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For those who have experienced Elden Ring, or just about any third-person combat game, you're likely well-versed in the wonderful mechanic referred to as the “evasion roll.” This avoidance maneuver allows your character to perform a forward, sideways, or backward somersault to avoid any enemy attacks and move away from opponents. Sounds handy, doesn't it?

This rolling move, nevertheless, has attracted a lot of flak, and not just because of the rolling; it's been called dumb, a cop-out, and an unrealistic move — and in some cases, I concur. Just imagine me somersaulting past local Doppler gangs in another popular RPG — they can't hit me! But this game's dodge roll stands as the roll to top all dodge rolls dodge rolls, and here's the reason.

Regarding this title, the creators discovered a clever approach to address all opinions claiming the maneuver is overly simple: merely bestow all foes excessive power, triple that, and every Tarnished who dares come near them will feel immensely thankful thanks to their rolling skill, me included. With so much on the line, evading successfully comes across as a triumph, instead of an unfair advantage.

No different defensive move in this RPG matches this sense of satisfaction and reliability, because swift moves don't cover much ground and guard stances get quickly shattered by powerful foes. Someone once recommended leaping as the primary game avoidance strategy, but besides failing to offer optimal placement, It wasn't clear to me receiving a fatal blow might boost my prospects of overcoming challenges (lack of skill, maybe).

Mastering the Technique

But even though the rolling dodge offers respite in an otherwise brutal game, it isn't without skill. First of all, Elden Ring's rolling dodge merely initiates a window of invulnerability after you stop pressing the roll control, which hinders a rapid, fearful withdrawal from dire situations. Additionally, while it might move you aside from opponents, it's much better to utilize it as a moment to get closer, ideally to their rear, 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 before the blow lands… which will seriously hurt.

A Balanced Mechanic

Even though rolling-dodging in quick succession could appear somewhat silly (give it up for Geralt again), this isn't really an option in this title. Naturally, that fails to transform it into a believable fighting maneuver — exactly the reason it would be terrifying to experience it in a product like a realism-focused RPG — but this is a spectacular magical game being considered, therefore, it doesn't matter?

Comparable to any well-executed rolling dodge, the game's rolling animation is enhanced with a brief tumbling leap at the start, providing a dynamic sensation as opposed to dropping the character onto the ground. Depending on your gear, the technique may seem extremely nimble or somewhat sluggish, however, it's consistently swifter and more seamless than the dodge rolls featured in Dark Souls. Certainly, you could plant your oversized sword in the dirt when wielding such equipment, but that's on you for not just playing a crossbow (Just kidding — avoid using the game with a crossbow).

Ideal Equilibrium

This title's avoidance feature establishes an ideal equilibrium between obstacle and possibility, offering hope of victory while threatening to take that hope away at the slightest mistake. Learn this skill, and you'll gain not only success, but satisfaction.