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For those who have experienced the popular action RPG, or just about any action-adventure title, you're probably acquainted with the fantastic technique called the “rolling dodge.” This avoidance maneuver enables your hero to carry out a forward, sideways, or backward ground roll to evade all incoming damage and create distance from opponents. Seems useful, right?

The evasion roll, however, has received plenty of criticism, and not only due to the tumbling; it's been called foolish, a cheap tactic, and an unbelievable technique — and occasionally, I agree. Just imagine me somersaulting past hostile mobs in The Witcher 3 — they can't hit me! But Elden Ring's dodge roll stands as the roll to top all dodge rolls dodge rolls, and here's the reason.

Regarding this title, the developers found an excellent method to counter all sentiments suggesting the technique is not challenging enough: simply give every enemy excessive power, multiply it, and all heroes who approaches them will appreciate deeply for their dodge-roll ability, me included. Given the intense difficulty, evading successfully comes across as a triumph, not a cheat.

No alternative avoidance technique in the game approaches this feeling of accomplishment and dependability, because swift moves provide minimal movement and defensive postures are easily broken by strong enemies. A person once suggested jumping as a go-to Elden Ring avoidance strategy, but besides failing to offer ideal movement, I couldn't understand how receiving a fatal blow could enhance my odds of overcoming challenges (lack of skill, maybe).

Perfecting the Skill

But even though this evasion move offers respite in an incredibly challenging experience, it requires practice. First of all, this title's dodge roll merely initiates a window of invulnerability following you stop pressing the dodge button, which stops a hasty, frantic retreat from perilous circumstances. Moreover, even though it can move you aside from enemies, it's significantly more useful to use it as an opportunity to advance, optimally at their back, and land some hits. And, finally, you must still understand and anticipate enemy attacks, since evading too early of a prolonged preparation may end your invincibility before the blow lands… which will seriously hurt.

A Balanced Mechanic

While dodge-rolling in quick succession might seem rather absurd (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't practically possible in this title. Naturally, that fails to transform it into a realistic fighting maneuver — which is precisely why it would be terrifying to see it in a game like a historical simulation — yet we're discussing a dazzling imaginative experience being considered, thus why worry?

Similar to any respectable evasion move, Elden Ring's dodge motion is enhanced with a small acrobatic jump at the start, providing a dynamic sensation instead of plopping the player on the floor. Based on your equipment, the maneuver might appear super agile or relatively slow, however, it's consistently faster and more fluid than the rolling dodges found in the earlier games. Certainly, you could plant your oversized sword on the floor while equipped with it, but that's on you for avoiding alternative arms (Just kidding — steer clear of the game with projectile weapons).

The Perfect Balance

The game's evasion system establishes an ideal equilibrium between difficulty and chance, offering hope of victory while risking the loss of that hope at the smallest error. Learn this skill, and you'll gain not only success, but satisfaction.