🔗 Share this article

If you've played the popular action RPG, or just about any third-person combat game, you're likely acquainted with the glorious mechanic referred to as the “evasion roll.” This evasion technique enables your hero to carry out a forward, sideways, or backward ground roll to evade all incoming damage and create distance from the bad guy. Sounds handy, right?

This rolling move, though, has attracted a lot of flak, and not only as a result of the somersault; some have dubbed it unintelligent, a easy way out, and an unrealistic move — and occasionally, I concur. Just imagine me rolling around nearby enemy groups in another popular RPG — untouchable! But the title's dodge roll represents the evasion to outdo all previous rolling dodges, and I'll tell you why.

Regarding this title, the designers identified a great way to address all opinions claiming the maneuver is not challenging enough: just grant all foes unreasonable strength, increase it further, and each player character who ventures close them will feel immensely thankful because of their evasion move, me included. Given the intense difficulty, successfully rolling to victory comes across as a triumph, rather than a cheap trick.

No different defensive move in the game matches this level of gratification and consistency, as quick dashes provide minimal movement and defensive postures are readily overcome by strong enemies. Someone once recommended leaping as the primary Elden Ring dodging technique, but besides failing to offer optimal placement, It wasn't clear to me receiving a fatal blow might boost my prospects of defeating bosses (skill issue, perhaps).

Learning the Move

While the rolling dodge provides relief in an otherwise brutal game, it requires practice. Firstly, the game's dodge roll only triggers a period of immunity after you stop pressing the roll control, which hinders a quick, panicky escape from dire situations. Moreover, even though it can carry you off from foes, it's much better to employ it as a chance to get closer, ideally to their rear, and strike blows. Lastly, it remains necessary to grasp and foresee foe assaults, because rolling prematurely of a prolonged preparation could conclude your immunity prior to the hit connecting… resulting in severe damage.

A Harmonious System

Even though rolling-dodging in fast repetition might seem rather absurd (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't really an option in this title. Of course, that doesn't render it a realistic combat move — which is precisely why it would be terrifying to witness it in a title like Kingdom Come: Deliverance — but this is a flashy fantasy title we're talking about, thus why worry?

Similar to any respectable rolling dodge, the game's dodge motion is enhanced with a brief tumbling leap at the beginning, offering a lively impression as opposed to dropping the character downward. According to your loadout, the technique may seem incredibly quick or somewhat sluggish, however, it's consistently swifter and more seamless than the evasion moves found in the previous titles. True, you may embed your large weapon into the ground if you're carrying one, but that's on you for failing to use alternative arms (I'm joking — avoid using Elden Ring with projectile weapons).

Optimal Harmony

Elden Ring's avoidance feature establishes an ideal equilibrium between obstacle and possibility, granting chances of triumph while endangering that very prospect at the smallest error. Learn this skill, and you'll be rewarded with not only success, but gratification.