Free Step Dodge

Hori Fight Commander. (Technically a PS4 controller) with a fighting game D-pad.

Theres more than one ? :O

Anyway... "The Best D-Pad" is a somewhat subjective statement.

It depends on what would be more comfortable for your thumbs and what would work best for the type of game you're playing.

If you've got money to burn then you can check out one of those $250 Controllers with Various interchangeable parts, including multiple D-Pads.

@DestructionBomb
I heard The Fighting Commander's D-Pad has been known to just stop working or conpletely snap off after some rough and rigorous Mashing.

I also wouldn't recommend my Madcatz Fightpad Pro because not only is there nothing special about the D-Pad... but its embedded so deep into the Controller that there's no room for me to hit the Diagonal's properly... forget DP's... simple Fireball Motions are a pain in the ass.

Got mines for 8 months and still working.

@Lulu, my focus is definitely on fighting games, for sure. I'm window shopping for now, though.

@DestructionBomb
Me too... guess we both got lucky.

@illninofan
Unfortunately is not that simple... even with in Fighting Games different --Pad designs might still be advantageous or disadvantageous with in different Fighting Games... something perfect for Street Fighter might have issues in Mortal Kombat, just because of the tiny differences in motion commands.

For instance... I hear The DS3's D-Pad is great for ←→ / ↑↓ type Motions but not really great for Diagonals....

And it makes sense... That D-Pad is (seemingly) four different buttons rather than one giant 4 point Pivot. And for that reason... its pretty good for Injustice and Mortal Kombat... and Eliot.

I feel like a smoother controller would work on any game, though. Even one with choppy inputs like MK (as opposed to the fluid DOA inputs). Reliability with regard to response is important as well. I hate inputting something that involves 7913 and getting inconsistent responses. Most of the time it'll work, but what if you shoot a blank during a crucial moment in a match?

If thats the case I hear the Standard DS4 is pretty good... PC Gamer rated as the best controller for the PC... which is really saying something because PC has many options to choose from.

That being said I've never used one myself so I don't know.

You could consider getting a Stick...

D-Pad for life.

LoL.... I personally want a Hitbox...

Oh that reminds me...

Why were you looking for a new PS4 Controller ?

Is a specific Game/Character giving you trouble ?

@Lulu As I stated earlier, the default PS4 controller is shooting blanks. I remember performing a move that required an input of 33, for example, and it works something like 6-7 out of 10 times. I was wondering if there were controllers out there that were smoother and more consistent and reliable with regard to response.

Hmmmmm.... I honestly don't know.... I've never had issues with 1379 inputs in DoA just because the Input Detection is tuned so perfectly.

For example my Xbox 360 controller is rubbish for 11/33 inputs but I don't have issues with it.... unless I'm playing someone like Eliot whos got 3P, (3)P, 33P & 236P all lumped so close together that I occasionall get the wrong move.

You know what you could do...

Next time one of your 33Inputs go wrong.... try to record it.... and see if you can make go wrong in Training Mode where you can see your inputs at the bottom of the screen.

That should give us a better idea of what's happening.