Mastering the Parry: A Comprehensive Guide to Deflecting Attacks in Elden Ring

Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s sprawling open-world masterpiece, is renowned for its challenging combat. While dodging and weaving are crucial, mastering the parry is a game-changer, turning aggressive enemies into vulnerable targets. A successful parry not only negates incoming damage but also opens up a critical riposte, allowing you to inflict massive damage. This guide delves deep into the mechanics of parrying in Elden Ring, providing a comprehensive breakdown of how to execute this powerful technique consistently.

Understanding the Parry Mechanic

Before we delve into the specifics, let’s understand the core mechanic. Parrying in Elden Ring involves using a shield or a specific weapon art to deflect an incoming attack at the precise moment of impact. A successful parry will stagger the attacker, creating a brief window for a critical riposte. Unlike some games with generous parry windows, Elden Ring demands precision and timing. Therefore, understanding the nuances is essential for consistent success.

The Parry Window

The ‘parry window’ is the specific timeframe during which your shield or weapon art is active and capable of deflecting an attack. This window is generally short, requiring you to anticipate the enemy’s attack pattern and initiate the parry at the exact moment the blow is about to land. The parry window is affected by several factors:

• Shield Type: Different shields possess varying parry windows. Smaller shields typically have shorter but faster parry windows, while larger shields have slower but slightly more forgiving ones.
• Weapon Arts: Weapon arts like ‘Golden Parry’ or ‘Carian Retaliation’ offer different parry windows, often more generous or with unique properties.
• Latency: Online play can introduce latency, affecting your parry timing. It’s often advisable to practice parrying offline first to familiarize yourself with the timing.

The Riposte

After a successful parry, the enemy will be staggered, typically falling to one knee or becoming stunned. This is your opportunity to perform a riposte. To execute a riposte, approach the staggered enemy and press the attack button (R1/RB on controllers or Left Mouse Button on PC). A riposte deals significant damage, often enough to kill weaker enemies instantly or severely damage bosses. The damage of the riposte is influenced by the weapon you have equipped, so choose the right weapon. Some talisman also increase the riposte damage.

Equipment for Parrying

Choosing the right equipment can dramatically improve your parrying efficiency. Let’s examine the primary tools at your disposal:

Shields

Shields are the most common tool for parrying. Here’s a breakdown of shield types and their parrying capabilities:

Small Shields

• Parry Window: Small shields have the fastest but shortest parry windows. They require the most precise timing but offer quicker recovery.
• Best for: Experienced players who can predict enemy attacks and prefer a fast-paced parrying style.
• Examples: Buckler, Small Leather Shield, Riveted Wooden Shield.

Medium Shields

• Parry Window: Medium shields offer a slightly slower but more forgiving parry window than small shields. They strike a balance between speed and ease of use.
• Best for: Players who are learning to parry and want a more forgiving option.
• Examples: Brass Shield, Kite Shield, Heater Shield.

Greatshields

• Parry Window: Greatshields are typically not used for parrying, as they have long wind-up and recovery times. Their primary purpose is to block and offer high defense. They can, however, parry but will not be as effective for such purposes.
• Best for: Defending against heavy attacks and providing stability rather than parrying.

Weapon Arts

Some weapons and shields come with unique weapon arts that enhance your parrying capabilities:

Parry

• Function: The standard parry weapon art, usually found on shields. Its timing depends on the type of shield.
• Best for: General parrying needs.

Golden Parry

• Function: Provides a longer parry window and a wider range, making it easier to parry.
• Best for: Learning to parry, or dealing with fast-attacking enemies.
• Obtained: Can be obtained from the golden shield, Coded Sword, Golden Retaliation Ash of War, and the Golden Greatshield.

Carian Retaliation

• Function: Parries spells and certain ranged attacks, and retaliates with magical projectiles. Can also parry melee attacks, but the parry window is shorter than standard parry.
• Best for: Countering spellcasters and mixed enemies.
• Obtained: Can be obtained from Raya Lucarian Sorcerer Ashes.

Buckler Parry

• Function: The buckler shield grants a faster parry window than most small shields at the cost of a very short window.
• Best for: Advanced players who desire maximum speed and responsiveness.
• Obtained: Obtained through the Buckler Shield.

Storm Wall

• Function: Similar to Parry but generates a gust of wind upon a successful parry.
• Best for: Creating breathing room in crowd control scenarios.
• Obtained: Obtained from the Stormhawk Shield.

Ripple Shield

• Function: Has a standard parry window but inflicts poison build up on successful parries.
• Best for: Inflicting damage over time on parried enemies.
• Obtained: Obtained from the Ripple Crescent Halberd.

Step-by-Step Guide to Parrying

Now, let’s break down the step-by-step process of performing a successful parry in Elden Ring:

1. Observe the Enemy: First, watch the enemy’s attack patterns closely. Pay attention to their wind-up animations and learn when they’re about to strike. Every enemy has their own unique attack timing.
2. Position Yourself: Get within melee range of the enemy. It’s important to be close enough for the parry to connect, but not so close that you cannot react.
3. Ready Your Shield or Weapon Art: Equip the shield or weapon with your desired parrying ability. Ensure you’re comfortable with the control scheme.
4. Time Your Parry: The moment the enemy’s weapon is about to make contact with you, activate your shield or weapon art. This is the most crucial part of the process.
5. Listen for the Sound: A successful parry will be accompanied by a distinct sound effect.
6. Observe the Stagger: The enemy should recoil and stagger, creating a brief opening for a riposte.
7. Perform the Riposte: Immediately approach the staggered enemy and press the attack button (R1/RB or Left Mouse Button) to unleash a critical riposte.
8. Practice and Adjust: Parrying takes practice. If you fail, keep trying, and adjust your timing. Start with simpler enemies to get the hang of it.

Tips and Tricks for Consistent Parrying

To become a proficient parrier, consider these additional tips and tricks:

• Start with Easier Enemies: Begin practicing parrying with relatively slow and predictable enemies. The Godrick Soldiers in Limgrave or the Leyndell Knights near the Capital are good training grounds.
• Focus on Timing: Don’t try to mash the parry button. Concentrate on the enemy’s animation and initiate the parry at the moment of impact.
• Use Sound Cues: Pay attention to the audio cues that indicate a successful parry. This can help reinforce your timing.
• Experiment with Shields: Try different shields to find one that suits your playstyle. Small shields require precision but are faster, while medium shields offer a more forgiving window.
• Consider Weapon Arts: Weapon arts like ‘Golden Parry’ can make parrying significantly easier, especially against challenging enemies and bosses.
• Learn Enemy Patterns: Every enemy has unique attack patterns. Studying these patterns will help you predict when to parry.
• Watch Videos: Watching videos of skilled players parrying can help you understand proper timing and positioning.
• Practice Offline: Playing offline removes any potential lag that could interfere with your parry timing.
• Don’t be Afraid to Fail: Parrying is a challenging skill. Don’t get discouraged by failures. Use them as learning opportunities.
• Use a Dedicated Parrying Build: Some builds are more suited to parrying than others. Build around shields and weapons that can consistently parry effectively.

Advanced Parrying Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can explore more advanced parrying techniques:

Parrying Multiple Attacks

Some enemies will chain together multiple attacks. With practice, you can parry each attack in the chain, staggering the enemy repeatedly. This is particularly effective against enemies that rely on predictable combos.

Parrying Delayed Attacks

Some enemies will delay their attacks to throw off your timing. Recognizing and adapting to these delays is crucial for consistent parrying. Pay attention to the wind-up animation and wait for the final moment to parry.

Parrying Against Ranged Attacks

While most ranged attacks cannot be parried, certain spells and projectiles can be deflected using weapon arts like ‘Carian Retaliation.’ This can be a valuable tool for dealing with spellcasters.

Parrying Bosses

Many bosses have attacks that can be parried, making them significantly more manageable. However, boss parry timings are often much tighter, requiring a lot of practice and familiarity with the boss’s attack patterns.

Enemies Vulnerable to Parrying

Not every enemy is easy to parry, but many are very susceptible to parrying. Here are some enemy types you can reliably parry:

• Godrick Soldiers: The basic soldiers of Godrick are a perfect start for practicing.
• Leyndell Soldiers: Similar to the Godrick variants, these knights are easy to practice on, however some variations have delayed strikes.
• Raya Lucarian Knights: The magic based knights found in the Raya Lucaria Academy are susceptible to the standard parry.
• Black Knife Assassins: These enemies are very vulnerable to parrying, however, their attacks can be fast and delayed.
• Crucible Knights: These tough knights can be parried, however, the timing is strict.
• Some Bosses: Many bosses have parryable attacks, and doing so will allow for big damage. For example, Margit the Fell Omen, Malenia Blade of Miquella, and Godrick the Grafted can be parried to various degrees.

When Not to Parry

Parrying is powerful, but it’s not always the right strategy. Here are some situations where parrying is not recommended:

• Enemies with Unparryable Attacks: Some attacks are simply unparryable. Don’t waste your time trying to parry these.
• Large Enemy Groups: Parrying is best done against single targets or when dealing with a few enemies. Against large groups, you’re better off using dodging and crowd control tactics.
• High-Risk Situations: If you’re not confident in your parry timing, don’t attempt it against challenging enemies. It’s better to rely on more consistent tactics.
• When Learning New Enemies: Focus on learning an enemy’s moveset before attempting to parry. Start by dodging and creating spacing first before considering parrying.
• Against Grabs: Grabs cannot be parried and must be dodged.

Conclusion

Parrying is a crucial skill in Elden Ring, offering a powerful way to turn the tide in challenging encounters. While it requires practice and patience, mastering this technique will significantly enhance your combat prowess. By understanding the mechanics, choosing the right equipment, and diligently practicing, you can become a formidable parrier in the Lands Between. Start small, learn from your mistakes, and over time you’ll find that parrying becomes second nature, allowing you to dominate even the most challenging enemies and bosses. Remember to focus on timing, listen for the sound cues, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Good luck, Tarnished!