If you've played the popular action RPG, or nearly any action-adventure title, you're probably familiar with the wonderful technique known as the “dodge roll.” This avoidance maneuver lets your avatar to perform a forward, sideways, or backward somersault to evade any enemy attacks and move away from foes. Appears practical, right?
This rolling move, nevertheless, has gotten a lot of flak, not simply as a result of the somersault; some have dubbed it foolish, a cheap tactic, and an implausible action — and occasionally, I see the point. Picture me rolling around hostile mobs in a well-known fantasy game — untouchable! But this game's rolling dodge is the dodge roll to top all dodge rolls evasion moves, and let me explain.
In Elden Ring's case, the creators discovered an excellent method to counter all sentiments suggesting the technique is not challenging enough: just grant all foes unreasonable strength, multiply it, and all heroes who ventures close them will be eternally grateful because of their evasion move, myself included. When the stakes are this high, pulling off a perfect dodge feels like an achievement, not a cheat.
No other evasion method in Elden Ring matches this sense of satisfaction and reliability, since rapid sprints don't cover much ground and blocking attempts are readily overcome by powerful foes. One player advised jumping as a go-to game dodging technique, but in addition to lacking ideal movement, I couldn't understand how taking a crushing hit might boost my prospects of beating enemies (lack of skill, maybe).
Although this evasion move offers respite in an incredibly challenging experience, it isn't without skill. To begin with, Elden Ring's rolling dodge merely initiates a period of immunity once you stop pressing the roll control, which prevents a quick, panicky escape from dire situations. Furthermore, even though it can carry you off from foes, it's significantly more useful to employ it as a chance to move nearer, preferably behind the opponent, and strike blows. Lastly, you must still comprehend and predict opponent moves, as dodging at the start of a prolonged preparation could conclude your immunity before the blow lands… which will seriously hurt.
While dodge-rolling in rapid sequence might seem rather absurd (give it up for Geralt again), this isn't practically possible in the game. Certainly, that fails to transform it into a realistic battle technique — which is precisely why it would be terrifying to experience it in a product like a realism-focused RPG — however, this is a spectacular magical game we're talking about, therefore, it doesn't matter?
Similar to any respectable dodge roll, the game's dodge motion is enhanced with a brief tumbling leap at the commencement, offering a lively impression as opposed to dropping the character on the floor. Based on your equipment, the maneuver might appear extremely nimble or relatively slow, however, it's consistently swifter and more seamless than the evasion moves used in the earlier games. True, you could plant your large weapon on the floor when wielding such equipment, but that's your own fault for avoiding alternative arms (Just kidding — avoid using Elden Ring with projectile weapons).
The game's dodging mechanic creates the perfect balance 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 obtain more than triumph, but gratification.
Elara is a seasoned gaming journalist with a passion for slot mechanics and player strategies.
