1. Take advantage of the back buttons - I have R4 set to focus toggle, and L4 set to toggle ABXY to ↑↓←→. The L4 being the most useful as it allows me to move and still use abilities that would require my left hand.

How do you set that up? What is the purpose for it? I saw a rotate hot bar key binding, but it did nothing for me. Maybe I need to revise my hot bar settings to make it work. I do have my L4 to cycle target, L5 to cycle enmity list, and my R4 to target focus. The R5 on the LegionGo has a weird placement, so I bound the remove HUD for screenshots.

I have the left trackpad mapped to trigger common and specially mapped keys (look up Steam Deck Radial Menus). Think; map, chocobo mount, macros. The keys are then set on a hidden hotbar so I can clear space from the screen.

That’s an interesting use, I use the trackpad for the mouse. Granted with SteamOS on my LegionGo, I don’t need that anymore. I’ll have to look it up because that would free up some space, or even use if to open menus likes duty finder, etc.

You need to consider what you need and actually use in your x-hotbars. Like I see an Elixir on L2+↑ - your a bard, you don’t need that.

So I have noticed, I might replace with activating limit break.

Consider groupings of abilities, I don’t have a screenshot at hand but for example mine is laid out as:

Thanks for the advice, I have been using this https://www.xivbars.com/job/BRD/6188, but a bit modified.

So I switch to my AOE using the right bumper, and LT - RT and RT - LT, are identical copies of personal buffs or enemy buffs. This way I don’t have to remember what combo to press since my brain sucks at multitasking. How do you keep up with then musical songs are ready if they are hidden away (at least the defensive songs). Maybe I’m visualizing it wrong.

Consider changing the Song Bar to simple mode to free up some space/distraction.

It’s so pretty and cool looking though! I tried and then it got lost from my view. I’ll try again!

Thanks for all the feedback, I have adopted some of these for my new setup. See image. I have the select target much bigger in the middle now, but also added the focus target above the enmity list, that let’s me target back with R4.

1. I have the left trackpad mapped to trigger common and specially mapped keys (look up Steam Deck Radial Menus). Think; map, chocobo mount, macros. The keys are then set on a hidden hotbar so I can clear space from the screen.

Update on this, I tried it out and loved it. However, could not keep it as how my hand placement is on the Legion Go, I keep accidentally pressing the trackpad and activating mid battle. Can’t change the sensitivity jet, when I do change in SteamOS, nothing changes. Might be worked out in future versions. Great advice though for anyone who has a Steam Deck!

Depending on the roles you play, you may want to stick to minimal for your party, since there are some party effects that are nice to be able to see. And I think no matter which role you play it's nice to be able to see stuff like healer circles.

Noted, I learned that the hard way. I was wondering where healing circles went. Minimal seems to be working fine, now that I pushed a lot more of the HUD to focus on what’s important for a DPS

Macros are generally not recommended for combat purposes, as you'll get timing issues and registration issues. The one exception is Holmgang, where it's useful to have a very stupid-looking macro to target oneself so it doesn't fall off early.

Thanks for that insight, I saw some videos of players showing their macros and it kinda went over my head.

All the combat jobs I've tried so far need at most two full controller keysets, as in, only R1+triangle and R1+circle really need to be job-specific. R1+X just holds some low-lever healer keysets for me, since healers have kind of weird upgrade paths that turns your default keyset useless in low-level duties.

That makes sense. I have LT and RT to H1. LT-RT or RT-LT to H2, and RB to H3. Then H3, which holds a lot of daily used menus or chat macros are assigned to H4 which requires the RB+X. I do have RT/LT showing the same thing so I don’t have to remember what combo, but now I see your comment about amount of spells for level 100. So I might need to reconsider.

Essentially I use a modified version of https://www.xivbars.com/job/BRD/6188

Do you have a possible layout like this to share?

If you use the double-tap style, set it to show the full keyset. You'll need that by level 100.

Hmm, I use the double tab but only half of it, to allow for more space. I found having the full cross was too cluttered for my taste. I assume there are not some spells that can be ignored. Example of my setup below.

• Keep the abilities you want to be able to use on the move on the opposite side of the controller as the stick you use to move. Having to take your thumb off the stick to cast and then get moving again, or reaching with the other hand, is clunky.

• Role actions should be on the same spot for all roles, and some similar actions like forward dash, a "use once at start of duty" ability (tank stance, kardia, summon), zero-cast-time ranged attack, etc.

• I generally also keep single-target actions on R2, and AOEs and defensives on L2

• I prefer the R2>L2 style, and I have continuations for some jobs "under" the main buttons, so I can keep e.g. R2 down, press triangle, add L2, press triangle again, and release L2. That generally works for DPS and tanks where you want to keep the attack GCDs easily available for your Always Be Casting.

• For healers I generally put the OGCD heals on the top level and the infallible GCD heals at the sub-level. This means that the OGCDs are almost always visible, and I have to go through them to get at the GCD heals, as in, it's less pressing to use the free heals. For the healers I also generally put the attacks on R2 and heals on L2, as in hopefully I can Always Be Casting from R2, and intermittently weave a free heal from L2.

This is extremely valuable advice, thank you so much. I’m going to have to rethink my controller setup now, especially if I ever play a different class.

It’s helpful on other jobs too. If you’re targeting adds in a fight, for example. I’d say it’s especially helpful for tanks, SMN, and RDM. As RDM I’m often helping to raise people and not targeting the boss.

And on controller you can use soft-targeting if you need to target your team. Up/down on the D-pad but don't press select, just use the ability, and you'll automatically be on your previous target afterwards.

Thanks for the advice, I went ahead and started practicing more with the focus targeting. Also enlarged the target action/spell effects to show me what my poison timers are. Has helped!