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Having spent time with Elden Ring, or just about any third-person combat game, chances are you're familiar with the fantastic mechanic referred to as the “evasion roll.” This defensive move allows your character to execute a forward, sideways, or backward tumble to evade incoming harm and create distance from foes. Seems useful, wouldn't you say?

This rolling move, nevertheless, has received significant backlash, and not just as a result of the somersault; some have dubbed it foolish, a cop-out, and an unrealistic move — and sometimes, I concur. You should see me somersaulting past local Doppler gangs in a well-known fantasy game — untouchable! But Elden Ring's dodge roll represents the evasion to top all dodge rolls rolling dodges, and here's the reason.

For this particular game, the developers found an excellent method to counter all sentiments claiming the maneuver is not challenging enough: just grant all foes overwhelming force, increase it further, and all heroes who ventures close 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 different defensive move in Elden Ring comes close to this feeling of accomplishment and consistency, because swift moves offer limited distance and defensive postures are readily overcome by powerful foes. Someone once recommended hopping as the main game dodging technique, but aside from not providing optimal placement, It wasn't clear to me taking a crushing hit might boost my prospects of defeating bosses (skill issue, perhaps).

Learning the Move

Although the rolling dodge offers respite in an incredibly challenging experience, it isn't without skill. Firstly, the game's evasion move only triggers a period of immunity following you stop pressing the dodge button, which prevents a quick, panicky escape from perilous circumstances. Moreover, even though it can transport you away from opponents, it's significantly more useful to employ it as a chance to advance, ideally to their rear, and land some hits. Lastly, you must still grasp and foresee opponent moves, as dodging at the start of an extended wind-up may end your invincibility prior to the hit connecting… which will seriously hurt.

A Well-Designed Feature

While dodge-rolling in quick succession could appear somewhat silly (give it up for Geralt again), this isn't really an option in the game. Certainly, that doesn't render it a believable fighting maneuver — the very cause why it would be pure horror to witness it in a title like a realism-focused RPG — but this is a flashy fantasy title being considered, so who cares?

Comparable to any well-executed dodge roll, this title's evasion sequence is enhanced with a little somersault-y hop at the start, providing a dynamic sensation instead of plopping the player on the floor. Based on your equipment, the move can feel incredibly quick or somewhat sluggish, however, it's consistently quicker and smoother than the rolling dodges featured in Dark Souls. True, you could plant your large weapon on the floor when wielding such equipment, but that's your responsibility for not just playing ranged weapons (In jest — avoid using the game with projectile weapons).

The Perfect Balance

This title's evasion system creates the perfect balance between difficulty and chance, providing prospects of success while risking the loss of that hope at the slightest mistake. Master this technique, and you'll be rewarded with not just victory, but fulfillment.