Does Carian Retaliation Work on Moonveil? A Deep Dive into Elden Ring Mechanics
The short answer is: yes, Carian Retaliation can work against the Moonveil Katana, specifically its Transient Moonlight weapon skill. However, it’s crucial to understand how and when it works to effectively utilize it in Elden Ring. Carian Retaliation isn’t a universal counter; it’s a specific tool designed to interact with certain types of attacks. This article will explore its interactions with the Moonveil, answer frequently asked questions, and equip you with the knowledge to wield Carian Retaliation effectively.
Understanding Carian Retaliation
Before diving into the intricacies of Moonveil interaction, let’s break down what Carian Retaliation does. This Ash of War, usable on small and medium shields, offers a dual functionality. Firstly, it acts as a parry similar to other parrying tools. Secondly, and most importantly for our topic, it dispels incoming sorceries and incantations, converting that magic into retaliatory glintblades.
This means that instead of simply deflecting a magic projectile, you actually absorb it and then launch your own magic projectiles back at your opponent. This has the potential to deal significant damage, making it a powerful tool against magic users. However, it’s important to know Carian Retaliation doesn’t work on all projectiles. It’s specifically designed for sorceries and incantations.
How Carian Retaliation Interacts with Moonveil
The Moonveil Katana’s unique feature is its Transient Moonlight weapon skill, a magic-infused attack that sends out a horizontal beam of magical energy. This beam is classified as a sorcery, and this is where Carian Retaliation shines. When timed correctly, you can parry the Transient Moonlight beam with Carian Retaliation, absorbing the magic and transforming it into glintblades that track and attack the Moonveil user.
This is a significant advantage because a successful Carian Retaliation against Transient Moonlight can deal massive damage, often taking a large chunk of the opponent’s health. This makes it a very potent counter, especially for players who rely heavily on spamming the Moonveil’s weapon art.
However, there are nuances:
- Timing is Crucial: Like any parry, Carian Retaliation requires precise timing. Mistiming the parry will lead to taking the full damage of the Transient Moonlight beam.
- Direct Parry, Not Block: You must use the active parry of Carian Retaliation to absorb the magic, not merely block it. A regular block won’t trigger the glintblade counter.
- It Doesn’t Work on Physical Attacks: Carian Retaliation will not work against the physical slashing attacks of the Moonveil Katana. It specifically targets the magical aspect of the weapon skill.
Why Carian Retaliation is an Effective Counter
The key to its effectiveness lies in the dual nature of the Transient Moonlight attack. It is a ranged attack that is also a magic projectile. This means it is simultaneously a strength of the Moonveil (the ability to attack from range) and also its weakness, because it allows for the utilization of Carian Retaliation. Carian Retaliation forces Moonveil users to be more thoughtful about their weapon skill usage and discourages mindless spamming, making them more vulnerable to other strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions related to Carian Retaliation and the Moonveil Katana, designed to give you a well-rounded understanding:
1. What specific types of attacks can Carian Retaliation parry?
Carian Retaliation specifically parries and absorbs sorceries and incantations. It does not work against physical attacks or weapon arts classified as physical. The Transient Moonlight beam is a key example of a sorcery it can parry.
2. Can Carian Retaliation parry other weapon arts besides Moonveil’s?
Yes, if a weapon art is classified as a sorcery or incantation, it is susceptible to Carian Retaliation. Some examples include the magic projectiles from the Glintstone Pebble or Black Flame spells.
3. Is the Carian Retaliation glitch still present in Elden Ring?
No, the infamous Carian Retaliation glitch that allowed for unintended one-shot damage has been patched by FromSoftware in update 1.04. The Ash of War now functions as intended.
4. Is Carian Retaliation better than other parry options?
Carian Retaliation is often considered superior to other standard parries like the Buckler Parry in specific situations, primarily because it counters spells with a retaliatory attack. Both have similar parry frames, but Carian Retaliation doesn’t cost FP unless it successfully parries magic. The hitbox of Carian Retaliation is also generally considered to be more reliable.
5. How do you get the Carian Retaliation Ash of War?
The Carian Retaliation Ash of War is acquired by defeating the Night’s Cavalry boss that patrols the Liurnia of the Lakes region at night, near the Academy Gate Town.
6. Can Carian Retaliation be used on any shield?
No, Carian Retaliation can only be used on small and medium shields. Large shields are not compatible with this Ash of War.
7. Does Carian Retaliation scale with any stats?
Carian Retaliation does not scale directly with any stats. The damage of the retaliatory glintblades is fixed based on the absorbed magic.
8. How does the Moonveil Katana work?
The Moonveil Katana is a unique weapon that scales with Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence. Its unique weapon art, Transient Moonlight, sends out a magic-infused horizontal beam and has both ranged and close range attacks. It is known for its fast attacks, high damage, and bleed build-up.
9. Can I change the weapon art on the Moonveil Katana?
No, the Moonveil Katana is a unique weapon and cannot have its weapon art replaced with another Ash of War. The Transient Moonlight is intrinsic to the weapon.
10. What are the best stats for the Moonveil Katana?
The Moonveil Katana scales best with Intelligence, followed by Dexterity. Strength is less important for this weapon. A good build usually has high Intelligence and Dexterity. Investing in Arcane can also improve Bleed build-up.
11. Where can I find the Moonveil Katana?
The Moonveil Katana is dropped by the Magma Wyrm boss in the Gael Tunnel, located in Eastern Limgrave near the border with Caelid.
12. Is the Moonveil Katana still considered one of the best weapons in Elden Ring?
Yes, even after patches, the Moonveil Katana remains a very strong weapon. Its blend of melee and magic damage makes it highly versatile.
13. Can I use incantations alongside the Moonveil Katana?
Yes, it’s possible. Spells that deal Area-of-Effect damage, like the Rotten Breath Incantation or Meteorite Sorcery, can complement the Moonveil but will require careful stat planning.
14. Is it better to use the Moonveil one-handed or two-handed?
The Moonveil deals more damage and moves faster when used two-handed. This is generally the preferred method for maximizing damage output.
15. Are there other counters to Moonveil spam other than Carian Retaliation?
Yes. Other counters to Moonveil include spacing techniques, pre-emptive rolling, and fast weapons to interrupt its attacks. Learning the telltale signs of the Transient Moonlight will also assist. You can also keep walking towards the Moonveil user until they pull their right hand down, then pre-roll.
Conclusion
Carian Retaliation is an effective counter to the Moonveil Katana’s Transient Moonlight ability, especially for players who rely on spamming it. Understanding the timing of the parry and its limitations is essential for utilizing it effectively. While the Moonveil remains a powerful weapon in Elden Ring, a well-timed Carian Retaliation can quickly turn the tables on those who overuse its magical capabilities. Hopefully, this detailed guide has given you a better understanding of how these mechanics interact, allowing you to be a more formidable Elden Ring player.