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If you've played this acclaimed title, or just about any third-person combat game, chances are you're familiar with the wonderful technique called the “rolling dodge.” This defensive move lets your avatar to perform a front, lateral, or rearward tumble to dodge all incoming damage and create distance from opponents. Seems useful, right?

This rolling move, nevertheless, has attracted a lot of flak, and not only because of the rolling; it's been labeled dumb, a cheap tactic, and an unbelievable technique — and sometimes, I concur. Just imagine me rolling around local Doppler gangs in a well-known fantasy game — untouchable! But the title's rolling dodge stands as the roll to outdo all previous evasion moves, and let me explain.

For this particular game, the creators discovered a great way to address all opinions that the move is overly simple: just grant all foes overwhelming force, multiply it, and every Tarnished who dares come near them will be eternally grateful thanks to their rolling skill, me included. With so much on the line, evading successfully feels like an achievement, rather than a cheap trick.

No alternative avoidance technique in the game approaches 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 evasion method, but besides failing to offer perfect repositioning, It wasn't clear to me taking a crushing hit would improve my chances of overcoming challenges (lack of skill, maybe).

Perfecting the Skill

Although the rolling dodge provides relief in an incredibly challenging experience, it demands ability. First of all, the game's dodge roll only triggers a period of immunity after you let go of the roll control, which hinders a rapid, fearful withdrawal from dire situations. Additionally, although it may carry you off from enemies, it's significantly more useful to employ it as a chance to get closer, preferably behind the opponent, and deliver attacks. Lastly, it remains necessary to comprehend and predict opponent moves, since evading too early of a long charging animation may end your invincibility prior to the hit connecting… causing significant harm.

A Well-Designed Feature

While dodge-rolling in fast repetition could appear somewhat silly (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't really an option in the game. Certainly, that fails to transform it into a plausible combat move — the very cause why it would be terrifying to see it in a game like a historical simulation — but this is a spectacular magical game being considered, thus why worry?

Comparable to any well-executed dodge roll, Elden Ring's rolling animation is enhanced with a brief tumbling leap at the start, providing a dynamic sensation instead of dropping the character downward. Based on your equipment, the technique may seem incredibly quick or relatively slow, however, it's consistently swifter and more seamless than the dodge rolls featured in the previous titles. Admittedly, you may embed your oversized sword on the floor if you're carrying one, but that's your own fault for not just playing ranged weapons (In jest — don't play Elden Ring with projectile weapons).

Optimal Harmony

The game's evasion system forms an optimal harmony between difficulty and chance, offering hope of victory while risking the loss of that hope at the tiniest misstep. Perfect this move, and you'll be rewarded with more than triumph, but satisfaction.