A skill that many players often struggle with in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is parrying. It might seem like a basic part of combat that should come naturally, but the mechanics of it in this game are as not as simple as they may seem. Players often question what they are doing wrong as their attempted parries always end in them being hit by their opponent.
It causes them to lose precious health that could mean the difference between life and desynchronization. Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you out if you find yourself struggling with this combat mechanic!
3 Basics Of Parrying
The goal of parrying is to take the upper hand over your opponent by stunning them for a few seconds. When they swing their blade you will bring up either a shield or weapon to push them back. It will give you a few seconds to perform a heavy attack which can really deplete their health, but you must have something equipped in Eivor’s left hand.
You should even consider obtaining the ParryDamage skill with your available points as it will allow you to also do damage upon completion of a successful parry. You can complete a parry by pressing L1/LB/Q on your console or PC, but there is more to it than a simple button tap.
2 Types Of Attacks
One thing to keep in mind when attempting to parry is the different types of attacks that you can be hit with in combat. Enemies will come at you with gold, red, and no-color attacks, but not all of them can be parried.
The red attacks will deal damage to you no matter what, while the gold and no-color attacks will allow you to parry successfully. However, keep in mind that when facing bosses this does change and it can be trickier to figure out which attacks you can stand your own against.
1 Tips And Tricks
There are a few tips and tricks that every Viking should know whether they are just jumping into the game or have been playing for some time. It can change your experience as you learn this integral combat mechanic that will turn some of the harder fights into a piece of cake.
Timing Is Everything
The biggest aspect of performing a successful parry is timing, which is something that comes with practice. You can’t be too early or too late, and you also have to take into account the speed of your weapon, especially if you like to try different types. This is the learning curve you will face and it is worth it to go back to weaker areas and practice this if you are still struggling with the parry further into the game.
Equip A Shield
Shields are not only great for blocking incoming attacks, but they also provide a larger parry window. The shield will slow you down, especially if you are used to carrying around lighter weapons in your left hand, but it is worth it to save some health. You might want to look into a light shield if this is the case to help you with your timing and speed in combat.
Parrying Bosses Is Difficult Even For Pros
Parrying bosses is a difficult skill for everyone, even the pros, as most of their attacks cannot be parried. The attacks that bosses perform generally all look the same and happen so fast you have limited time to attack.
The only way to tell is to see if there is a symbol above the head, as this means the attack cannot be parried and you should dodge instead. You might even find it’s easier just to dodge in these fights, especially when facing quicker bosses who give you little to no time to react.
Use Your Dodge To Learn Their Attacks
Dodging is a great way to understand your enemy as it allows you to view them from a distance and learn their attacks. Most opponents have a pattern they employ to try and defeat you, but parrying can be difficult if you don’t understand how they operate.
This tactic is very useful in boss fights if you want to try to parry as each boss has their own set of attacks that make them especially lethal. If you compare the attacks of Suttungr the Giant to Ivarr the Boneless they really don’t compare which is why dodging is such an integral part of parrying.
The Closer The Better
You want to be up close and personal in order to complete a successful parry as keeping your distance won’t help you one bit. The game only registers the parry within a certain range, and you will find that it is often too close for comfort. You want to keep this in mind especially when battling Leofrith, as for some reason it makes his attacks impossible to parry unless you are basically on top of him in battle.
It’s Very Useful Against Unbreakable Shields
Unbreakable shields are something that a few elite enemies will use to protect themselves, but a parry can be a useful tactic against these. When completing a successful parry against this opponent it will cause them to drop their shield and leave you an opening. You could spend your time dodging around them, but if you create a heavy build this isn’t always possible.
Be Wary Of Your Stamina
Your stamina is your lifeline and a parry can’t be completed without some stamina to aid you which is a combat mistake many players make. If you go to parry and no stamina is left in your bar, then it could cause your opponent to land a critical hit on you and lead to desynchronization. No one wants that, so know your limits and watch your bars to ensure you are not overexerting Eivor in combat.
Next: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: 10 Things To Know Before Traveling To Vinland
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Rebecca O’Neill is a reader and writer based in Ohio, near the heart of the CLE. She enjoys starting fires in her kitchen and collecting pins when she’s not writing for Valnet, Inc, as an Organic List Writer. She writes for her blog, Creative Measures, and works towards the completion of her fantasy novel.
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