Fix Marvel’s Wolverine Lock-On Not Working

Every few days, a new thread pops up: “Lock-on in Marvel’s Wolverine is broken.” Players mash L3, nothing happens. The camera spins wildly. Enemies slip off screen. The conclusion is usually a bug or bad design.

It’s neither.

The real problem is simpler: the lock-on feature is disabled by default.

The real problem is simpler: the lock-on feature is disabled by default. Most players never realize it needs to be turned on first. Even those who find the setting often pick the wrong mode and assume the feature is glitched. Let’s fix that.

Why Your Lock-On Isn’t Working (It’s Not a Bug)

Insomniac ships Marvel’s Wolverine with lock-on set to Off. No popup tells you this. No tutorial explains it. You can press L3 until your thumb hurts — nothing happens because the system isn’t active.

The fix takes ten seconds:

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1. Pause the game and go to Settings.
2. Select Gameplay.
3. Scroll down to Lock On.
4. Change it from Off to either On Screen or All.

That’s it. L3 will now actually lock onto enemies. The “glitch” vanishes.

How to Enable and Use Lock-On in Marvel’s Wolverine Properly

The Two Modes and When to Use Each

• On Screen – This is the option most players should pick. When you press L3, you lock onto the nearest enemy visible on your screen. After that enemy dies, the lock releases. You stay in control of when to target a new foe. No auto-switching, no forced camera yanks.

• All – This mode locks onto the nearest enemy regardless of whether they’re on screen. Once that enemy dies, it automatically switches to the next. Sounds useful. In practice, the camera jerks around unpredictably mid-combat, and you can lose spatial awareness quickly. It’s designed for accessibility, not precision.

Recommendation: Start with On Screen. You keep the ability to choose your target and avoid disorientation.

Pressing L3 Is Still Required

Even with the setting enabled, you must click the left stick (L3) to begin locking on. It’s a toggle — click again to release. Some players expect lock-on to be automatic once the setting is on. It isn’t. The setting only unlocks the ability; L3 activates it.

Why Lock-On Still Feels Clunky (and How to Fix That)

Once lock-on works, you might notice a different problem: the camera loses enemies behind you or zooms too close. That’s not the lock-on system — it’s the game’s default camera behavior.

Two adjustments help:

1. Turn on Combat Camera Rotation Assist. Found under Settings > Camera > Combat Camera Rotation Assist. This automatically rotates the camera to keep enemies in view during combat. It works alongside lock-on, not instead of it. The source material calls it “really useful” because the default FOV is tight and enemies dart off screen easily.

1. Increase Look Sensitivity. Default is 5. Bump it to 7 or 8. When lock-on isn’t active, faster camera movement helps you track the next target without relying on lock-on at all. Many players who hate lock-on simply use this + camera assist and never look back.

One More Thing: Lock-On Affects Parry Direction

Here’s a nuance most guides miss. When you’re locked onto an enemy, your character faces that enemy at all times. Parries in Marvel’s Wolverine only work if you’re facing the attacker. If you’re locked on to a boss in front of you and a grunt attacks from the side, your L1 parry will fail — you’re facing the wrong way.

Solution: Don’t stay locked on for the entire fight. Use it briefly to focus a high-priority target, then release L3 to freelook. Parry the sideline attacker manually, then re-engage lock-on for your main target. This is the difference between feeling helpless and feeling like Logan.

A Final Consideration: Not Using Lock-On at All

Some players disable lock-on entirely and rely on the game’s built-in auto-aim mechanics. Wolverine’s charged leap (hold triangle) automatically lunges toward the nearest enemy. His sprint block deflects ranged fire. The tornado spin attacks everything around you. For these players, lock-on becomes an unnecessary constraint. If you’ve tried all settings and still hate it, try turning lock-off off and leaning into the game’s natural enemy tracking. It’s a valid playstyle.