Question to stick users.

What kind of layouts do you use? I love using arcade sticks for fighting games, but with MK's four button plus block scheme, I just can't seem to figure out a layout that feels quite right. I'm running into a number of problems:

• The block button becomes a bit of a reach.
• Things like X-Rays and Enhanced moves become super awkward.
• All the moves are listed as fucking shoulder buttons, which is just the worst thing to try to parse.

It's annoying me. Certainly gamepads are perfectly viable for fighting games, but I do have some trouble with certain quicker combos I know I'd be able to easily do on a stick.

Obviously it's going to all be personal preference, but maybe if you all let me know what you've been doing I'll be able to find something I can get into.

I've come to prefer the stick when playing MK. My layout goes as:

Front Punch Block Back Punch

Front Kick Stance Back Kick

That way I can grab by hitting the left most buttons Street Fighter style and perform XRays with the middle buttons. The block button is always in reach and doing enhanced attacks is pretty easy since it's near the 4 attack buttons.

For SF I use the standard layout. In MKX, I was using default for a while but I found that trying to hit block quickly for run cancel/EX purposes was causing me some discomfort in my ring finger so I switched a few around.

12 Block Grab

34 Stance Interact

This is working out better for me, but it may not be the same for you. I would recommend you try out some stuff in training mode and see what's most comfortable for your hands.

Ah shit, meant to post this to the Mortal Kombat forum, not sure why it didn't.

EDIT: Oh cool, we can move topics ourselves. Anyway, thanks, I'll try stuff out.

Thank god for the PS4 button remapping, only reason I'm getting a fighting stick (waiting on MadCatz) and then I'll probably experiment in training to see what's the best button combinations.

I'm using a PDP Klassic Mortal Kombat stick, so the button layout is already fine. I did change the Run button to Interact. I only wish I could somehow turn off the 1+2=Interact shortcut. Sometimes, when trying to do punch combos too fast, I end up jumping off something in the background.

@marino: isn't that what input shortcuts is in the controller options?

@demoskinos: I looked at that, but the description didn't seem like that's what it meant. I dunno. I'll try it.

@demoskinos: But also, I kinda need 1+3 for throws. So...I'm screwed either way.

@marino: Yeah, I was using the same stick cause its just fun to use that thing but I ended up going back to the pad. I was having trouble doing combos that required quick Triangle,Circle presses. Since its a bit of a stretch to get down to the circle button reliably at least for me.

I don't use stick, but if I did I think I'd go:

Stance 1 2

Block 3 4

This would put block under my thumb for ease of access.

I have a 2x4 button layout so I have it set as:

LP, HP, LK, HK

BLK, INT, THW, FLP

LP HP Block

LK HK Grab

Use my index and middle finger for punches and kicks, ring finger for block and grab. Really comfortable, wouldn't try it any other way.

I use @thunderslash's setup, but mk kind of sucks with a stick. It really comes down to if you want the arcade experience or not as I think the game actually more efficiently uses a controller than any stick setup.

@whur: A Hitbox might be the most optimal way to play MK.

I started out doing it like this because it's my layout for anime games:

• X Y B RT
• A * * LT

But I think I prefer this now:

• X Y * RB
• A B RT LT

I have an easier time hitting block like this, and my street fighter execution practice has helped me a lot to start hitting the awkardly placed B button without any real issues anymore. Though I still have a lot of brain rewiring to do before I start playing this game properly. Oh how I miss blocking without a button....

EDIT: For the record, the technique I picked up for this to make sense is to not tap every button with the tip of your fingers, I actually press the bottom row with the middle part of my fingers so I dont have to move my hand at all.

I've been fiddling around with it today and settled on this:

On my Q4RAF that's standard punches and kicks then:

Block ... Flip

Interact ... Throw

fPunch, bPunch, Block, Interact

fKick, bKick, Stance, Throw

Throw is out of the way because you can throw Street Fighter style.