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If you've played the popular action RPG, or most other third-person combat game, you're likely well-versed in the wonderful feature known as the “evasion roll.” This avoidance maneuver enables your hero to perform a front, lateral, or rearward tumble to evade all incoming damage and gain space from the bad guy. Sounds handy, wouldn't you say?

The evasion roll, nevertheless, has gotten significant backlash, and not just due to the tumbling; it's been labeled dumb, a cheap tactic, and an implausible action — and occasionally, I concur. You should see me tumbling about nearby enemy groups in a well-known fantasy game — they can't hit me! But Elden Ring's rolling dodge stands as the roll to top all dodge rolls dodge rolls, and here's the reason.

Regarding this title, the developers found a great way to counter all sentiments claiming the maneuver is overly simple: simply give each opponent excessive power, increase it further, and all heroes who ventures close them will appreciate deeply because of their evasion move, myself included. When the stakes are this high, successfully rolling to victory comes across as a triumph, rather than a cheap trick.

No different defensive move in the game matches this feeling of accomplishment and consistency, because swift moves don't cover much ground and blocking attempts are easily broken by tough opponents. Someone once recommended jumping as a go-to Elden Ring evasion method, but besides failing to offer optimal placement, It wasn't clear to me receiving a fatal blow might boost my prospects of beating enemies (lack of skill, maybe).

Perfecting the Skill

While the rolling dodge offers respite in an incredibly challenging experience, it isn't without skill. First of all, this title's rolling dodge just activates a period of immunity following you release the roll control, which prevents a hasty, frantic retreat from dangerous scenarios. Furthermore, even though it can transport you away from opponents, it's much better to utilize it as a moment to move nearer, optimally at their back, and land some hits. In conclusion, you must still understand and anticipate opponent moves, since evading too early of a prolonged preparation might terminate your protection prior to the hit connecting… resulting in severe damage.

A Harmonious System

While dodge-rolling in quick succession could appear somewhat silly (give it up for Geralt again), this isn't practically possible in this title. Of course, that still doesn't make it a plausible battle technique — which is precisely why it would be dreadful to see it in a game like a realism-focused RPG — but this is a flashy fantasy title we're talking about, thus why worry?

Comparable to any well-executed dodge roll, the game's dodge motion is spruced up with a small acrobatic jump at the start, giving it an energetic feel rather than dropping the character downward. Depending on your gear, the maneuver might appear incredibly quick or somewhat sluggish, but it remains swifter and more seamless than the evasion moves featured in the previous titles. True, you will stick your big blade into the ground when wielding such equipment, but that's on you for avoiding a crossbow (I'm joking — don't play the game with a crossbow).

Ideal Equilibrium

This title's avoidance feature forms an optimal harmony between difficulty and chance, providing prospects of success while threatening to take that hope away at the smallest error. Master this technique, and you'll gain not just victory, but fulfillment.