In Elden Ring, players will need to master the art of melee combat in order to defeat enemies easily and progress through the storyline. The game offers a range of mechanics that you can use during combat to land a critical hit on the opponent. Parrying is one of these mechanics that players will need to get used to early on. 

Parrying allows players to block the opponent’s attack at the final moment. This opens up the enemy for a critical counter attack. To perform a Parry, players need to hold down on the L2/LT button at once, and at the exact moment when the opponent’s weapon is about to land. PC players can Parry by holding down Shift and Right Click mouse button simultaneously. 

If executed properly, players will hear a ringing audio cue, and this means the opponent is open for a critical hit. Parrying usually staggers your opponent leaving them open to Strong Attacks. However, players need to keep practicing this technique to master the timing. 

Parrying doesn’t work if players fail to time the Strong Attack with the shield. It is ideal to practice this trick on weaker enemies, especially the soldiers located near Church Of Elleh. Figure out how Parrying works by timing the shield attack at the precise moment. 

At the same time, not every shield will have the capability to parry. Some shields are integrally weak and do not offer the choice to Parry. Purchase a strong shield in exchange for Runes, and start practicing this mechanic. Parrying is one of the oldest mechanics in FromSoftware’s games, and players new to Elden Ring’s genre will have to master this early on. 

Wondering how to beat the fire at Catacombs? Check out How to open the door that is locked by some contraption in Stormfoot Catacombs in Elden Ring on Pro Game Guides.