7 Essential Tips to Master Parrying in Elden Ring
1. Get a Parry-Capable Shield
Before you can start parrying, you need a shield that can parry. Some shields come with the parry ability baked in, but others will need an Ash of War to gain this skill. You can buy a basic Parry Ash of War from a vendor at the start of the game. If you chose a starting class with a shield, it likely already has parry capability.
Tip: Smaller shields usually have better parry windows, making them ideal for beginners.
2. Understand Active Parry Windows
Different shields have different active parry windows. Think of this like the active frames in fighting games. Smaller shields generally have larger active parry windows compared to medium or larger shields. This makes smaller shields more forgiving and easier to parry with.
Pro Tip: Use a smaller shield when you're starting to learn parrying. The Buckler Shield is a great option for this, which brings us to our next point.
3. Use the Buckler Shield
The Buckler Shield is one of the best shields for learning to parry. It comes with the unique Buckler Parry Ash of War, which has a faster startup and a longer parry window than other shields. This gives you a more generous window to land your parries.
How to Get the Buckler Shield:
· Start as the Bandit class.
· Kill Gatekeeper Gostoc at Stormveil Castle for his bell bearing, which you can then use to buy the shield from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold.
· Complete Gostoc’s questline to unlock him as a vendor and purchase the shield.
4. Watch the Enemy’s Hands
Instead of focusing on the enemy’s weapon, watch their hands. This is particularly effective with smaller shields. Focus on the hand movement to time your parry. When you see the hand start to move forward, that’s your cue to parry.
Quick Tip: Parry at the start of the forward swing. Do not delay, as this will often lead to getting hit.
5. Hold Guard and Parry
As you’re learning, use the guard and parry technique. Hold guard and then hit parry. This method gives you a fallback option if you miss the parry, as you’ll still be guarding and taking less damage.
Note: This isn’t as flashy as a perfect parry, but it’s a great training wheel approach.
6. Know What Can and Can’t Be Parried
Not all attacks can be parried. Obvious moves like magic spells, large explosions, and some monster attacks are unparriable. This requires some trial and error to learn which moves can be parried.
Community Call: If you’re a Soulsborne veteran with deep knowledge of parrying, share your tips and experiences in the comments to help fellow Tarnished players.
7. Use Daggers for Massive Riposte Damage
Daggers deal massive damage on riposte because they do more damage on critical hits. Pair a dagger with your shield to maximize your damage output after a successful parry.
Tip: Keep a dagger in your off-hand to follow up with a powerful riposte after parrying.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a blocking god in Elden Ring takes practice and patience. Use these tips to improve your blocking skills and defeat bosses in style. In order to save your time and avoid wasting too much effort to experience new content, you can buy cheap Elden Ring Items on MMoexp with competitive prices, instant delivery, professional services and security guarantee. Happy blocking, and may your counterattacks always be deadly!