What is the Easiest Shield to Parry With in Dark Souls 3?
The easiest shield to parry with in Dark Souls 3 is the Buckler. While it offers minimal protection in terms of blocking damage, its primary strength lies in its enhanced parry window. This means you have a larger timeframe in which to successfully execute a parry, making it far more forgiving than other shields. This characteristic makes the Buckler the go-to choice for players who want to master the art of parrying in Dark Souls 3. Along with the Target Shield, the Buckler stands out as one of the most effective tools for landing crucial parries.
Understanding Parry Mechanics in Dark Souls 3
Before delving further into shield specifics, it’s important to grasp what constitutes a parry in Dark Souls 3. A parry is a defensive maneuver where you deflect an incoming melee attack at the right moment, leaving your opponent vulnerable to a critical hit or riposte. Successfully executing a parry requires precise timing, pressing the parry button (typically L2 or LT) just as the enemy’s attack is about to land. This is a high-risk, high-reward strategy.
The Significance of Parry Windows
The parry window refers to the time frame where a successful parry can be achieved. Shields like the Buckler have a significantly larger parry window compared to other shield types. This makes timing less critical and thus far easier. A larger parry window increases your chances of landing a parry, especially against fast or unpredictable enemy attacks. Shields with smaller parry windows demand very precise timing, making them much harder to use effectively for parrying, especially for new players.
Why Small Shields Excel at Parrying
Small shields, like the Buckler, Target Shield, and Small Leather Shield, are specifically designed to facilitate parrying. They are lightweight, allowing for swift movements, and they possess the largest parry windows in the game. Conversely, medium and large shields typically have smaller parry windows and slower parry animations, making them less ideal for parrying. While they offer greater protection from blocking, they are much less forgiving and far more challenging for parrying.
The Buckler vs. The Target Shield
While both the Buckler and the Target Shield are considered top-tier parry shields, they each have subtle differences. The Buckler is often cited as having the best overall parry window, offering the most generous timing. The Target Shield is also excellent and provides nearly equivalent parry frames but might have some extra startup frames, making it slightly slower. Both are superior to other small shields, but for overall ease of use, the Buckler often wins out for ease of use and forgiving parry window. Ultimately, the choice between the two often comes down to personal preference.
Why Avoid Other Shields for Parrying?
The primary reason to avoid other shield types for parrying is their significantly smaller parry windows. Medium shields and large shields are primarily designed for blocking, focusing on damage absorption rather than deflecting attacks. They have slower animation speeds as well, which makes timing a parry far more difficult. Attempting to parry with them will likely lead to more failed attempts and more damage taken.
Parrying with Fist Weapons
Beyond shields, fist weapons such as the Caestus, Manikin Claws, Regular Claws, and the Demon Fist are also viable parrying tools. These weapons are incredibly fast and have very little recovery time after a failed parry, making them a good option, but their smaller parry windows make them more challenging compared to the Buckler or Target Shield. However, some players prefer using these for the speed advantage and ability to follow up.
Tips for Effective Parrying
Even with the easiest shield to parry with, it’s essential to understand the nuances of the game. Here are a few general tips for parrying:
- Don’t Spam: Button mashing the parry button will often result in missed parries or a failed animation altogether.
- Timing is Everything: Wait for the enemy’s attack to be very close before initiating the parry.
- Anticipate Attacks: Learn enemy attack patterns, paying close attention to their telegraphs, which are the animations that precede an attack. This will allow you to better predict the appropriate parry window.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Consistent practice is essential to mastering parrying in Dark Souls 3. Try it out on easier enemies to practice timings.
FAQs About Parrying in Dark Souls 3
1. Can you parry with any shield in Dark Souls 3?
Yes, you can attempt to parry with any shield, but shields like the Buckler and Target Shield provide a much larger parry window, making it significantly easier to be successful.
2. What weapons are best for parrying besides shields?
Fist weapons, such as the Caestus, Manikin Claws, Regular Claws, and Demon Fist, can also be used for parrying. They have faster parry animations but a smaller parry window compared to dedicated parry shields.
3. Are there attacks you can’t parry in Dark Souls 3?
Yes, several types of attacks cannot be parried. This includes jumping attacks, plunging attacks, two-handed R1 and R2 attacks from Ultra Greatswords, Greataxes, and Great Hammers. However, two-handed rolling and running R1 attacks from these weapons can be parried.
4. Is parrying difficult in Dark Souls 3?
Parrying in Dark Souls 3 is considered more challenging than in Dark Souls 1 due to a larger delay between the parry input and execution. Small shields make it much easier, however.
5. Can you parry every boss in Dark Souls 3?
No, most bosses cannot be parried. However, some bosses like Pontiff Sulyvahn can be parried, rewarding players who learn their patterns.
6. What is the difference between a normal parry and a buckler parry?
A “Buckler parry” is just a regular parry made with the Buckler. The buckler does have a skill called “Parry” which is faster than the normal parry. In general they are synonymous terms.
7. Where can you get the parrying dagger in Dark Souls 3?
The Parrying Dagger can be purchased from Unbreakable Patches for 2,000 souls.
8. Is it harder to parry with mid-sized shields?
Yes, mid-sized shields are generally not ideal for parrying. They have smaller parry windows and slower parry animations than small shields, making them more difficult to use for parrying.
9. Can you parry while dual-wielding in Dark Souls 3?
Yes, some dual-wield weapons have a parry capability, such as the Farron Greatsword (using its associated dagger) and many katanas (with the “hold” skill). Additionally, the Parrying Dagger can parry in either hand.
10. Can you parry with the Plank Shield in Dark Souls 3?
No, the Plank Shield does not have a parry function. It is better suited for blocking.
11. How does the parry window work?
The parry window is the time frame where a parry attempt can be successful. Small shields have larger parry windows, making the timing less precise than other weapons and shields.
12. Can you parry the Dancer of the Boreal Valley in Dark Souls 3?
Some of the Dancer’s attacks, like her thrust with her flame sword, can be parried, but you cannot follow up with a riposte. It does leave the Dancer unstable for a moment.
13. Can you parry the Nameless King in Dark Souls 3?
No, the Nameless King cannot be parried. However, hitting him enough will eventually lead to a riposte opening.
14. Why is parrying considered a high-risk, high-reward maneuver?
Parrying requires precise timing. If performed incorrectly, you risk taking the full brunt of the attack. However, a successful parry leaves the enemy vulnerable for a critical hit or riposte, often resulting in massive damage.
15. Is Elden Ring parrying similar to Dark Souls 3 parrying?
The timing and window for parrying are similar across both titles, however, specific shields may have unique characteristics within Elden Ring. While similar, Elden Ring shields have their own parry skills and parry characteristics which need to be learned for each shield.