🔗 Share this article

For those who have experienced the popular action RPG, or just about any third-person combat game, you're probably well-versed in the wonderful mechanic called the “evasion roll.” This evasion technique enables your hero to perform a front, lateral, or rearward somersault to dodge incoming harm and create distance from the bad guy. Sounds handy, doesn't it?

The evasion roll, nevertheless, has gotten significant backlash, not simply as a result of the somersault; some have dubbed it dumb, a easy way out, and an implausible action — and sometimes, I agree. Picture me tumbling about hostile mobs in The Witcher 3 — untouchable! But this game's dodge roll represents the evasion to outdo all previous evasion moves, and I'll tell you why.

For this particular game, the creators discovered an excellent method to counter all sentiments that the move is not challenging enough: just grant every enemy excessive power, multiply it, and every Tarnished who dares come near them will feel immensely thankful because of their evasion move, myself included. When the stakes are this high, pulling off a perfect dodge feels like an achievement, rather than a cheap trick.

No different defensive move in Elden Ring matches this sense of satisfaction and dependability, because swift moves provide minimal movement and defensive postures get quickly shattered by strong enemies. One player advised jumping as a go-to Elden Ring dodging technique, but besides failing to offer optimal placement, I couldn't understand how getting my skull smashed in might boost my prospects of beating enemies (lack of skill, maybe).

Perfecting the Skill

While this evasion move offers respite in an otherwise brutal game, it isn't without skill. To begin with, Elden Ring's evasion move just activates a frame of protection after you release the roll control, which prevents a quick, panicky escape from dire situations. Furthermore, while it might transport you away from opponents, it's significantly more useful to utilize it as a moment to get closer, preferably behind the opponent, and deliver attacks. In conclusion, it remains necessary to comprehend and predict enemy attacks, because rolling prematurely of a prolonged preparation might terminate your protection prior to the hit connecting… which will seriously hurt.

A Harmonious System

While dodge-rolling in quick succession may look a bit ridiculous (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't truly feasible in this title. Certainly, that still doesn't make it a believable fighting maneuver — which is precisely why it would be dreadful to witness it in a title like a realism-focused RPG — however, this is a spectacular magical game being considered, therefore, it doesn't matter?

Comparable to any well-executed dodge roll, the game's dodge motion is enhanced with a brief tumbling leap at the start, offering a lively impression instead of dropping the character on the floor. Depending on your gear, the move can feel super agile or moderately cumbersome, but it remains faster and more fluid than the rolling dodges used in the previous titles. True, you will stick your oversized sword on the floor if you're carrying one, but that's your own fault for not just playing alternative arms (Just kidding — don't play the game with projectile weapons).

Optimal Harmony

This title's avoidance feature establishes an ideal equilibrium between difficulty and chance, offering hope of victory while risking the loss of that hope at the slightest mistake. Perfect this move, and you'll obtain not just victory, but gratification.