🔗 Share this article

If you've played the popular action RPG, or most other action-adventure title, you're probably well-versed in the glorious mechanic known as the “evasion roll.” This evasion technique enables your hero to carry out a front, lateral, or rearward somersault to dodge all incoming damage and create distance from foes. Sounds handy, doesn't it?

The evasion roll, however, has gotten significant backlash, not simply as a result of the somersault; some have dubbed it unintelligent, a cop-out, and an unbelievable technique — and sometimes, I see the point. Just imagine me rolling around hostile mobs in another popular RPG — they can't hit me! But the title's rolling dodge represents the evasion to outdo all previous evasion moves, and let me explain.

Regarding this title, the creators discovered a great way to respond to all views suggesting the technique is not challenging enough: simply give every enemy overwhelming force, multiply it, and every Tarnished who dares come near them will feel immensely thankful thanks to their rolling skill, myself included. When the stakes are this high, successfully rolling to victory seems like an accomplishment, rather than a cheap trick.

No alternative avoidance technique in Elden Ring approaches this feeling of accomplishment and reliability, because swift moves provide minimal movement and guard stances are readily overcome by powerful foes. A person once suggested leaping as the primary Elden Ring dodging technique, but aside from not providing perfect repositioning, It wasn't clear to me taking a crushing hit could enhance my odds of defeating bosses (lack of skill, maybe).

Mastering the Technique

While the dodge roll grants reprieve in an incredibly challenging experience, it isn't without skill. To begin with, the game's evasion move only triggers a window of invulnerability once you stop pressing the evasion key, which prevents a hasty, frantic retreat from perilous circumstances. Furthermore, even though it can move you aside from opponents, it's significantly more useful to use it as an opportunity to get closer, optimally at their back, and deliver attacks. In conclusion, it remains necessary to grasp and foresee foe assaults, since evading too early of a prolonged preparation might terminate your protection prior to the hit connecting… which will seriously hurt.

A Balanced Mechanic

Even though rolling-dodging in quick succession could appear somewhat silly (credit to Geralt once more), this isn't truly feasible in this title. Certainly, that doesn't render it a plausible fighting maneuver — exactly the reason it would be dreadful to witness it in a title like Kingdom Come: Deliverance — but this is a flashy fantasy title being considered, thus why worry?

Like any proper rolling dodge, this title's rolling animation is spruced up with a brief tumbling leap at the beginning, giving it an energetic feel as opposed to placing the avatar onto the ground. Depending on your gear, the technique may seem extremely nimble or moderately cumbersome, but it remains faster and more fluid than the dodge rolls used in the previous titles. True, you may embed your large weapon in the dirt when wielding such equipment, but that's your responsibility for avoiding alternative arms (I'm joking — don't play the game using ranged options).

The Perfect Balance

This title's avoidance feature creates the perfect balance between obstacle and possibility, providing prospects of success while threatening to take that hope away at the tiniest misstep. Perfect this move, and you'll gain not just victory, but gratification.