Elden Ring – How to parry an attack

Best defense technique in Elden Ring!
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

In Elden Ring, players will need to master the art of melee combat in order to defeat enemies easily and progress through the storyline. The game offers a range of mechanics that you can use during combat to land a critical hit on the opponent. Parrying is one of these mechanics that players will need to get used to early on. 

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Parrying allows players to block the opponent's attack at the final moment. This opens up the enemy for a critical counter attack. To perform a Parry, players need to hold down on the L2/LT button at once, and at the exact moment when the opponent's weapon is about to land. PC players can Parry by holding down Shift and Right Click mouse button simultaneously. 

If executed properly, players will hear a ringing audio cue, and this means the opponent is open for a critical hit. Parrying usually staggers your opponent leaving them open to Strong Attacks. However, players need to keep practicing this technique to master the timing. 

Related: What are Crystal Tears used for in Elden Ring and how to use them, explained

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

Parrying doesn't work if players fail to time the Strong Attack with the shield. It is ideal to practice this trick on weaker enemies, especially the soldiers located near Church Of Elleh. Figure out how Parrying works by timing the shield attack at the precise moment. 

At the same time, not every shield will have the capability to parry. Some shields are integrally weak and do not offer the choice to Parry. Purchase a strong shield in exchange for Runes, and start practicing this mechanic. Parrying is one of the oldest mechanics in FromSoftware's games, and players new to Elden Ring's genre will have to master this early on. 

Wondering how to beat the fire at Catacombs? Check out How to open the door that is locked by some contraption in Stormfoot Catacombs in Elden Ring on Pro Game Guides.


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Dipanjan Dey
Dipanjan Dey started his gaming journey with Doom 2 and Contra: Legacy of War back in 1997. Naturally, he gravitated to RPGs and FPS titles like Call of Duty, Halo, and CS:GO. Dipanjan has been coverings stories and writing about video games for the past five years. For the past year, Dipanjan has been working as a Contributing Author for Pro Game Guides, covering shooter games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and CoD!

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Elden Ring – How to parry an attack

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