As a long-time Souls player with hundreds of hours across the series, I‘ve had an intimate love/hate relationship with parrying. During my early and embarrassingly pitiful attempts, I used to loathe the very concept of it. But over countless deaths, tears, and ripped out hair strands, I‘ve come to master the art of the parry.
Now, I live for those adrenaline-fueled moments of perfectly timed parries leading to the sweet sound of ripostes slashing through enemies. So whether you‘re a struggling beginner or looking to elevate your parry game, I‘ll be sharing everything I‘ve learned on this iconic battle technique.
The Science of Parries Explained
Let‘s quickly break down what‘s actually happening under the hood during parries and ripostes:
- Active Frames: The exact parry window where an incoming attack can be successfully deflected
- Startup Frames: Initial gesture animation that must fully complete before active frames
- Recovery Frames: Animation after active frames before you can take other actions
The more active parry frames your shield or weapon has, the larger the timing window for nailing successful parries. Quicker startups are also favorable to rapidly react to attacks.
I highly recommend checking out frame data details on various parrying tools here. This can help you select options that best fit your playstyle.
Picking the Best Parry Shield
Small and medium shields with lower stability can parry, while greatshields trade that off for supreme guard power. Make sure to balance out:
- Stability – Impacts stamina loss when blocking attacks
- Weight – Influences equip load and roll type
- Damage Absorption – Lowers health damage taken when hit
Here are my top recommendations among parry shields:
| Shield | Stability | Weight | Absorption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llewellyn | 46 | 3.0 units | 55% |
| Iron Round | 46 | 2.5 units | 45% |
| Buckler | 45 | 1.5 units | 30% |
Llewellyn Shield has one of the longest active parry frames while the Buckler is extremely lightweight. Crest Shields like Dragon Crest also have strong elemental resistance.
Next-Level Parrying Techniques
Once you‘ve mastered the basics, there are a variety of advanced parry techniques that can help secure victories:
- Bait Parries – Lure enemies into Attack animations ideal for parrying
- Setup Parries – Use an attack to guarantee perfectly-times parry follow ups for massive damage
- Free-Aim Parries – Unlock camera for wide sweeping parries on odd-angled attacks
- Wakeup Parries – Catch opponents trying to punish you as you get up
These expert techniques reflect the deepest levels of mind-games and mixups integrated into Dark Souls 3‘s combat.
Conclusion: Embrace the Parry
I hope this guide has shed light on the incredible depths of parrying potential within Dark Souls 3. Don‘t shy away from it – with enough courage and practice, parries can transform you into a master duelist.
Now that you‘ve seen what‘s possible, it‘s time to pick up your shields and fist weapons to begin forging those lightning-fast reflexes. I‘ll see you in the arena, my fellow parry enthusiasts. May your ripostes strike true!
Let me know your best parry moments and any other tips below!
