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If you've played this acclaimed title, or just about any 3D action game, you're probably familiar with the wonderful technique referred to as the “rolling dodge.” This evasion technique lets your avatar to execute a front, lateral, or rearward ground roll to evade any enemy attacks and create distance from the bad guy. Seems useful, doesn't it?

The dodge roll, however, has gotten significant backlash, and not just due to the tumbling; it's been labeled unintelligent, a cop-out, and an implausible action — and occasionally, I see the point. Just imagine me tumbling about hostile mobs in The Witcher 3 — can't touch this Geralt! But Elden Ring's rolling dodge represents the evasion to surpass every other evasion moves, and here's the reason.

Regarding this title, the creators discovered a great way to counter all sentiments claiming the maneuver is too easy: just grant every enemy excessive power, increase it further, and each player character who ventures close them will be eternally grateful because of their evasion move, me included. When the stakes are this high, evading successfully feels like an achievement, not a cheat.

No alternative avoidance technique in this RPG comes close to this feeling of accomplishment and dependability, because swift moves provide minimal movement and guard stances are readily overcome by powerful foes. Someone once recommended leaping as the primary game evasion method, but in addition to lacking perfect repositioning, It wasn't clear to me receiving a fatal blow could enhance my odds of beating enemies (lack of skill, maybe).

Learning the Move

While this evasion move grants reprieve in an incredibly challenging experience, it demands ability. To begin with, the game's evasion move only triggers a window of invulnerability following you release the dodge button, which hinders a hasty, frantic retreat from dire situations. Additionally, even though it can move you aside from enemies, it's far more effective to employ it as a chance to move nearer, preferably behind the opponent, and land some hits. And, finally, you still need grasp and foresee enemy attacks, as dodging at the start of a prolonged preparation may end your invincibility ahead of the attack striking… resulting in severe damage.

A Balanced Mechanic

Although evasion-rolling in quick succession might seem rather absurd (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't truly feasible in Elden Ring. Naturally, that doesn't render it a realistic fighting maneuver — the very cause why it would be terrifying to witness it in a title like a historical simulation — however, this is a dazzling imaginative experience being considered, therefore, it doesn't matter?

Comparable to any well-executed evasion move, the game's evasion sequence is spruced up with a little somersault-y hop at the beginning, offering a lively impression rather than plopping the player onto the ground. Based on your equipment, the maneuver might appear extremely nimble or somewhat sluggish, yet it's always faster and more fluid than the rolling dodges featured in Dark Souls. Admittedly, you could plant your large weapon in the dirt when wielding such equipment, but that's your responsibility for avoiding alternative arms (I'm joking — avoid using Elden Ring with projectile weapons).

Optimal Harmony

The game's evasion system establishes an ideal equilibrium between obstacle and possibility, providing prospects of success while risking the loss of that hope at the smallest error. Master this technique, and you'll gain more than triumph, but satisfaction.