Motion Controls or Stick Controls? | Best Controls for Aiming

Splatoon 3 lets you run and gun with either motion controls or stick controls. Read on to find out which is better, their advantages and disadvantages, the best control settings for motion controls, and how to turn off motion controls.

Motion Controls or Stick Controls?

Motion Controls On for Faster Aiming

Playing the game with Motion Controls on makes aiming your weapons easier since you can move your aiming reticle faster and give your character more fluid movement when running and gunning.

It's possible to play the game using the stick controls; however, we recommend giving motion controls a chance! Even if you're a beginner, aiming with motion controls is easy to pick up and you'll eventually master it with practice!

Advantages and Disadvantages of Motion Controls

Advantages
You can move and aim your targeting reticle faster
You can fine tune your aim and shoot more precisely
Best controls when playing docked or with the pro controller
Disadvantages
Steep learning curve and requires some practice
Difficult to use when handheld
Requires you to sit up to properly aim

Advantages and Disadvantages of Stick Controls

Advantages
Doesn't require sitting up; you can play while lying down
Best controls when playing handheld
Disadvantages
Moving and aiming the target reticle is slower
Precision aiming is more difficult to do
Very difficult to compete against players using motion controls

Docked vs Handheld

Playing Splatoon 3 with the Switch attached to the dock makes it easier to use the motion controls since the screen is separate from the controller. While it's possible to use motion controls while handheld, it's more difficult since you're also moving your screen.

Conversely, playing the analog controls are better when playing the game in handheld mode since you're not moving the entire switch to adjust your aim.

Best Control Settings for Motion Controls

A -2.5 Sensitivity is Best for Beginners

Lowering the motion-control sensitivity makes it more stable and slower, which is ideal if you're a beginner to Splatoon or trying out the controls for the first time. Avoid lowering it beyond these settings as it will make moving the camera with motion controls very difficult to do.

Similarly, only adjust the sensitivity higher as you start to get a feel for it. As you practice and get better, you'll want to adjust it from -2.5 to -2.0 and gradually increase it -1.0.

Set Stick Sensitivity from 3.0 to 5.0

For the stick controls, we recommend setting the sensitivity to 3.0 to 5.0 which is higher than the motion controls. The stick controls are also used when changing directions or moving the camera to more than 180 degrees, so a higher sensitivity ensures that you can move and tilt with just a flick of the stick.

Adjust Sensitivity by Weapon Type

-3.0 to -1.0 Sensitivity
Ranged Weapons
-1.0 to 1.0 Sensitivity
Medium Ranged Weapons
1.0 to -3.0 Sensitivity
Close Ranged Weapon

Motion Control sensitivity varies greatly by weapon-type so you'll want to adjust accordingly to your weapon loadout. When using long ranged weapons like the Charger Weapons for example, you'll want lower sensitivity for a more stable and precise aim.

Best Way to Practice Motion Controls

Practice at the Shooting Range

Practice Tips	Take it slow and try hitting the targets while standing still! Once you get used to aiming, try shooting while moving!

The best way to get used to the motion controls is by practicing at the Shooting Range and trying to hit the targets slowly. Once you get used to the controls, up the difficulty by practicing shooting while moving!

Up the Speed and Hit More Targets

Practice Tips	Use a faster weapon like the Dark Tetra Dualies! Try hitting more targets and moving as you aim!

As you get better with aiming with the motion controls, challenge yourself by using a faster weapon and hitting more targets! Faster weapons like the Dark Tetra Dailies are a great practice weapon and will help you get used to the game's fast-paced combat!

List of Dualies

Practice by Playing Matches

While daily practice will help you get acquainted with the basics of motion controls, experience is still the best teacher!

Hitting a stationary target is a lot different than trying to splat a real player, so make sure to practice by playing some Regular Battles or Turf Wars! Not only will it help you improve your mastery of the motion controls, you'll also start to get a feel of what weapon best fits your play style!
All Game Modes and Rules

How to Turn Off Motions Controls

Open the In-Game Menu

To turn off Motion Controls, you'll need to open up the in-game Menu by pressing X while not in a match or stage and head to the Options tab to the far right. In the Options tab, you can toggle Motion Controls on or off and have different settings whether you're on handheld or tabletop.

After turning off Motions Controls, the game will automatically switch to purely stick controls when aiming.

Best Gameplay Settings

Splatoon 3 Related Guides

Tips and Tricks: Beginner's Guide to Splatoon