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Having spent time with this acclaimed title, or nearly any 3D action game, chances are you're acquainted with the glorious technique known as the “evasion roll.” This avoidance maneuver lets your avatar to carry out a front, lateral, or rearward somersault to dodge all incoming damage and gain space from foes. Seems useful, doesn't it?

The dodge roll, though, has attracted significant backlash, and not only due to the tumbling; it's been called dumb, a cheap tactic, and an implausible action — and sometimes, I see the point. You should see me rolling around local Doppler gangs in a well-known fantasy game — they can't hit me! But Elden Ring's rolling dodge stands as the roll to surpass every other dodge rolls, and I'll tell you why.

For this particular game, the developers found an excellent method to address all opinions that the move is overly simple: merely bestow all foes overwhelming force, triple that, and each player character who dares come near them will be eternally grateful for their dodge-roll ability, me included. With so much on the line, pulling off a perfect dodge comes across as a triumph, not a cheat.

No alternative avoidance technique in Elden Ring comes close to this sense of satisfaction and consistency, because swift moves don't cover much ground and blocking attempts are easily broken by powerful foes. Someone once recommended leaping as the primary Elden Ring dodging technique, but besides failing to offer perfect repositioning, I couldn't understand how taking a crushing hit might boost my prospects of overcoming challenges (skill issue, perhaps).

Learning the Move

Although this evasion move offers respite in an otherwise brutal game, it demands ability. First of all, Elden Ring's rolling dodge just activates a window of invulnerability following you let go of the roll control, which hinders a quick, panicky escape from dangerous scenarios. Moreover, while it might move you aside from enemies, it's much better to utilize it as a moment to advance, ideally to their rear, and strike blows. And, finally, you must still grasp and foresee opponent moves, because rolling prematurely of a long charging animation may end your invincibility before the blow lands… resulting in severe damage.

A Balanced Mechanic

Even though rolling-dodging in fast repetition could appear somewhat silly (give it up for Geralt again), this isn't truly feasible in this title. Of course, that doesn't render it a realistic fighting maneuver — which is precisely why it would be pure horror to witness it in a title like a realism-focused RPG — yet we're discussing a flashy fantasy title we're talking about, thus why worry?

Comparable to any well-executed dodge roll, the game's rolling animation is improved by a small acrobatic jump at the beginning, offering a lively impression rather than dropping the character on the floor. According to your loadout, the move can feel super agile or relatively slow, but it remains quicker and smoother than the rolling dodges featured in the earlier games. Admittedly, you could plant your oversized sword on the floor if you're carrying one, but that's on you for not just playing a crossbow (Just kidding — steer clear of Elden Ring using ranged options).

Ideal Equilibrium

Elden Ring's dodging mechanic creates the perfect balance between difficulty and chance, granting chances of triumph while risking the loss of that hope at the slightest mistake. Perfect this move, and you'll gain not only success, but gratification.