Which Weapons Can You Parry in Elden Ring?

The parry mechanic in Elden Ring is a crucial skill for both survival and mastery, offering a way to turn an enemy’s offense into a devastating counterattack. However, not all attacks are created equal, and the question of what you can and cannot parry is essential for understanding the combat system. Simply put, in Elden Ring, you can parry most one-handed melee attacks from enemies, with specific limitations and exceptions. This includes attacks from various swords, daggers, axes, and even fist weapons wielded by humanoids. However, jumps, whips, two-handed colossal weapons, and certain special attacks cannot be parried, which can cause frustration for new players. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics.

The General Rules of Parrying

Parrying involves timing a defensive action just as an enemy’s attack is about to land. The timing window varies depending on the parry frames of the shield or weapon you’re using. There are several key things to know about what you can generally parry:

• Most One-Handed Melee Attacks: The bulk of enemy attacks that you can parry come from one-handed swords (straight, curved, thrusting), daggers, axes, and even some claw attacks. If an enemy is swinging a weapon with one hand, there’s a good chance it can be parried.
• Weapon Type Matters: The specific type of weapon you use for parrying can drastically change the effectiveness of the parry. Daggers are quicker, for example, and Shields with parry skills offer more forgiving frames to parry an attack.

Exceptions to the Rule

The beauty of Elden Ring lies in its challenge and rules, which come with a caveat. Here’s what you cannot parry:

• Jump Attacks: Regardless of the weapon type, jump attacks from enemies are unparriable. They are designed to circumvent traditional defenses, forcing players to dodge or use other strategies.
• Two-Handed Colossal Weapons: If an enemy is wielding a colossal weapon with both hands, the attack can generally not be parried. This also applies to many two-handed ultra weapons which are just too big and powerful to be countered by a normal parry.
• Whips: Attacks from whips cannot be parried. This makes them a dangerous weapon to face as it ignores the player’s normal defensive counter options.
• Ranged Attacks: Arrows, magic bolts, and other projectile attacks cannot be parried, unless you use specific parry skills, these projectiles cannot be deflected with standard parrying mechanics.
• Special Attacks: Some unique attacks from bosses and certain enemies are specifically designed to be unparriable. These usually have special animations and are a clear signal to avoid parrying.

Weapon Specific Parrying Details

While the general rule is that one-handed attacks can be parried, some weapons have a few nuances:

• Daggers: Many daggers are designed for parrying, the Parrying Dagger and the Misericorde being primary examples with special parry attack and critical damage modifiers. They often have a faster parry animation than shields.
• Curved Swords and Thrusting Swords: Weapons of this category offer a unique blend of attack and parry mechanics. They have a fast parry, making them decent options if you like a more offensive parry game style.
• Shields: Various shields can be used for parrying, with the Buckler being considered the best for new players due to its large parry window. However, medium shields are good and offer more defense compared to Bucklers.
• Katanas: Katanas are able to parry, offering a defense to the wielder that does not require a shield. However, they do not have the parry frame or timing of a dagger or shield.
• Fist Weapons: Many fist weapons allow you to parry when equipped in the off-hand. They are used offensively or parrying and have a quick parry recovery rate.

The Importance of Timing and Practice

Ultimately, successful parrying comes down to timing and practice. The startup frames and parry frames of your equipment matter, but understanding your opponent’s attack patterns and predicting their next move is even more important. Using a specific shield with the “parry” skill or a dagger will provide more frames.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions regarding parrying mechanics in Elden Ring:

1. Can you parry with a dagger in Elden Ring?

Yes, absolutely. Many daggers in Elden Ring are designed to be used in an off-hand for parrying. The Parrying Dagger is specifically designed for this, and the Misericorde offers both parrying and high critical damage.

2. Can you parry with a greatsword?

Yes, you can parry with a greatsword if it is held in one hand. You cannot parry when wielding a greatsword with two hands. Charged attacks are also unparriable.

3. Can you parry a rapier with a longsword?

Yes, you can. As long as you time your parry correctly, you can parry many kinds of blades with another blade. Parrying close to the hilt is a good rule of thumb.

4. Can you parry with fists?

Yes, you can parry with fist weapons when they are equipped in your off-hand. Certain fist weapons provide the ability to parry.

5. Can you parry Malenia?

Yes, Malenia can be parried. In fact, some players have defeated her using only the parry mechanic, showcasing the importance of timing and parry mechanics.

6. Can you parry whips in Elden Ring?

No, attacks from whips cannot be parried. This makes them a unique and challenging weapon to deal with.

7. What is the best weapon for parrying in Elden Ring?

The Buckler shield is often considered the best beginner weapon for parrying due to its generous parry window. The Misericorde dagger is a high parry potential for those looking for a melee weapon with high critical damage.

8. Can you parry jump attacks?

No, jump attacks from enemies cannot be parried in Elden Ring. You will need to dodge or use other defensive strategies to avoid these attacks.

9. Can you parry two-handed colossal weapons?

No, you cannot parry attacks from two-handed colossal weapons. They are too powerful to be countered with a normal parry.

10. Can you parry ranged attacks?

No, you cannot parry ranged attacks like arrows or magic projectiles with standard parrying mechanics. Certain special skills can deflect ranged attacks.

11. What are parry frames?

Parry frames refer to the duration during which your parrying action is effective. Some weapons and shields have more parry frames, making it easier to time the parry.

12. Why is parrying hard in Elden Ring?

Parrying in Elden Ring requires precision and quick timing. The parry window is generally shorter compared to some previous From Software titles.

13. Can I parry without a shield?

Yes, you can parry without a shield. You can parry using daggers and certain other weapons that are equipped in the off hand.

14. What is a “parrying dagger”?

A parrying dagger, sometimes called a “main gauche” or “swordbreaker”, is a type of dagger specifically designed for parrying an enemy’s attack, as opposed to attacking. This type of dagger is often used to parry and redirect attacks from enemies

15. Can you parry the Black Blade?

Specifically, you can use the Blasphemous Claw to parry specific attacks from Maliketh’s Black Blade. It’s a very specialized parrying mechanic.

Understanding which weapons and attacks you can parry is essential for mastering Elden Ring’s combat. Practice and a willingness to learn enemy attack patterns will make parrying a powerful and reliable tool in your arsenal.