The default Shinobi Striker controls put guard on L2 (LT on Xbox, Shift on PC), chakra jump and substitution on R2 (RT, Ctrl), your two ninjutsu on L1 and R1 (LB and RB, keys 1 and 2), the ninja tool on Circle (B, Q) and the secret technique on D-pad up (key 3). Light and strong attacks sit on Square and Triangle (X and Y on Xbox, left and right click on PC). Below is the full layout for every platform, then how blocking, deflecting, substitution and chakra jumping actually work, including the advanced cancels and the 2026 additions to the options menu.
We built this from the Shinobi Striker Fandom wiki's Controls page, Outsider Gaming's PS4 and PS5 controls guide, the official NARUTO site's 14th developer letter, PowerPyx's trophy guide and the game's store pages, checked in November 2026.
Default Controls on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
These are the default bindings described by the wiki and Outsider Gaming. Shinobi Striker uses one shared button for several context actions, most importantly R2, which chakra jumps on the ground, throws a wire kunai in the air, deflects while guarding and triggers substitution when you are hit.
| Action | PlayStation | Xbox | PC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move / camera | Left stick / right stick | Left stick / right stick | WASD / mouse |
| Jump, double jump | Cross, Cross | A, A | Space |
| Light attack | Square | X | Left click |
| Strong attack | Triangle | Y | Right click |
| Ninja tool | Circle | B | Q |
| Ninjutsu 1 / 2 | L1 / R1 | LB / RB | 1 / 2 |
| Secret technique | D-pad up | D-pad up | 3 |
| Guard (direction to evade) | L2 | LT | Shift |
| Chakra jump, wire kunai, deflect, substitution | R2 | RT | Ctrl |
| Lock on | R3 | Right stick click | V |
| Summoned animal | D-pad right | D-pad right | See in-game guide |
| Map | Hold D-pad left or touchpad | Hold D-pad left | Tab |
| Communication | D-pad down | D-pad down | X |
Two notes on that table. The wiki's own button chart lists lock-on on the left stick in one place and R3 in another; Outsider Gaming's guide and the wiki's written description both say R3, and that is what we list. On PC, Steam describes the game as having partial controller support, so a pad works for play while some menus may still lean on mouse and keyboard.
Moving Like a Shinobi: Chakra Jump, Wire Kunai and Lock-On
Movement is where new players lose the most fights. The left stick moves you, and you can run along walls. Jump and double jump share one button, and jumping onto a wall from the ground triggers a ninja animation. The real mobility tool is the chakra jump: hold R2, RT or Ctrl on the ground to launch a long distance, with full charge reached in about 2 seconds, signaled by a sound and a blue flash. Since version 2.39 you can also chakra jump straight up.
Press the same button in mid-air and you throw a wire kunai instead. When it latches onto a wall, you zip toward it, which is how good players cross maps without touching the ground. Lock-on uses R3. According to the wiki, a red reticle means you can charge at the target with a melee attack, while a pink reticle means the target is locked but too far away to charge. Summoned animals add a second layer of mobility on the D-pad; our guide on using summoned animals in Shinobi Striker covers how to ride each one.
Blocking, Deflecting, Evading and Substitution
Defense comes down to one held button and one tapped button. Hold L2, LT or Shift to guard. The wiki says a guard absorbs roughly 12 light attacks, with the guard indicator shifting from white to yellow to red as it wears down, and certain ninjutsu and Heal type strong attacks break it outright. While guarding, tap a direction to evade with a short dash.
Deflect is the counter to pressure. If you press R2 or RT at the moment an attack hits your guard, you push the attacker a fair distance away and buy yourself room. Outsider Gaming describes it the same way: R2 just after a successful guard. If you are knocked down, guard plus a direction rolls you away.
Substitution is the escape you will use most. When an enemy hits you, press R2, RT or Ctrl to swap out with a substitution jutsu. It recharges slowly, so do not waste it on chip damage. Since patch 2.71 in August 2026, substitution cooldown shrinks less when you take damage and more when you deal damage, so landing hits is now the fastest way to get your escape back. Eye techniques such as the Sharingan can trigger a free substitution as well, which our guide to getting Sharingan eyes in Shinobi Striker explains.
Attacks, Ninja Tools, Ninjutsu and Secret Techniques
Square, X or left click is the light attack, and pressing it repeatedly builds a combo. Pressed in mid-air away from your opponent, it charges at your locked-on target and tracks them. Triangle, Y or right click is the strong attack: slower, heavier and linkable into light combos. Circle, B or Q fires your ninja tool, which runs on its own cooldown.
Your two ninjutsu sit on the shoulder buttons or keys 1 and 2. Each runs on a recovery meter, and the wiki notes a useful trick: holding the ninjutsu button while it is unavailable recharges it faster. Ninjutsu are tied to your type, so an Attack ninjutsu will not appear on a Ranged loadout. The secret technique, your ultimate, fires from D-pad up or key 3 once its gauge is full. The gauge fills from defeating opponents, healing allies and simply staying alive, and patch 2.70 increased the gain from hitting enemies with ninjutsu, blocking with shield tools and healing.
Advanced Movement and Animation Cancels
Once the basics feel natural, the wiki documents several cancels that experienced players use constantly. The landing recovery animation can be cancelled by pressing the chakra jump button, and the chakra jump wind-up can then be cancelled into a jump, dash or ninjutsu. Chained together, this keeps you moving instead of standing still after every landing.
- Fast landing: while moving, press R2 then Cross (or the Xbox and PC equivalents) as you land, optionally with a second jump.
- Wall kunai: press R2 and Cross as you land on a wall to fire a wire kunai off it.
- Vertical wall climb: face the wall, push up and repeat R2, Cross, Cross on each landing.
- Melee hang time: mid-air melee can keep you airborne, with the duration depending on your weapon.
These are movement techniques built into the game, not exploits, and they are the difference between reaching an objective first and arriving second. Practice them before you start climbing the Ninja World League; our guide to Shinobi Striker ranks in order explains why every lost league match costs Grade Points.
Costume Skills That Change How the Controls Feel
Several costume skills directly tune the inputs above, which is worth knowing before you copy someone else's settings and wonder why your character feels different. The wiki's Controls page lists them next to each mechanic:
- In a Flash permanently raises movement speed, and Redoubled Effort gives a temporary speed boost when you respawn.
- Drawn Taut halves the chakra jump charge time, so full-distance jumps come out much faster.
- Indestructible increases the number of hits your guard can take before breaking.
- Untouchable lengthens the evade dash you get by pressing a direction while guarding.
- Out of Thin Air shortens your substitution cooldown, and Clear Mind shortens ninjutsu cooldowns.
- Reckless Charge extends your melee tracking distance, and Lightning Speed raises close-range attack speed.
For a beginner, Drawn Taut and Out of Thin Air are the two that make the controls most forgiving, because they shorten the moments when you are most exposed. Many of these skills come attached to outfits and accessories you will collect anyway, so check the skill line on each item before equipping it for looks alone.
Menus, Communication and the New Control Guide
A few non-combat inputs are worth knowing. Holding D-pad left during a match shows the stage map and both teams' status. D-pad down opens communication. In the lobby, holding D-pad right shows your win rate and event rank, and while waiting for a match you can press Triangle to choose which avatar type or master you start with. On the results screen, Square switches between in-game nicknames and console names.
Patch 2.71 added a Ninjutsu Control Guide aimed at new and returning players. It shows which command activates each jutsu icon, including ninjutsu, summoned animals and substitution, and you can hide it from Options, then Game Settings, then Display Settings. The same update expanded Survival Exercise Practice Mode so you can turn off AI Ninja Masters and spar with up to four friends in a party, which is the best place to drill everything above. If you have no connection at all, our guide to playing Shinobi Striker offline explains how far the VR Missions can take your practice.
Want the Platinum Without the Grind?
Good controls make the trophy list far more manageable, but the platinum is still long. PowerPyx estimates 150 to 200 hours, largely because one trophy needs 1,000 online battles, and the existing Shinobi Striker trophy guide breaks down every requirement. For PS4 and PS5 players who would rather not grind it, the store's Shinobi Striker platinum trophy service covers the standard list of 36 Bronze, 8 Silver and 3 Gold trophies plus the Platinum, with a choice of timestamps spread across days or unlocked all at once. Its page notes that DLC-only trophies require the matching DLC.
It is a PlayStation service only. Saves and other services are listed on the Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker store page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you substitute in Shinobi Striker?
Press R2 on PlayStation, RT on Xbox or Ctrl on PC while you are being hit. It has a long cooldown, so save it for combos rather than single hits.
How do you block in Shinobi Striker?
Hold L2, LT or Shift. The guard absorbs roughly 12 light attacks before breaking, and some ninjutsu and Heal strong attacks break it immediately.
What are the Shinobi Striker Xbox controls?
A jumps, X and Y attack, B uses your ninja tool, LB and RB fire ninjutsu, LT guards, RT chakra jumps and substitutes, and D-pad up fires your secret technique.
How do you deflect in Shinobi Striker?
While guarding, press R2 or RT as an attack lands. It pushes the attacker away and gives you space to counter.
How do you chakra jump higher?
Hold the chakra jump button on the ground longer; full charge takes about 2 seconds and flashes blue. Since version 2.39 you can also chakra jump vertically.
How do you use your ultimate in Shinobi Striker?
Press D-pad up or key 3 once the secret technique gauge is full. It fills from defeating enemies, healing allies and staying alive.