iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
For clearer parries in Valor Mortis, turn Motion Blur off, set Camera Shake to Low, keep Enemy Volume prominent, and move block/parry to a key or button you can press without shifting your movement hand. For steadier firearm aiming, lower Mouse Aiming Sensitivity or Controller Aiming Sensitivity below your normal look speed, leave Crosshair on if it helps you track weak points, and increase Combat Assist when melee swings miss because your camera is not aligned with the target. Turn on Instant Restart while learning bosses.
A practical starting preset
Use this as a baseline, then adjust one control at a time. The settings reference was based on the demo and notes that the complete menu can change, so labels or ranges may differ in your build.
| Goal | Setting | Starting choice | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read attacks | Motion Blur | Off | Removes blur from enemy wind-ups and keeps silhouettes crisp. |
| Reduce visual distraction | Camera Shake | Low | Limits screen movement during impacts without removing feedback entirely. |
| Hear telegraphs | Enemy Volume | High or clearly dominant | Preserves attack sounds; reduce music or ambience before lowering this channel. |
| Comfortable defense | Block/parry binding | A nearby key, mouse side button, or comfortable controller face/shoulder button | Lets you defend without taking your movement hand off its normal position. |
| Steady firearms | Mouse Aiming Sensitivity or Controller Aiming Sensitivity | Below normal look sensitivity | Slows aim-down-sights movement while keeping general camera turns responsive. |
| Align melee attacks | Combat Assist | Raise from default if swings pass beside enemies | Strengthens camera assistance toward the enemy during a basic attack. |
| Find weak points | Crosshair | On if the reticle improves your visual tracking | Makes glowing lambent blisters easier to center with limited ammunition. |
| Repeat practice quickly | Instant Restart | On | Returns you to the last checkpoint without a full death-screen sequence. |
How parrying works before you change anything
Valor Mortis uses a posture system: enemy hits and successful parries affect posture, and a well-timed defense creates an opening for a counter. A block followed immediately by a counter restores the health you lost while blocking. That makes blocking a deliberate fallback rather than a replacement for learning parry timing.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
There is an important animation rule: an attack cannot be cancelled into a parry. As Lyrical Games marketing director Connor Bridgeman explained in Xbox Wire’s 2026 launch guidance, do not begin a swing that you cannot finish. If an enemy is already telegraphing an attack and your own attack animation has started, the settings cannot create a defensive shortcut; choose safer attack windows and reserve block or dodge for uncertain timing.
#1 Best Overall
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Make enemy attacks easier to read
Disable Motion Blur
Set Motion Blur to Off. The settings reference identifies this as the clearest way to sharpen enemy wind-ups. Blur can smear a fast weapon arc or a brief body movement, especially when you are turning the camera at the same time. Removing it does not reveal a hidden parry window; it simply leaves more distinct frames for your eyes to interpret.
Lower Camera Shake, not enemy feedback
Choose Camera Shake: Low. Impact shake can obscure the next attack in a group fight and make it difficult to tell whether your input succeeded. Low is the documented comfort choice: it retains some physicality while reducing the amount of the scene that moves independently of your aim. If you still lose sight of an attacker after a hit, test the lowest available value rather than changing sensitivity first.
Give enemy audio priority
Keep Enemy Volume high enough that attack sounds remain distinct. If the mix is too loud overall, lower music or ambience before reducing enemy effects. The settings reference links this channel directly to attack telegraphs, and One More Level’s combat-feedback update said stronger pre-attack audio cues were planned. Audio is therefore a useful second signal, but the exact cue mix can vary between builds and encounters.
Rebind defense for your hand position
Open the keyboard controls and assign block/parry to a key you can press while your movement fingers stay on their usual keys. A mouse side button is viable if it does not cause accidental presses. One More Level reported that players found the default Ctrl block and Alt dodge arrangement uncomfortable; its announced work included revised defaults, saved custom bindings, and side-mouse-button options. The released game has full keyboard/mouse rebinding, so you do not need to accept the original layout.
Rank #2
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
- Open the controls or key-bindings page from the options menu.
- Locate block/parry and dodge separately; do not overwrite movement, attack, or interact unless you have another plan for those actions.
- Press the new block/parry input repeatedly while strafing and turning. Keep it if you can activate it without stretching or releasing movement.
- Use the same binding in a low-risk encounter before attempting a boss. A comfortable input is more valuable than a theoretically faster key that causes hand tension.
Set up steadier firearm and weak-point aiming
Lower the separate aiming sensitivity
Mouse Aiming Sensitivity and Controller Aiming Sensitivity are separate from ordinary Mouse Sensitivity and Controller Sensitivity. Reduce the aiming value first if your reticle slides past a target while aiming down sights. This preserves faster camera movement when exploring or turning toward a new threat while making fine corrections over a lambent blister slower and more controllable.
Change the value in small increments. After each change, aim at a stationary weak point, release the stick or mouse, and make a short correction in each direction. If you repeatedly overshoot, lower the aiming modifier again; if you cannot track a moving enemy without lifting the mouse or holding the stick at its limit, raise it slightly.
Use the Crosshair for visual reference
Set Crosshair: On when a persistent reticle helps you locate the center of the screen. Xbox Wire’s launch guidance identifies glowing lambent blisters as firearm weak points and warns that ammunition is scarce. A crosshair reduces the time spent searching for the point, but it is optional: turn it off if it blocks a small target or makes the screen harder to parse.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Increase Combat Assist only for alignment problems
Combat Assist controls how strongly the camera snaps toward an enemy during a basic melee attack. Raise it when your swings miss because the target is just outside your facing direction, not when you are pressing parry too late. Assistance can correct alignment; it does not change the attack animation, enemy timing, or the rule that an attack cannot be cancelled into a parry.
Rank #3
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Treat target lock as a situational tool
Target lock can help keep a single enemy in view, but it can also be awkward when several enemies surround you. One More Level’s feedback update identified lock range, target prioritization, and camera tracking as areas being improved. Those were announced changes rather than universal values, so check how your current build selects targets in a multi-enemy room. Lock the threat whose wind-up you need to read, release it when the camera starts hiding another attacker, and avoid assuming that a future tracking change is already present.
Keyboard and mouse versus controller
Both input families are supported. The question is ergonomic consistency, not whether one device changes the combat rules.
| Consideration | Keyboard and mouse | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Defense comfort | Full rebinding lets you place block/parry and dodge on reachable keys or mouse buttons. | Several controller schemes are available; shoulder or face buttons may feel more natural for repeated defense. |
| Aiming | Separate mouse aiming sensitivity supports precise small corrections and quick turns. | Separate controller aiming sensitivity lets you slow stick movement while keeping normal camera speed higher. |
| Camera alignment | Combat Assist can compensate when a quick mouse turn leaves a melee swing off-center. | Analog camera movement can be paired with Combat Assist for smoother tracking. |
| Switching choice | Best when your custom bindings are comfortable and you prefer direct reticle control. | A sensible alternative if the default keyboard posture or repeated defensive inputs cause strain. |
An Xbox Wireless Controller is a reasonable accessory choice for players who find keyboard/mouse defense uncomfortable; availability and pricing depend on your region and current listing. TechRadar’s 2026 PC review used one, while also noting the game’s controller schemes and accessibility options. A controller may improve comfort, but it does not make parry timing mechanically easier.
Practice bosses without unnecessary downtime
Turn on Instant Restart
Instant Restart: On restarts you at the last checkpoint without sending you through the complete death-screen flow. Use it while learning a boss so each attempt tests a timing decision rather than a run back. Turn it off later only if you prefer the normal presentation.
Rank #4
- BREAKER SERIES — Hold nothing back. Ice Breaker keeps it forever fresh with a mix of iced and frosted blues. Part of the collective debut of the Breaker special edition series.
- BOLD STYLE, BUILT TO PERFORM — Define your swagger with a wild, head-turning design. Stay elegantly on target with textured triggers built for every moment.
- RUBBERIZED GRIPS — Hold on to the action with rubberized grips on the back cases, designed for comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of battery life so you can keep playing without stopping to recharge.
- PLAY ACROSS EVERY SCREEN — Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between devices including console and PC. Stream games across mobile, gaming handhelds, Smart TVs, and supported VR headsets with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
Consider Quick Cast
Quick Cast automatically casts a selected skill. Enable it when opening a weapon or power-selection step interrupts your defensive rhythm. Leave it off if you need to confirm each cast manually or if accidental selections are costing resources.
Use a repeatable drill
- Choose one enemy attack and watch the complete wind-up with Motion Blur off and Camera Shake low.
- Listen for the enemy cue while keeping Enemy Volume above surrounding channels.
- Attempt a parry from a neutral stance; do not begin an attack immediately beforehand because attacks cannot transition into a parry.
- If you block instead, counter as soon as the opening appears to recover the health lost during that block.
- After the timing is reliable, add movement, a second enemy, or a firearm weak-point shot. Change only one variable between attempts.
Other settings worth checking for comfort
TechRadar’s 2026 accessibility coverage reports full keyboard/mouse rebinding, multiple controller schemes, subtitle-size choices, camera-shake adjustment, gore toggles, and field-of-view adjustment in the released game. Subtitle size is useful when audio cues are difficult to hear; a wider field of view can show more surrounding threats but may make individual targets smaller. Choose the narrowest view that still lets you monitor flankers comfortably. Gore and subtitle controls do not alter parry timing, so set them for comfort rather than performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot by symptom
“I see the attack but still parry late.”
Keep the visual changes in place and focus on the enemy’s complete wind-up rather than the weapon tip. Verify that block/parry is not sharing an awkward modifier, and test the input while standing still. Settings improve readability and reach; they do not enlarge a published parry window, and the available sources do not provide a universal frame count.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →“The screen shakes and I lose the next attacker.”
Lower Camera Shake another step, keep Enemy Volume high, and release target lock if its camera is pulling your view away from a second enemy. Re-enter the encounter with Instant Restart so you can test the change immediately.
Best Value
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
“My firearm reticle passes over the blister.”
Lower the relevant aiming sensitivity, keep the Crosshair on, and make shorter corrections while aiming down sights. Do not lower normal look sensitivity unless fast turns themselves are a problem; the aiming modifiers are designed to separate those behaviors.
“My melee attack misses a nearby enemy.”
Raise Combat Assist one step and check whether target lock is selecting the intended enemy. If the camera snaps to the wrong target in a crowd, release lock and approach from a clearer angle instead of raising assistance indefinitely.
What may change between builds
One More Level has publicly described planned improvements to attack wind-ups, pre-attack audio, block-versus-parry visual and audio separation, default controls, saved bindings, target prioritization, tracking, and target-lock range. These announcements explain why a later patch may feel clearer than the demo or launch configuration. They do not establish one parry-frame value that applies to every version, so use the settings available in your installed build and recheck custom bindings after major updates.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
