The Game's Evasion Move Warrants Praise
If you've played the popular action RPG, or nearly any third-person combat game, you're likely well-versed in the glorious feature known as the “rolling dodge.” This evasion technique allows your character to carry out a forward, sideways, or backward somersault to evade all incoming damage and create distance from opponents. Sounds handy, right?
The dodge roll, however, has gotten plenty of criticism, not simply as a result of the somersault; it's been labeled foolish, a cheap tactic, and an unrealistic move — and sometimes, I concur. You should see me somersaulting past nearby enemy groups in The Witcher 3 — untouchable! But the title's rolling dodge is the dodge roll to outdo all previous evasion moves, and I'll tell you why.
In Elden Ring's case, the developers found an excellent method to respond to all views that the move is too easy: simply give every enemy excessive power, increase it further, and each player character who approaches them will be eternally grateful thanks to their rolling skill, me included. With so much on the line, pulling off a perfect dodge feels like an achievement, rather than a cheap trick.
No different defensive move in the game matches this sense of satisfaction and consistency, because swift moves offer limited distance and guard stances are easily broken by powerful foes. A person once suggested leaping as the primary Elden Ring avoidance strategy, but besides failing to offer ideal movement, I didn't see how taking a crushing hit could enhance my odds of beating enemies (skill issue, perhaps).
Mastering the Technique
But even though the rolling dodge grants reprieve in an otherwise brutal game, it demands ability. Firstly, this title's evasion move merely initiates a window of invulnerability following you stop pressing the evasion key, which prevents a hasty, frantic retreat from perilous circumstances. Furthermore, 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 deliver attacks. Lastly, it remains necessary to comprehend and predict foe assaults, as dodging at the start of an extended wind-up may end your invincibility ahead of the attack striking… resulting in severe damage.
A Well-Designed Feature
Although evasion-rolling in rapid sequence might seem rather absurd (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't practically possible in Elden Ring. Of course, that doesn't render it a realistic combat move — the very cause why it would be terrifying to see it in a game like a realism-focused RPG — but this is a dazzling imaginative experience we're talking about, so who cares?
Similar to any respectable rolling dodge, this title's rolling animation is improved by a brief tumbling leap at the start, offering a lively impression as opposed to placing the avatar downward. Based on your equipment, the maneuver might appear super agile or moderately cumbersome, yet it's always swifter and more seamless than the dodge rolls found in the earlier games. Admittedly, you could plant your big blade on the floor if you're carrying one, but that's your responsibility for failing to use a crossbow (I'm joking — steer clear of Elden Ring with a crossbow).
The Perfect Balance
This title's dodging mechanic forms an optimal harmony between obstacle and possibility, providing prospects of success while threatening to take that hope away at the smallest error. Master this technique, and you'll be rewarded with more than triumph, but satisfaction.
