The Pathless - Controls

The The Pathless controls are easy to learn, but the real skill comes from combining them. Running, shooting talismans, jumping and gliding are designed to flow together, letting the Hunter cross huge stretches of the island without constantly stopping to aim.

This guide covers the main PlayStation controls and default PC keyboard and mouse controls, along with the movement techniques that are easy to overlook when you first start playing.

The Pathless PlayStation Controls

The PS4 and PS5 versions use a compact control scheme. L2 and R2 handle the two actions you will use constantly: dashing and firing the bow. Once the eagle joins you, the same jump button also becomes your main flight control.

The Pathless PC Keyboard and Mouse Controls

The Pathless can be played with keyboard and mouse as well as a controller. These are the standard PC bindings. Several actions share keys because their function changes depending on whether the Hunter is running, airborne or interacting with the eagle.

How Aiming and Shooting Actually Work

The Pathless does not expect you to manually aim at every talisman while sprinting at full speed. Face the camera toward a valid target and hold the shoot button. A targeting indicator begins to fill, and releasing at the correct moment sends the arrow toward the selected talisman.

On PlayStation, that means holding R2 and releasing it once the shot is ready. On PC, perform the same action with the Left Mouse Button.

Successful talisman shots replenish spirit energy and provide a burst of momentum. This is why bow controls are just as important for traversal as they are for puzzles and boss encounters.

How to Dash Without Constantly Running Out of Energy

Hold L2 on PlayStation or Shift on PC to dash. Dashing consumes the spirit energy gauge, so simply holding the button will eventually slow the Hunter down.

The solution is to shoot talismans while moving. Rather than thinking of running and archery as separate actions, combine them into one rhythm: dash, acquire a talisman, release a shot and continue toward the next target.

Once that rhythm clicks, crossing the island becomes dramatically faster.

Jumping, Gliding and Eagle Flaps

After gaining the eagle companion, pressing the jump control while airborne allows the Hunter to glide. The eagle gradually loses altitude while carrying her, but a flap pushes the pair upward again.

Your available flaps are limited. Collecting enough yellow crystals increases the eagle's flight capability, giving you additional flaps and making high ruins and long crossings much easier to reach.

You can also shoot talismans during aerial movement. A successful shot provides momentum in the air, making it possible to connect running, jumping, shooting and gliding without breaking your flow.

How to Use Spirit Vision

Press Triangle on PlayStation to enter Spirit Vision. On PC, use Q to toggle it or hold Ctrl.

Spirit Vision changes how the landscape is displayed and helps reveal important locations and objects. It is effectively The Pathless's answer to a traditional map full of objective icons.

Scan from hills, towers and other high places whenever you are unsure where to explore next. Strong points of interest are considerably easier to identify when you can see a large part of the surrounding region.

How to Control the Eagle

The eagle is more than a glider. It can interact with parts of the environment and carry certain objects needed for puzzles. On PlayStation, Circle is used for eagle actions such as picking up and releasing compatible objects.

The eagle can also be petted. This is normally a peaceful interaction, but petting becomes important during encounters with corrupted spirits when your companion needs to be cleansed.

Which Controls Should You Learn First?

Start with dash, shoot and jump. Practice holding the dash control while firing at talismans without stopping. Then introduce jumps and aerial shots. Once you have the eagle, add gliding and flaps to the same sequence.

The Pathless feels completely different once those actions become one continuous movement. You are not supposed to stop at every talisman and carefully aim. The controls are built around momentum, and learning to preserve that momentum is the key to making exploration feel as effortless as it looks.