🔗 Share this article

Having spent time with the popular action RPG, or most other action-adventure title, chances are you're acquainted with the glorious mechanic known as the “rolling dodge.” This defensive move enables your hero to perform a front, lateral, or rearward somersault to evade incoming harm and create distance from foes. Seems useful, right?

This rolling move, nevertheless, has gotten a lot of flak, not simply because of the rolling; it's been labeled unintelligent, a easy way out, and an unrealistic move — and in some cases, I agree. Picture me tumbling about local Doppler gangs in another popular RPG — can't touch this Geralt! But this game's evasion move is the dodge roll to outdo all previous evasion moves, and here's the reason.

Regarding this title, the developers found a clever approach to address all opinions suggesting the technique is overly simple: simply give every enemy excessive power, increase it further, and each player character who dares come near them will be eternally grateful for their dodge-roll ability, I'm no exception. When the stakes are this high, successfully rolling to victory comes across as a triumph, instead of an unfair advantage.

No other evasion method in Elden Ring comes close to this level of gratification and reliability, because swift moves provide minimal movement and guard stances are readily overcome by strong enemies. A person once suggested hopping as the main Elden Ring dodging technique, but in addition to lacking ideal movement, I couldn't understand how getting my skull smashed in would improve my chances of defeating bosses (lack of skill, maybe).

Learning the Move

Although this evasion move provides relief in an otherwise brutal game, it isn't without skill. Firstly, Elden Ring's dodge roll only triggers a period of immunity following you stop pressing the evasion key, which prevents a quick, panicky escape from dangerous scenarios. Additionally, although it may carry you off from opponents, it's far more effective to use it as an opportunity to move nearer, preferably behind the opponent, and land some hits. In conclusion, you still need comprehend and predict foe assaults, as dodging at the start of an extended wind-up might terminate your protection before the blow lands… which will seriously hurt.

A Harmonious System

Although evasion-rolling in quick succession might seem rather absurd (give it up for Geralt again), this isn't practically possible in the game. Naturally, that fails to transform it into a believable fighting maneuver — exactly the reason it would be terrifying to experience it in a product like a realism-focused RPG — but this is a spectacular magical game being considered, therefore, it doesn't matter?

Similar to any respectable dodge roll, Elden Ring's rolling animation is spruced up with a little somersault-y hop at the commencement, providing a dynamic sensation as opposed to placing the avatar on the floor. Depending on your gear, the maneuver might appear incredibly quick or somewhat sluggish, yet it's always swifter and more seamless than the dodge rolls used in the earlier games. Certainly, you will stick your big blade in the dirt if you're carrying one, but that's your own fault for failing to use ranged weapons (Just kidding — don't play the game using ranged options).

Ideal Equilibrium

This title's avoidance feature forms an optimal harmony between difficulty and chance, providing prospects of success while threatening to take that hope away at the tiniest misstep. Master this technique, and you'll gain not just victory, but satisfaction.