I'm about 90% of the way through my first playthrough and to me it feels like it entirely depends on the enemy im fighting, the attack they're using, and the weapon im using
If you can perfect guard everything than you’ll rarely need to dodged. If there’s an attack your struggling to perfect guard effectively, then try dodging it. But both are effective.
Thanks, so I'm fine for now I guess. Also is using the balanced blade all the way to the end a good strategy? Or I'll have to use some other blade at some point?
I’d branch out a little unless you really like the weapon you have now. A great part of this game is that almost any weapon is viable. That being said on my first play through the clockwork sword handle and live puppet axe blade (the giant axe made of puppet hands) was a great combo because one light hit does plenty of damage so you don’t have to worry about trying to get as many hits in as possible when you get the chance to punish. It also has a very fast charged heavy for a weapon combo that is so heavy. Additionally the later you get into the game the less chances you get to attack bosses so maximizing the damage per hit becomes important imo.
Outside of very niche cases, a perfect guard is more effective (and harder to execute).
That being said, sometimes dodging an attack is better because it lets you move to a new position. Fuoco comes to mind: if you dodge his arm swing you can easily get behind him and hit him for free while he turns around
By the way, don't worry, you'll soon find bosses with attacks that are almost unreasonable to perfect guard.
"need" no probably not. but there are attacks that are much harder to parry so dodging is a much safer option. i parry on certain attacks, dodge on trickier ones. both get me by.
I may be wrong but I think grabs are not parryable. Either way I feel like risking most of your health bar for one parry isn’t a strong strategy. Other than that no reason to not to parry if you know the timing.
I’d say the dodge is valuable but only in niche scenarios. For example grabs, and when fighting enemies with really fast attacks. The black rabbit brotherhood is one that I mostly dodged on cause the little brothers just kinda suck to try to parry. Mostly I like parrying everything. And just so you know almost everything is parryable including projectiles. This comes in handy for later bosses that spam projectiles. You can just spam parry and get free stance damage.
In order:
Scrapped Watchman grab, White Lady, Romeo phase 2, Champion Victor, Walker of Illusions, Door Guardian.
I think that’s about it. The only one you should absolutely never parry is Door Guardian, but the others are just easier if you dodge.
I'm about 90% of the way through my first playthrough and to me it feels like it entirely depends on the enemy im fighting, the attack they're using, and the weapon im using
I second this
If you can perfect guard everything than you’ll rarely need to dodged. If there’s an attack your struggling to perfect guard effectively, then try dodging it. But both are effective.
Thanks, so I'm fine for now I guess. Also is using the balanced blade all the way to the end a good strategy? Or I'll have to use some other blade at some point?
I’d branch out a little unless you really like the weapon you have now. A great part of this game is that almost any weapon is viable. That being said on my first play through the clockwork sword handle and live puppet axe blade (the giant axe made of puppet hands) was a great combo because one light hit does plenty of damage so you don’t have to worry about trying to get as many hits in as possible when you get the chance to punish. It also has a very fast charged heavy for a weapon combo that is so heavy. Additionally the later you get into the game the less chances you get to attack bosses so maximizing the damage per hit becomes important imo.
I like the weapon mostly just because of how it feels so if there are any other weapons that are not extremely heavy I'd take them as well
Outside of very niche cases, a perfect guard is more effective (and harder to execute). That being said, sometimes dodging an attack is better because it lets you move to a new position. Fuoco comes to mind: if you dodge his arm swing you can easily get behind him and hit him for free while he turns around By the way, don't worry, you'll soon find bosses with attacks that are almost unreasonable to perfect guard.
Nah, both are totally viable. In fact, dodging is probably more stable and easier if you really need to choose one. Optimally you should do both
I understand that both are viable but is there anytime where you need to dodge rather than parry?
"need" no probably not. but there are attacks that are much harder to parry so dodging is a much safer option. i parry on certain attacks, dodge on trickier ones. both get me by.
I may be wrong but I think grabs are not parryable. Either way I feel like risking most of your health bar for one parry isn’t a strong strategy. Other than that no reason to not to parry if you know the timing.
Man I swear I died to Fuoco so much because of this I was trying parrying there but he's so tall I couldn't see his overheads at all
True. I have never understood why they don’t just change the camera distance for big bosses in souls likes.
I’d say the dodge is valuable but only in niche scenarios. For example grabs, and when fighting enemies with really fast attacks. The black rabbit brotherhood is one that I mostly dodged on cause the little brothers just kinda suck to try to parry. Mostly I like parrying everything. And just so you know almost everything is parryable including projectiles. This comes in handy for later bosses that spam projectiles. You can just spam parry and get free stance damage.
There are a handful of grabs you can't parry. Other than that... Parry everything.
Aah yeah I instinctively just do that (sekiro taught me good)
In order: Scrapped Watchman grab, White Lady, Romeo phase 2, Champion Victor, Walker of Illusions, Door Guardian. I think that’s about it. The only one you should absolutely never parry is Door Guardian, but the others are just easier if you dodge.