What Cannot Be Parried in Dark Souls? A Comprehensive Guide

Parrying is a crucial and often satisfying mechanic in the Dark Souls series, allowing skilled players to deflect enemy attacks and open them up for devastating ripostes. However, not every attack can be parried, and understanding these limitations is key to mastering the game’s combat system. So, what exactly cannot be parried in Dark Souls?

Fundamentally, attacks that defy logical parrying conventions or wield an enormous force are often unparryable. This means that ranged attacks, most weapon skills, certain weapon types, and attacks from colossal enemies fall outside the realm of parryable offenses. Let’s delve into specific categories:

• Whips and Flails: These unique weapons are designed to circumvent parry defenses, making all their attacks unparryable. Their flailing, erratic motion makes a crisp deflection impossible.

• Jumping Attacks: Regardless of the weapon type, jumping attacks cannot be parried. The momentum and weight behind these strikes make them immune to deflection.

• Two-Handed Heavy Weapon Attacks (Specific): While not universally true for all two-handed attacks, the standing R1 and R2 attacks of greataxes, great hammers, ultra greatswords, and curved greatswords cannot be parried. Their massive heft and power make a simple deflection untenable. However, running and rolling attacks with these weapons can be parried.

• Weapon Skills/Arts (Generally): Many weapon skills, often also called weapon arts, cannot be parried. This generally applies to any attack that has no logical parry opportunity, such as Stomp or similar attacks that involve a downwards strike with the full weight of the character behind them. However, some may be parriable depending on specific attack frames.

• Ranged Attacks: Arrows, bolts, and most ranged projectiles are unparriable, with the exception of specific parry skills. There are no generic methods of parrying ranged attacks and requires dedicated parry skills.

• Large Enemy Attacks: Generally, any attack from enemies that are colossal in size cannot be parried. Their attacks carry too much force to deflect with a simple parry.

• Shield Bashes: Attacks that involve a shield bash are also unparryable. The force is more a push than a striking blow, making them resistant to parrying attempts.

• Certain Spear Attacks: The tip of a spear cannot be parried. The attacking enemy must be in close enough range, otherwise parrying will not result in a riposte animation.

It’s essential to note that enemy animations and specific attack frames matter. While a general rule may exist, a specific move in an enemy’s arsenal could be an exception. Successfully parrying relies on understanding enemy behaviors, attack patterns and the timing window of the player’s parry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To further clarify the nuances of parrying in Dark Souls, here are 15 frequently asked questions, along with detailed answers:

Can everything be parried in Dark Souls?

No. While many humanoid enemies can be parried, a variety of attacks and enemies are completely resistant to parrying, as detailed above. Success in the game relies on being able to discern which attacks are parryable and which are not.

Can you parry arrows in Dark Souls?

Generally, no. Normal projectiles like arrows and bolts cannot be parried unless you are using a special parrying skill. There is no generic mechanic to parry any projectile in Dark Souls.

What enemies cannot be parried in Dark Souls?

Typically, enemies that are massive in size or wield large weapons two-handed with powerful standing attacks can’t be parried. Enemies with attacks that rely on shield bashes are also unparryable. If the attack has no obvious strike to deflect, it cannot be parried.

Are jump attacks parryable in Dark Souls?

No. Jumping attacks from all weapon types are unparryable. Their momentum and downward force makes them resistant to deflection. This also extends to other Dark Souls-esque games, such as Elden Ring.

Can you parry 2-handed attacks in Dark Souls?

Yes and no. While the standing R1 and R2 attacks of ultra greatswords, greathammers, greataxes and curved greatswords when wielded two-handed cannot be parried, their running and rolling attacks can be parried. This is an important distinction.

Can you parry Malenia in Elden Ring?

Yes, you can. One player showcased that Malenia can be defeated using only parries. However, her Waterfowl Dance attack is very difficult, if not impossible, to parry completely, requiring very specific timing. This showcases that almost any humanoid enemy can be parried, and the exceptions are very few and far between.

Is parrying easier in Dark Souls 1 compared to later games?

Many players find parrying in Dark Souls 1 easier compared to Dark Souls 3 and Dark Souls 2. This is because the parry frames start immediately when the parry button is pressed, allowing for less of a delay and more forgiving timing than later entries. The parry timing of Dark Souls 1 can be described as more intuitive than the rest of the games.

Can you backstab any enemy you can parry?

Yes, generally, if you can backstab an enemy, you can parry their attacks. This also generally applies the other way round, and if you cannot backstab an enemy, their attacks are likely also unparryable.

Can Black Knights be parried in Dark Souls?

Yes. Black Knights are among the easiest enemies to parry, due to their predictable and heavily telegraphed movesets. Learning their animations is key to effectively parrying their attacks.

Can you parry the Nameless King in Dark Souls 3?

You cannot directly parry the Nameless King, but if you hit him enough, you can put him into a riposte state. Parrying is not part of that process.

How do you parry better in Dark Souls?

To parry effectively, you should be close to the enemy, use a small shield or parrying dagger to increase the parry window, and learn enemy attack patterns. Parrying in Dark Souls is a mix of timing and spacing. Practice and patience are key.

Can you parry with a golden parry?

Yes. Golden Parry is a skill that makes it easier for players to land a parry block. It infuses your shield with an Erdtree Incantation, increasing the parry window.

How do you backstab enemies in Dark Souls?

To perform a backstab, get directly behind an enemy and press the RB/R1 button without blocking. Your character will then perform a backstab animation, and remain invulnerable during this animation. This is a useful strategy for both humanoid and animalistic enemies.

Are whip attacks parryable?

No. All whip attacks are unparryable. Their nature as a loose and flailing attack makes them immune to the parry mechanic.

Can you 100% Dark Souls in one playthrough?

No. To achieve 100% in Dark Souls, you will need to complete two full playthroughs and half of a third playthrough (NG++), all with the same character. This is due to how certain items, spells, and equipment are available.

Mastering parrying is crucial for navigating the challenging world of Dark Souls. Understanding what can and cannot be parried will significantly improve your combat prowess, and allow you to successfully overcome even the most challenging of encounters.