Parrying is a staple in FromSoftware games, from Dark Souls to Sekiro, and Elden Ring continues the trend. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy that really pays off if you can nail the timing. Keep reading to find out how to parry in Elden Ring.
Parrying in Elden Ring, explained
In Elden Ring, Parry is an Ash of War you can apply to certain weapons and shields. It lets you deflect a melee attack by pressing L2 or LT at the right time. If your Parry is successful, you open up your enemy to a critical strike, although you usually need to Parry bosses a few times before they become vulnerable.
How to get Parry in Elden Ring
Certain weapons and shields come pre-equipped with Parry, like the Rift Shield (that the Prisoner starting class begins the game with) and the Parrying Dagger.
To get the Parry Ash of War, visit Knight Bernahl at Warmaster’s Shack in northern Limgrave. He sells Parry alongside several other Ashes of War for 600 Runes. If Bernahl is dead, you can give his Bell Bearing to the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold and buy Parry from her shop instead.
To apply Parry to a weapon or shield, visit Smithing Master Hewg in the Roundtable Hold and select Ashes of War. Choose a compatible weapon to apply Parry to.
Other types of Parry in Elden Ring
There a few other Ashes of War that let you Parry in Elden Ring. Golden Parry is an Ash of War that can parry melee attacks from a greater distance away, but each parry costs 4 FP. Alternatively, you can Parry projectile spells with the Erdtree Greatshield, or a shield equipped with the Carian Retaliation or Storm Wall Ash of War.
Weapons and Shields that can Parry in Elden Ring
The following weapon and shield categories are compatible with the Parry Ash of War:
- Small Shields
- Medium Shields
- Daggers
- Thrusting Swords
- Curved Swords
- Fists
- Claws
If you’re looking to get even stronger in Elden Ring, check out where to find all 50 Scadutree Fragments in the DLC and the best builds to beat Shadow of the Erdtree.
