Mastering the Parry: The Ultimate Guide to Parrying in Elden Ring
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The best tool for parrying in Elden Ring is undoubtedly the Buckler. While it offers minimal protection against incoming damage, the Buckler stands out due to its significantly larger parry window. This generous timing makes it far easier to successfully deflect enemy attacks and open them up for a critical riposte. However, parrying in Elden Ring is a complex mechanic that extends beyond just the best shield, involving weapon choices, enemy knowledge, and a high level of skill. This guide will break down everything you need to know to become a parrying master in the Lands Between.
Understanding the Core of Parrying
Parrying in Elden Ring is a high-risk, high-reward mechanic. Successfully timed, a parry will deflect an incoming attack, stagger the enemy, and allow you to perform a powerful critical hit, often dealing massive damage. This makes parrying an exceptionally effective strategy against many of the game’s toughest foes, including some bosses. However, mis-timing a parry leaves you incredibly vulnerable, often resulting in devastating damage.
The Parry Window
The parry window refers to the brief timeframe in which your shield or weapon can deflect an attack. A larger parry window provides more leniency, allowing for a less precise timing. The Buckler has the largest parry window, making it the top choice for players looking to master the mechanic.
Weapons for Parrying
While the Buckler is often the first choice, other weapons can also parry attacks. These include:
- Small Shields: These shields generally have good parry windows, though not as large as the Buckler. They are a great starting point for learning to parry.
- Daggers: Daggers held in the left hand can be used for parrying.
- Medium Shields / Thrusting Swords / Fists (Left Hand) / Claws (Left Hand): These also function as parrying tools but with tighter timing windows than small shields.
- Fists (Right Hand) / Claws (Right Hand): Right hand versions can also parry.
- Curved Swords: Certain curved swords can be used to parry with specific skills.
What Can’t Be Parried?
Not every attack can be parried. Understanding what is off-limits is key to avoiding unnecessary risks. Here are some attacks and weapon types you cannot parry:
- Jump Attacks: Any attack that involves an enemy jumping is unparryable.
- Most Two-Handed Colossal Weapons: When wielded with two hands, these heavy weapons are generally unparryable. Single-handed attacks can be parried.
- Whips and Flails: These weapons are completely unparryable.
- Ranged Attacks: Arrows and bolts cannot be parried except with specialized parry skills.
- Certain Monster Attacks: Attacks from large animals and some unique creature strikes.
- Shield Bashes: Opponents using a shield to bash are also unparryable.
Understanding the Difficulty
Parrying in Elden Ring is considered more challenging than in earlier FromSoftware titles like Dark Souls 3 due to a smaller timing window. In Dark Souls 3, the parry timing was slightly later in the attack animation, but in Elden Ring, players must be quicker to execute successful parries.
Strategies and Techniques
Practice Makes Perfect
The key to mastering parrying is consistent practice. Start with easier enemies and gradually work your way up to more challenging foes. Pay close attention to enemy attack animations and learn the timing cues for each.
Baiting Attacks
Sometimes it’s helpful to create situations that encourage an enemy to use a parryable attack. This can be done by positioning yourself at a specific distance, or by using an attack of your own that is intended to bait a response.
Utilizing Ash of War
There are specific Ashes of War, such as the Golden Parry, which enhance the parry window of small and medium shields with an Erdtree Incantation. If you are struggling with parry timing, consider using an ash that will give you more leeway.
Alternatives to Parrying
While parrying is a very strong tool, it is not the only option available. Dodging, guard counters, and ranged attacks can all be effective strategies, especially against enemies that aren’t easily parried.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is parrying viable for all builds in Elden Ring?
Yes, while some builds might naturally lean more into parrying, it can be an effective strategy for any build in the game, provided you are comfortable with the timing and its risk-reward aspect.
2. Can you parry Malenia, Blade of Miquella?
Yes, Malenia can be parried, and some players have even defeated her using only parries, showcasing its effectiveness. However, her attacks are fast, and her combos require near perfect timing.
3. What are the best shields for parrying other than the buckler?
Besides the Buckler, the Target Shield and Small Leather Shield are also highly recommended for parrying due to their generous parry windows.
4. Are fist weapons good for parrying?
Yes, fist weapons like the Caestus, Manikin Claws, and Claws can be used for parrying. They offer a quick parry animation, which is particularly beneficial if you miss.
5. Is the Brass Shield good for parrying?
The Brass Shield is a medium shield that offers good damage reduction. While it can be used to parry, its parry window isn’t as large as small shields, making the Buckler a better option for parrying in most situations.
6. Does guard counter replace parrying?
No, guard counters and parries serve different functions. A guard counter is done after blocking, whereas parries deflect an attack completely and create an opening for a critical hit. While guard counters are easier to execute, they don’t offer the same level of damage or openings as parrying.
7. Can you parry the Tree Sentinel?
Yes, most of the Tree Sentinel’s frequent attacks are parryable. It’s best to focus on the timing for his Charging Attack and Leap Attack. His side swings can be harder to parry consistently.
8. What are some of the most difficult enemies to parry?
Enemies with unpredictable attack patterns, fast combos, and multi-hit attacks can be challenging to parry. Additionally, it’s harder to parry enemies that are large or that use 2-handed colossal weapons.
9. Do smaller shields parry faster than medium shields?
While the parry windows vary, smaller shields tend to have more frames to parry, giving the player an edge when timing attacks.
10. Is Elden Ring harder than the Dark Souls series?
Elden Ring’s bosses often have higher health, deal more damage, and use more complex attack patterns than many of their counterparts in the Dark Souls series. However, the game also provides players with more tools and ways to deal with these challenges, including enhanced parrying.
11. Can I parry with the Golden Parry ash of war?
Yes, the Golden Parry Ash of War can be applied to small and medium shields to increase their parry window. It’s beneficial for players struggling with the regular timing.
12. Is it worth learning to parry if I can just dodge?
While dodging is a fundamental skill, parrying provides a more reliable counter to specific attacks and can lead to extremely high damage. Parrying is especially useful against aggressive opponents and bosses.
13. Do boss fights become easier with parrying?
Yes, many boss fights can be significantly easier if you can parry key attacks consistently. It gives you the opportunity to inflict heavy critical damage, often cutting a large chunk of the bosses health.
14. What weapons have the shortest parry window?
Medium shields, thrusting swords, fist weapons, and claws tend to have shorter parry windows compared to small shields and the buckler.
15. What is the best way to practice parrying?
The best way to practice is to fight weaker, predictable enemies repeatedly, focusing specifically on parrying and paying attention to their attack animations and the timing of your inputs. Consider using an Ash of War like Golden Parry if you find the standard parry timing too difficult.
By mastering parrying, you unlock an extremely powerful tool in Elden Ring. Although it has a significant learning curve, the payoff is well worth the effort. With practice, the right equipment, and a good understanding of the mechanics, you will be parrying your way to victory in no time.