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Unveiling the Fastest Parry in Elden Ring: A Tarnished’s Guide to Frame Data Mastery

The burning question on every aspiring Elden Lord’s mind: what is the absolute fastest parry in Elden Ring? The answer, unequivocally, lies with Golden Parry and Carian Retaliation. These two Ashes of War possess identical and superior parry frame data, surpassing even the revered Buckler. Attaching them to any eligible shield instantly grants you the quickest parry available, effectively rendering standard parries obsolete. This article will delve into the nuances of parrying, exploring why these Ashes reign supreme, and answering frequently asked questions to turn you into a parrying prodigy.

Why Golden Parry and Carian Retaliation Dominate

The speed of a parry is measured in frames. In Elden Ring, operating at 30 or 60 frames per second (FPS), a lower frame count for the parry animation translates to a faster, more responsive parry.

Frame Data Breakdown: Golden Parry boasts a mere 4 start-up frames and 6 active parry frames at 30 FPS (double these values at 60 FPS). Carian Retaliation shares these exact figures.
Superiority Over the Buckler: While the Buckler is often lauded for its generous parry window, Golden Parry and Carian Retaliation offer a significantly faster activation, giving you that crucial edge in timing your deflects.
Agnostic Shield Application: The beauty of these Ashes of War lies in their independence from the shield’s inherent parry capabilities. Slap them onto a small or medium shield, and you instantly inherit their superior frame data.

Mastering the Parry: More Than Just Speed

While raw speed is vital, successful parrying also depends on understanding these elements:

Prediction: Anticipating enemy attacks is paramount. Learn attack patterns, telegraphs, and timings to properly position yourself for a parry.
Spacing: Maintaining the correct distance is crucial. Too close, and you risk being hit before the parry activates; too far, and the attack might miss entirely.
Practice: Consistent practice against various enemies is the key to developing muscle memory and instinctive parrying skills.
Understanding Enemy Types: Not all enemies are created equal. Some are parryable, while others are not. Experimentation and observation are your best tools.

How to Obtain These Game-Changing Ashes of War

Golden Parry: Located on the outskirts of Leyndell, Royal Capital. Start at the Outer Wall Phantom Tree Site of Grace and look for a White Teardrop Scarab Ball near the large shut frame doors where aristocrats are begging.
Carian Retaliation: Gained by purchasing it from Seluvis in Seluvis’s Rise at Three Sisters after giving Nepheli Loux the Seluvis’s Potion.

Strategic Advantages Beyond Speed

Golden Parry and Carian Retaliation aren’t just about speed; they offer unique strategic advantages:

Golden Parry’s Range: Golden Parry extends the parry range, making it easier to deflect attacks from a distance.
Carian Retaliation’s Projectile Deflection: Carian Retaliation can parry spells, turning them into Glintblades, providing both defense and offense. This is huge!

Parry Builds: Maximizing Your Potential

Consider these build strategies to amplify your parrying prowess:

Dexterity Focus: A Dexterity build synergizes well with fast-paced parrying, allowing for quick follow-up attacks and ripostes.
Faith Investment (for Golden Parry): While not strictly necessary, investing in Faith can enhance the effectiveness of Golden Parry.
Intelligence Investment (for Carian Retaliation): Boosting Intelligence strengthens the Glintblades generated by Carian Retaliation, adding significant magic damage to your arsenal.
Talismans and Armor: Equip talismans that boost dexterity, reduce stamina consumption, or increase critical hit damage. Armor with high poise can help you withstand stray hits.

Common Parry Mistakes to Avoid

Mashing the Parry Button: Spamming the parry button is a surefire way to fail. Focus on precise timing.
Ignoring Attack Animations: Pay close attention to enemy attack animations to anticipate the moment of impact.
Parrying Unparryable Attacks: Learn which attacks can and cannot be parried. Attempting to parry an unparryable attack will leave you vulnerable.
Underestimating Stamina Management: Parrying consumes stamina. Running out of stamina can leave you staggered and open to attack.

FAQs: Sharpening Your Parry Skills

1. Do smaller shields parry faster in Elden Ring?

While smaller shields like the Buckler are known for having a slightly more generous parry window compared to medium or greatshields with a standard parry, the Ashes of War, Golden Parry and Carian Retaliation, will always be faster regardless of the shield applied to.

2. Is Golden Parry the best parry in all situations?

Golden Parry and Carian Retaliation are tied for the best parry frames. However, Carian Retaliation offers the unique ability to parry spells, making it arguably more versatile in certain encounters.

3. Can you parry most bosses in Elden Ring?

While many bosses are parryable, some are resistant or immune to parrying. Experimentation is key to discovering which bosses can be parried.

4. Can I parry Malenia?

Yes, Malenia can be parried. However, her attacks are fast and relentless, making her one of the most challenging bosses to parry consistently.

5. Is the Parrying Dagger good for parrying?

The Parrying Dagger comes equipped with the Parry skill. It has a good weapon art that allows you to deflect enemy attacks.

6. Can you parry animal attacks in Elden Ring?

Generally, attacks from beasts and larger, non-humanoid creatures cannot be parried.

7. Are all affinities equal for Golden Parry?

While Golden Parry comes with a Sacred Affinity upon initial application, it can be customized with other affinities like Standard, Heavy, Keen, Quality, and Lightning to suit your build.

8. What’s the difference between a “parry” and a “deflection” in Elden Ring?

In Elden Ring terminology, a parry is a successful block that staggers the attacker, creating an opening for a critical hit (riposte). A deflection simply blocks the attack without staggering the enemy.

9. What stats are most important for a parry-focused build?

Dexterity and Stamina are crucial. Dexterity increases attack speed and critical damage, while stamina allows you to parry more frequently.

10. How does poise affect parrying?

Poise affects your ability to withstand attacks without being staggered. While it doesn’t directly impact parry effectiveness, high poise can prevent interruptions, ensuring you can land your parries reliably.

11. Can I use Golden Parry with a Greatshield?

No, Golden Parry can only be equipped on small and medium shields.

12. Where can I learn more about the science behind gaming?

For more insights into the intersection of gaming and learning, explore the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. This website offers valuable resources and research on the educational aspects of video games.

13. How do I follow up with a successful parry?

After a successful parry, quickly move to the enemy’s front and perform a critical attack (riposte) by pressing the attack button.

14. Does latency affect parrying?

Yes, latency (lag) can significantly impact parrying, especially in online play. High latency makes it harder to time your parries accurately.

15. What are some good practice enemies for learning to parry?

Soldiers and Knights in the early game areas are excellent for practicing parrying due to their predictable attack patterns. Also, the crucible knight can be good practice for parrying.

By mastering the intricacies of frame data, understanding enemy attack patterns, and strategically utilizing the Golden Parry and Carian Retaliation Ashes of War, you’ll transform from a novice Tarnished into an unyielding parrying powerhouse, capable of dominating even the most formidable foes in the Lands Between. Good luck, and may your parries be ever true!

What is the fastest parry in Elden?