Best game settings
Use the settings menu to make directional combat, day/night travel, and the 30-day interface easier to read. The best preset depends on whether you value reaction time, immersion, or screenshots.
Combat and controls
- Use directional blocking if you are learning Ambrus, Bakir, or Brencis attack patterns; switch to the assisted/omnidirectional option only when reaction timing is obscuring the rest of the game.
- Keep lock-on enabled for bosses and disable it only for crowded exploration fights.
- Put Voracious Bite, dodge, and your preferred parry/riposte input on buttons you can reach without moving the camera stick.
- Increase subtitle size and speaker names for quest-heavy sessions; enable combat prompts until you no longer need attack-direction reminders.
Camera and readability
- Reduce camera shake and motion blur if fast vampire traversal or Xanthe’s teleport effects make targets difficult to follow.
- Keep enemy telegraph indicators and skull/shield markers visible. They are essential for Brencis’s parry/dodge pattern.
- Use a wider field of view on PC if nearby enemies leave the frame; on console, start with the default and raise it one step only if the camera feels cramped.
PC performance preset
Start with the recommended preset from the hardware scan, then prioritize a stable frame rate over shadows and foliage. Lower volumetric effects, shadows, and post-processing before reducing texture quality. Install the current hotfix and use an SSD; close background overlays if shader compilation stutters.
PS5 / PS5 Pro
Choose Performance when learning directional blocks or playing Duelist. Balanced is a good default for exploration, while Quality is best for slow, cinematic sessions. On PS5 Pro, test the enhanced mode on your display rather than assuming a fixed frame rate; patch notes and VRR support can change the result.
Accessibility and time management
- Turn on high-contrast or HUD readability options if Shrine, quest, and hourglass icons blend into the environment.
- Keep the hourglass/time-cost confirmation enabled. Quests, training, Wait, and dialogue can spend segments; walking and Shrine fast travel do not.
- Use manual saves before changing difficulty, accepting a timed quest, feeding a named NPC, or entering a boss arena.
Duelist setup
Keep directional combat, enemy indicators, subtitles, and lock-on enabled while learning. Reduce camera shake, use the clearest reticle/marker contrast, and avoid changing multiple sensitivity options between attempts. Once a boss is learned, lower HUD assistance only if it improves your own read of the fight.
Settings do not change the 30-day story clock. They change how reliably you can read attacks, route markers, and irreversible choices. Test one change at a time and keep the configuration that prevents mistakes.