The Game's Rolling Dodge Warrants Praise

For those who have experienced the popular action RPG, or just about any third-person combat game, you're likely acquainted with the wonderful technique known as the “rolling dodge.” This evasion technique enables your hero to execute a forward, sideways, or backward somersault to avoid all incoming damage and move away from foes. Sounds handy, doesn't it?

This rolling move, though, has received plenty of criticism, and not only due to the tumbling; it's been called foolish, a easy way out, and an implausible action — and in some cases, I agree. Picture me somersaulting past nearby enemy groups in another popular RPG — they can't hit me! But the title's dodge roll is the dodge roll to surpass every other evasion moves, and let me explain.

For this particular game, the creators discovered an excellent method to address all opinions claiming the maneuver is too easy: just grant every enemy overwhelming force, triple that, and all heroes who dares come near them will feel immensely thankful for their dodge-roll ability, me included. Given the intense difficulty, pulling off a perfect dodge feels like an achievement, rather than a cheap trick.

No alternative avoidance technique in Elden Ring comes close to this sense of satisfaction and consistency, because swift moves provide minimal movement and blocking attempts are readily overcome by strong enemies. Someone once recommended jumping as a go-to Elden Ring avoidance strategy, but aside from not providing perfect repositioning, I couldn't understand how receiving a fatal blow would improve my chances of defeating bosses (skill issue, perhaps).

Learning the Move

Although the rolling dodge grants reprieve in a famously difficult title, it demands ability. Firstly, the game's dodge roll just activates a window of invulnerability once you let go of the dodge button, which hinders a rapid, fearful withdrawal from dangerous scenarios. Additionally, while it might transport you away from opponents, it's much better to use it as an opportunity to get closer, ideally to their rear, and deliver attacks. In conclusion, you must still understand and anticipate foe assaults, as dodging at the start of a prolonged preparation might terminate your protection prior to the hit connecting… resulting in severe damage.

A Balanced Mechanic

Even though rolling-dodging in quick succession may look a bit ridiculous (credit to Geralt once more), this isn't truly feasible in the game. Naturally, that still doesn't make it a plausible fighting maneuver — exactly the reason it would be pure horror to experience it in a product like a realism-focused RPG — but this is a flashy fantasy title we're talking about, thus why worry?

Like any proper rolling dodge, Elden Ring's dodge motion is enhanced with a small acrobatic jump at the commencement, giving it an energetic feel as opposed to dropping the character downward. According to your loadout, the technique may seem incredibly quick or moderately cumbersome, but it remains faster and more fluid than the evasion moves featured in the previous titles. Admittedly, you could plant your big blade in the dirt when wielding such equipment, but that's your responsibility for failing to use ranged weapons (Just kidding — steer clear of Elden Ring using ranged options).

Optimal Harmony

Elden Ring's avoidance feature establishes an ideal equilibrium between challenge and opportunity, offering hope of victory while threatening to take that hope away at the smallest error. Learn this skill, and you'll gain more than triumph, but gratification.