Sword of the Sea - Controls

Sword of the Sea turns movement into the main event. Instead of walking across its deserts and restored oceans, the Wraith rides an ancient Hoversword that behaves like a surfboard, snowboard, and skateboard combined. You carve across dunes, build speed on water, launch from wave crests, grind along ruins, perform aerial tricks, and dive rapidly toward the ground.

The control layout is intentionally compact, but several actions change depending on whether you are riding normally, airborne, using Trick Mode, or interacting with the environment. Learning how jump, boost, drop, and trick inputs work together is the key to reaching distant ledges and producing longer trick combinations.

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How Movement Works

The Hoversword carries momentum rather than moving at one fixed speed. Descending a steep dune, riding across restored water, landing smoothly, and using boost all help you travel faster. Climbing a slope naturally removes speed, so a straight route is not always the quickest route.

Think like a surfer rather than a pedestrian. Move across the face of a dune, descend into a low section, and use the next rise as a ramp. The landscape is built from flowing curves, and following those curves generally produces better speed than forcing the Wraith directly uphill.

Steering and Camera Control

Use the left stick or movement keys to steer while the right stick or mouse controls the camera. The Wraith follows the direction of travel rather than instantly snapping toward the camera, so make smaller steering adjustments at high speed.

Press the reset-camera control whenever the view drifts too far to one side. This is especially useful before narrow ruins, wall rides, high-speed tunnels, and jumps that require a precise landing.

Jumping and Double-Jump Tricks

Press Jump to leave the ground. Jumping from the crest of a wave or the upper edge of a ramp gives you more useful airtime than jumping from a flat surface.

Press Jump again while airborne to perform a simple aerial move and gain an additional lift. This second input can rescue a slightly short jump, but it is often better saved until you know whether the extra height or distance is actually needed.

For long gaps, build speed before takeoff, jump near the lip, and delay the second press until the Wraith begins approaching the highest point of the arc.

Using Boost

Hold Boost to accelerate and maintain stronger forward momentum. Boost is most effective when the board already has a clear route rather than when it is pointed into a steep wall or obstruction.

Use boost on open water, broad downhill sections, and the approach to major ramps. Releasing it before a sharp turn can make the Hoversword easier to position.

Using Drop

Drop sends the Wraith downward quickly. It becomes useful after high jumps, during trick combinations, and whenever you need to reconnect with the terrain sooner instead of floating past a landing.

A well-timed drop can turn excess height into a controlled landing. Dropping immediately after takeoff, however, wastes the jump and may end a trick before it has time to register.

Trick Mode and Special Tricks

Hold Trick Mode while airborne and press one of the face buttons to perform an unlocked grab, spin, or flip. Tricks must first be learned from the mysterious vendors found throughout the world, so the full selection is not available at the beginning.

Different face-button combinations produce different animations as more techniques are purchased. Trick Mode is primarily used in the air, although the game also rewards combining aerial moves with environmental actions such as grinding and wall riding.

Grinding and Wall Riding

Rails, ruined architecture, rooftops, marine life, and other narrow surfaces can act as grindable routes. Approach them with enough speed and line up the board before contact. Once attached, avoid oversteering unless the route bends sharply.

Wall rides work best when you meet the surface at a shallow angle. Driving directly into a wall usually removes momentum, while approaching alongside it lets the board continue flowing across the surface.

Interaction Controls

Use Interact near Ocean Seeds, mechanisms, vendors, and other highlighted objects. The prompt usually appears once the Wraith is close enough, but high speed can carry you beyond the interaction area.

Slow down or circle back when an activation prompt disappears. You rarely need to land on an object with perfect precision; you simply need to remain within its usable range long enough to press the button.

Photo Mode Controls

Press D-Pad Up on the default controller preset to enter Photo Mode. Photo Mode lets you pause a dramatic jump, frame restored wildlife, experiment with camera placement, and capture the changing landscapes without rushing.

The available photo tools are shown inside the mode itself. Hide the interface before taking the final image and try repositioning the camera lower to the ground when you want the dunes or waves to appear larger.

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Controller Presets and Remapping

The Controls menu includes selectable presets, a Swap Sticks option, control remapping, and controller-vibration strength. The default preset places Boost and Drop on the triggers, Trick Mode and camera reset on the shoulder buttons, Jump and Interact on face buttons, and Photo Mode on the D-Pad.

Players who perform tricks frequently may prefer a preset that reduces the number of simultaneous inputs. Test each preset in an open area before committing to it, because the most comfortable layout depends on whether you value exploration, simple tricks, or high-scoring combinations.

How to Remap Sword of the Sea Controls

• Open the pause menu or main menu.
• Select Settings.
• Open the Controls section.
• Select Remap Controls.
• Choose the action you want to change.
• Press the replacement button or key.
• Test the new layout in a wide, obstacle-free area.

Avoid placing Jump, Trick Mode, and Drop in positions that are difficult to press together. Those actions are commonly combined during aerial movement.

Recommended Controller Settings

Keep Boost on a Trigger

Boost is often held for several seconds, so an analog trigger is more comfortable than a face button. Keeping it on R2 or RT also lets you steer and move the camera without releasing acceleration.

Keep Jump Easy to Tap Twice

Jump may be pressed once for takeoff and again in midair. Use a button that can be tapped quickly without disturbing your control of the camera.

Reduce Vibration Rather Than Disabling It Immediately

DualSense haptics communicate changes in the surface beneath the Hoversword. Sand, water, tiles, and other materials feel different, so moderate vibration can provide useful movement feedback as well as atmosphere.

Use Swap Sticks Only When Necessary

Swapping sticks reverses the normal movement-and-camera arrangement. It can be helpful for accessibility or personal preference, but it will feel unfamiliar to most players accustomed to standard third-person controls.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you perform tricks in Sword of the Sea?

Jump into the air, hold L1 on PlayStation or LB on an Xbox-style controller, and press a face button. Additional trick animations become available after purchasing techniques from vendors.

How do you get more height?

Build momentum on a downhill section or restored water, aim for the crest of a ramp, jump near its edge, and use the second jump in midair. Approaching with speed matters more than repeatedly pressing Jump.

What does the Drop button do?

Drop pulls the Wraith rapidly toward the ground. Use it to end a high jump, reach a lower route, reconnect with a slope, or finish a trick sequence before overshooting the landing.

How do you boost?

Hold R2 on PlayStation or RT on an Xbox-style controller. Boost works best on clear downhill routes, open water, and the approach to a large jump.

How do you reset the camera?

Press R1 on the default PlayStation layout or RB on an Xbox-style controller. Resetting the camera quickly places the view back behind the Wraith.

Can you change the controls?

Yes. Sword of the Sea includes controller presets and a Remap Controls option. PC players can also use keyboard-and-mouse controls.

Can you swap the movement and camera sticks?

Yes. The controller settings include a Swap Sticks option for players who prefer camera movement on the left stick and steering on the right.

Does Sword of the Sea support DualSense features on PC?

Yes. The PC edition supports full DualSense functionality. The Steam store recommends disabling Steam Input when using a DualSense controller so that the native features can operate correctly.

What is the best controller preset?

The default preset is the most intuitive starting point because it separates Boost, Drop, Trick Mode, camera reset, Jump, and Interact cleanly. Alternative presets may be more convenient for players concentrating on trick combinations.

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Final Control Advice

Sword of the Sea becomes much easier once you stop steering directly toward every destination. Use the shape of the land: descend to build speed, carve across slopes, launch from crests, save the second jump for the middle of the arc, and use Drop to return cleanly to the surface.

Practice Boost, Jump, Trick Mode, and Drop as one connected sequence. When those four controls begin to feel natural, distant secrets and high-scoring Trick Attack runs become far less intimidating.

Continue with our Sword of the Sea Tips and Tricks Guide for exploration, collectibles, tricks, Tetra, Ocean Seeds, movement, and completion advice.