How to SCUF: Borderlands 3 Game Guide

Get ready for Mayhem! Borderlands 3, the popular loot ‘n shooter by Gearbox Software and 2K Games has arrived on PS4™, Xbox One™, and PC. Like its predecessors, Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, the new title is packed with new adventures, vault hunters and enemies. Whether you’re playing solo or co-op with friends, be ready for anything that comes your way with your SCUF controller.

Just like selecting the best skills in the skill tree, you can pick the best options for better performance and gameplay with a SCUF. In this guide, we’ll be showing you how to get the most out of your SCUF controller in Borderlands 3 starting with the basics and then with advanced controller customizations.

Step One: The Outer Paddles

Let’s start with learning how to use the most important feature of a SCUF controller: the Paddle Control System. Starting with two paddles.

By default, the left paddle is mapped to Jump (X on PS4, A on Xbox) and the right paddle is mapped to Slide/Crouch/Ground Slam (O on PS4, B on Xbox). Practice using only the paddles for these functions and ignore their face buttons during gameplay. It will take a little while to get used to, but keep practicing and you will develop muscle memory. Mastering these two paddles will help you dodge your enemies, perform cool trick shots and gain the upperhand by jump sliding and doing damage with the ground slam without taking your thumbs off the thumbsticks.

Step Two: The Inner Paddles

While our SCUF Infinity4PS PRO for PS4 features two paddles, the IMPACT and Vantage for PS4, as well as the Prestige for Xbox One have four paddles available. Having more paddles available means that you can transfer more actions previously used with your thumbs to your back fingers to become faster and keep full control of your aim.

By default, the inner left paddle is mapped to Reload/Use (Square on PS4, X on Xbox) and the inner right paddle is mapped to Next Weapon (Triangle on PS4, Y on Xbox). Repeat the same process as before, but now incorporating one of the inner two paddles. Ignore their face buttons until you’re comfortable with using all the paddles instead of the facebuttons. With regular practice, it can take up to two weeks to be completely used to them. In a Loot ‘n Shooter like Borderlands 3, picking up items quickly and efficiently makes life easier with so many more items to pick up, and paddles vastly improve the experience.

Conquering all four paddles will give you the biggest advantage to quickly Jump, Reload/Use Items, Swap Weapons, and Slide/Crouch/Ground Slam all while keeping your thumb on the thumbstick, ready to aim.

Check out the Configurations below!

Borderlands 3 PC and PS4 controller
Borderlands 3 PC and PS4 controller

Step Three: Configuring the Paddles

Now that you’ve mastered the paddles, let’s start remapping. If your controller is equipped with our remapping feature, you can remap the paddles by using our EMR Mag Key (or just slide the remapping switch into remapping mode if you’re a SCUF Vantage owner). Press and hold the button you want to map to your paddle or sax button. When finished, remove the EMR key (or slide the remap switch back into play mode on SCUF Vantage) and you’re ready to go. You can tailor your SCUF to your playstyle just like you can select the best vault hunter for your playstyle. Keep an eye out for an article on more Borderlands 3 layouts coming soon!

Step Four: Select the right Thumbsticks for you

Whether you’re an aggressive gamer like Amara, the elemental brawler siren, who runs into battle to pulverize enemies, or you’re a defensive gamer like FL4K, the beastmaster, who stalks his prey and sends out his pets, SCUF thumbsticks are interchangeable to match your unique preference of comfort and playstyle.

There are two parts to the thumbstick: its shape and its length.

  • Concave thumbsticks are designed for more movement control.

  • Domed thumbsticks are designed for more accuracy.

  • Short thumbsticks are designed for quicker movement speed.

  • Tall thumbsticks are designed to have more angle to play with.



For aggressive gamers, like shotgun players, we recommend a short concave thumbstick on the left and a short domed thumbstick on the right. You’ll be quick to move and still ready to quickly aim.

For defensive gamers, like sniper players, we recommend a short concave thumbstick on the left and a tall domed thumbstick on the right. You can still move quickly, but also be the most accurate when aiming.

Step Five: Activate the Trigger Control System

While paddles improve your overall performance and thumbsticks improve your aim, our trigger system will take your speed when aiming and shooting to the next level. SCUF’s Trigger Control system is available on every controller model and offers full trigger customization through adjustable trigger stops and hair triggers.

For Borderlands 3, you will want to have your trigger stops on except when you plan on using vehicles (which require the full trigger motion to operate). They will reduce the amount your trigger has to travel past the activation point and will allow for faster shooting and aiming.

To further tune your trigger movement, the hair triggers will allow you to modify the distance to the activation point. You should only adjust your hair triggers in game; start by turning the key until you hit the activation point which is where your weapon will start shooting on its own, then dial it back 1 turn, or to your preference.

Step Six: Selecting Other SCUF Options

Digital Tap Bumpers and Digital Tap Triggers

For dedicated shooter players, you can also choose our Digital Tap Bumpers and Digital Triggers options (for SCUF IMPACT & Infinity4PS PRO). These features completely eliminate the range of movement of the bumpers and triggers and provides a feel similar to a mouse click. This is only recommended for players who only play shooter games.

Vibration

Vibration can affect your aim, but also cause fatigue overtime from the added weight in your controller. We recommend ordering your SCUF without vibration modules / rumbles (or taking them out if you’re using a SCUF Vantage).

Sax Buttons

If you are a SCUF Vantage owner, you have two additional access points called Sax Buttons designed to further reduce finger movement and therefore improve your performance. These are located on the side of the controller which you can engage using your inner finger. We recommend mapping Action Skill (L1 on PS4) to S1 and Grenades (R1 on PS4 to S2 to start with. Activate your action skill and toss grenades in the middle of battle without moving your fingers off the triggers.

Borderlands 3 PC and PS4 controller

Play

Now that you have customized the different aspects of your controller, it’s time to jump in-game and test your new setup. Like every change, adjusting to these new settings may take some time - however, with practice and dedication, every SCUF feature will help you reach your full potential and wreak havoc on Pandora and the Borderlands!