Selling becomes especially useful before boss waves when a weak economic or unnecessary unit building can be converted into resources for a stronger defense.

How to Move the Castle

The castle can be repositioned like other board pieces during preparation. Moving it away from the direct enemy route can be one of the simplest ways to keep it alive.

Do not assume its starting tile is automatically the safest place for it.

Battle Speed Controls

Fortress Merge lets you increase the speed of battles. This is convenient once you know a wave is under control, but normal speed is better when testing a new formation.

Watch the first enemies carefully. If they walk around your barricades or reach an important building too easily, you have learned something useful for the next preparation phase.

How Battle Upgrades Work

Merging buildings provides experience during a battle. Once enough experience is earned, the game presents upgrade choices that can improve defenses, unit damage, building durability, cooldowns and other parts of your setup.

Choose the upgrade that supports the board you already have. A bonus for mages is far less useful if you are relying on knights and turrets.

Fortress Merge Controls FAQ

What button starts a battle in Fortress Merge?

Press R1 on PlayStation or RB on Xbox. On PC, click the Fight button.

How do you merge buildings?

Move one building directly onto an identical building of the same level.

How do you move buildings?

Select and drag them to another available board tile before the wave begins.

How do you reroll the shop?

Use R2 on PlayStation, RT on Xbox or click the Reroll option on PC when it is available.

Can you move the castle?

Yes. The castle can be repositioned during the preparation phase.

Does Fortress Merge support controllers on PC?

Yes. The Steam version supports full controller play as well as mouse based controls.

Do you manually control units during a fight?

No. Units and defensive structures fight automatically after the wave begins. Your main responsibility is building, merging and positioning the fortress correctly beforehand.

The Important Control Is Dragging, Not Fighting

Fortress Merge is won before most waves begin. Learn how quickly you can move structures, merge matching buildings and reorganize the route before pressing Fight.

A good board lets the automatic combat system do its job. A bad board can lose even with stronger buildings because your best units never get enough time to attack.