The Game's Evasion Move Warrants Recognition
If you've played the popular action RPG, or just about any action-adventure title, you're probably well-versed in the fantastic mechanic known as the “rolling dodge.” This evasion technique allows your character to execute a forward, sideways, or backward tumble to avoid incoming harm and create distance from opponents. Sounds handy, doesn't it?
This rolling move, nevertheless, has received plenty of criticism, and not only due to the tumbling; some have dubbed it dumb, a cheap tactic, and an implausible action — and sometimes, I concur. You should see me tumbling about local Doppler gangs in The Witcher 3 — can't touch this Geralt! But this game's evasion move is the dodge roll to outdo all previous evasion moves, and here's the reason.
For this particular game, the designers identified a great way to counter all sentiments suggesting the technique is overly simple: simply give each opponent excessive power, triple that, and all heroes who approaches them will appreciate deeply thanks to their rolling skill, myself included. Given the intense difficulty, evading successfully comes across as a triumph, rather than a cheap trick.
No alternative avoidance technique in this RPG approaches this level of gratification and dependability, since rapid sprints don't cover much ground and blocking attempts get quickly shattered by tough opponents. One player advised hopping as the main Elden Ring dodging technique, but in addition to lacking optimal placement, I couldn't understand how taking a crushing hit might boost my prospects of overcoming challenges (lack of skill, maybe).
Perfecting the Skill
While the dodge roll provides relief in an otherwise brutal game, it isn't without skill. Firstly, the game's rolling dodge only triggers a window of invulnerability once you release the evasion key, which hinders a quick, panicky escape from dire situations. Additionally, while it might move you aside from opponents, it's much better to utilize it as a moment to move nearer, optimally at their back, and land some hits. And, finally, it remains necessary to understand and anticipate foe assaults, because rolling prematurely of a prolonged preparation may end your invincibility ahead of the attack striking… resulting in severe damage.
A Balanced Mechanic
Even though rolling-dodging in fast repetition may look a bit ridiculous (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't truly feasible in this title. Of course, that still doesn't make it a believable combat move — exactly the reason it would be terrifying to witness it in a title like a realism-focused RPG — however, this is a dazzling imaginative experience under discussion, thus why worry?
Like any proper evasion move, this title's dodge motion is enhanced with a little somersault-y hop at the start, offering a lively impression rather than dropping the character onto the ground. According to your loadout, the move can feel super agile or relatively slow, but it remains swifter and more seamless than the rolling dodges used in the previous titles. Certainly, you may embed your large weapon in the dirt if you're carrying one, but that's your own fault for avoiding a crossbow (I'm joking — don't play Elden Ring with projectile weapons).
Ideal Equilibrium
The game's avoidance feature establishes an ideal equilibrium between obstacle and possibility, offering hope of victory while endangering that very prospect at the tiniest misstep. Master this technique, and you'll gain not only success, but satisfaction.
