Mastering the Art of Parry in Ghost of Tsushima

How to Parry in Ghost of Tsushima: A Comprehensive Guide

The parry is arguably the most crucial combat skill in Ghost of Tsushima, often being the difference between life and death for Jin Sakai. While the basic concept is simple, mastering the timing and understanding different types of parries will significantly enhance your combat prowess. Here’s a breakdown:

Parrying Basics: To perform a standard parry, you need to press the L1 button (or your designated block/parry button) just before an enemy attack connects with Jin. The window for a standard parry is fairly lenient, allowing you to react a moment after seeing the attack animation. Successful standard parries create an opening for counterattacks, letting you regain the offensive momentum.

Perfect Parry (The Precise Counter): A perfect parry, on the other hand, requires much more precise timing. You must press L1 within an extremely tight window, often described as within 1-2 frames of the attack landing. This is significantly harder than a regular parry but offers a much greater reward. When you perfectly parry an attack, you not only stagger the enemy, but you open them up for a devastating counter.

Visual Cues: While memorizing attack patterns is crucial, focusing on visual cues greatly improves your timing. Look for the specific moment an enemy’s body shifts or their arm pulls back before an attack. The moment their limb begins its forward motion is often the ideal time to attempt your parry.

Blue Glint Attacks: Some attacks are designated with a blue glint. These cannot be blocked, and they require either a dodge or, with the correct skill, a special parry. Once you unlock the necessary skill, a blue glint parry is much more lenient than a standard perfect parry.

Parry vs. Block: Holding L1 will block most attacks, but a block doesn’t open enemies for a counterattack and will leave you vulnerable to unblockable attacks. Therefore, timing your parry accurately is usually more beneficial than simply holding the block button.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parrying in Ghost of Tsushima

What is the difference between a standard parry and a perfect parry?

A standard parry is triggered when you press L1 shortly before an enemy strike connects. It offers an opening for a counterattack. A perfect parry occurs when L1 is pressed within a very small frame window of the strike landing, resulting in a significantly bigger opening and a chance for a more powerful counter.

How do I deal with blue glint attacks?

Blue glint attacks cannot be blocked. They must be either dodged or parried. After acquiring a specific skill, you can parry them with a more generous timing window compared to a perfect parry, but still require a more precise timing than a standard parry.

Can I hold the block button instead of parrying?

Yes, you can hold L1 to block many attacks, but this leaves you more vulnerable, and does not create an opening for counterattacks as a parry would. Holding block will also not stop blue attacks. The parry, especially a perfect parry, is a far more effective defensive and offensive tool.

How do I know when to parry?

Pay close attention to the enemy’s animations. When an enemy pulls back their weapon or changes stance to initiate an attack, that is your cue to press L1. Learning enemy patterns is vital for consistently timing your parries.

Is it easier to parry certain enemy types?

Generally, each enemy type follows a specific attacking pattern. Some enemies have slower and more telegraphed attacks, making them easier to parry, while others may have faster or trickier moves. Experimenting with different enemy types will help you refine your timing.

What is the best way to practice parrying?

Start with weaker enemies and focus solely on parrying. Don’t try to attack at first, just aim to parry. This repetition will help improve your muscle memory and timing. Utilizing the in-game training mode to practice with a dummy is also a great way to get a feel for parrying timing.

Does the difficulty setting affect the parry window?

No, the parry timing window remains the same across all difficulty settings. The primary change in difficulty levels concerns enemy damage output and aggression. Mastering parrying becomes even more important on higher difficulties.

Do certain armor or skills impact parry effectiveness?

Certain skills in the skill tree enhance the parry, such as increasing the time for perfect parrying. Armor can provide you other bonuses, but none of them directly affect parrying.

Can I parry spear attacks?

Spear attacks can be parried, though they can be trickier due to their longer reach. Unlocking the wind stance and its corresponding parry skill (activated with Triangle) is the most effective way to deal with spears. You can also jump to avoid sweep attacks from the spears.

What about enemies with shields?

Enemies with shields can also be parried. However, you have to time the parry just as their weapon starts to swing, not when their shield makes contact with you.

How do standoffs relate to parrying?

Standoffs are a separate combat mechanic initiated by pressing the Up button on the D-pad. While they aren’t directly related to parrying, mastering them is equally important for dealing with groups of enemies. In standoffs you have to hold triangle until the enemy is going to attack. If timed correctly you’ll defeat the enemy.

Can you parry ranged attacks?

No, you cannot parry ranged attacks. You will need to either dodge them or block them if available.

What is the significance of parrying when fighting bosses?

Bosses often have more complex attack patterns, making perfect parries invaluable. By carefully studying their movements and timing your parries precisely, you can create significant openings to deal heavy damage.

Is it possible to consistently parry every attack?

With practice and focus on timing, it is possible to consistently parry many attacks, but perfect parrying still requires precision and can take time to master. Don’t get discouraged if you miss a few, keep practicing!

Is parrying only for melee combat?

Yes, parrying is exclusively a melee combat mechanic in Ghost of Tsushima. It does not apply to ranged attacks or other types of non-physical combat.

Mastering the parry in Ghost of Tsushima takes time and practice, but it’s an essential skill that can dramatically improve your combat effectiveness. By paying attention to enemy animations, understanding the difference between standard and perfect parries, and adapting to different enemy types, you’ll become a formidable warrior on the island of Tsushima. Don’t give up on the parry, as it’s one of the main skills that can make even the most difficult enemy encounters manageable.