Parry System — Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Guide

Parry System — Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Guide

The parry system in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree remains a high-risk, high-reward combat mechanic that allows skilled players to deflect incoming attacks and open enemies up for devastating critical hits. Mastering its timing is crucial for overcoming some of the game's toughest challenges.

Parrying in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is an advanced combat technique that requires precise timing. When executed correctly, it allows you to deflect an incoming enemy attack with your shield or a specific weapon skill. This leaves the enemy momentarily stunned and vulnerable, providing a window to perform a critical hit, which deals massive damage. However, a mistimed parry will result in taking the full force of the enemy's attack, often leading to significant damage or even death. The introduction of new enemy attack patterns in the DLC means the timing for parries may differ from the base game.

How to Perform a Parry:

• Equip a Shield or Parry Tool: Most shields can parry, but some smaller shields and specific weapon skills (like the Parry Ash of War) are designed for this purpose and may offer better parry frames.
• Press the Parry Button: The button for parrying is typically the left trigger (LT on Xbox, L2 on PlayStation).
• Timing is Key: You must press the parry button just before the enemy's attack connects with you. The exact timing varies depending on the enemy and the type of attack.

Understanding Parry Frames:

1. Startup Frames: The initial moments of the parry animation where You is vulnerable.
2. Active Frames: The crucial window during which a successful parry can occur.
3. Recovery Frames: The period after the active frames where You is still recovering from the parry animation and cannot parry again.

Tips for Mastering the Parry System:

• Practice on Weaker Enemies: Start by practicing your parries on less threatening enemies to get a feel for the timing.
• Observe Attack Wind-ups: Pay close attention to the enemy's animation before they strike. The wind-up often provides clues about the timing.
• Learn Enemy Patterns: Each enemy has unique attack timings. Dedicate time to learning these patterns.
• Use the Parry Ash of War: This Ash of War can be applied to many weapons and offers a dedicated parry move, sometimes with different timing or effectiveness than shield parries.
• Be Aware of Unparriable Attacks: Some powerful boss attacks and certain enemy moves are unparriable. Attempting to parry these will result in taking damage.

Successfully parrying can be incredibly satisfying and a powerful tool in your arsenal, especially against bosses who have predictable, yet devastating, attack sequences. Mastering this mechanic can fundamentally change how you approach combat encounters in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.