How to Parry
Press the skill button right before an attack. In order to do this, you must have a shield with the parry skill equipped in your left hand. Press the Skill button (usually L2/T2 on a controller) at the exact moment before an attack lands. This requires precise timing. If your timing is correct, you will stagger your opponent and leave them open to a guaranteed critical attack, or a Riposte. Different shields have different windows for when you can successfully parry. Generally speaking, smaller shields (such as a buckler) have the largest number or active frames when a parry can be successfully performed. Not all shields have the parry skill. Not all enemies, bosses, or attacks can be parried. Bosses may need to be parried a few times before they are staggered. A successful parry also leaves you invulnerable to attacks for a few frames after the attack. This can give you a window to escape a large group of enemies.
The Three Stages of the Parrying Mechanic
Startup frames: These are the animation frames in which your character is preparing to parry. During this stage, your character is still vulnerable to attack.
Active frames: These are the frames of the animation in which your character can perform a successful parry if hit during this time. The number of active frames varies depending on the shield you are using. Some shields only have one active frame. The buckler shield has 5 active frames at 30 frames per second.
Recovery frames: This is the final stage of the parry animation. This is usually the largest number of frames. If hit during this stage, your character will receive damage to health and stamina similar to blocking.
Attacks that Can be Parried
You can parry most melee attacks. Particularly melee attacks from humanoid enemies, such as soldiers. You can parry most attacks from weapons that are swung in an arch. The only exception is jump attacks and attacks from colossal two-handed weapons.
Attacks that Cannot Be Parried
Projectiles and spells. Projectiles and spells cannot be parried unless you have a specific skill. For example, the Carian Retaliation skill can dispel incoming magic projectiles and transform them into glintblades which you can fire back at your opponent. The Storm Wall skill can deflect incoming projectiles.
Attacks from large enemies. For example, golems and trolls cannot be parried. However, omens can be parried.
Whips and flails cannot be parried. These are the one melee attack that can't be parried.
Collosal two-handed weapons cannot be parried. However, two-handed weapons held in one hand can be parried.
Some flying enemies can't be parried. For example, giant bats cannot be parried, but warhawks can be parried.
Charging and bash attacks. For example, Tree Sentinel's horse bash and charge attack cannot be parried. Nor can Margit's hammer smash.
Parrying Ashes of War
Carian Retaliation: Carian Retaliation is a skill that allows you to parry as well as dispel incoming magic projectiles. It will deflect magic projectiles and transform them into 3 Glintblades you can launch back at your opponent. Carian Retaliation can be purchased from Pidia, Carian Servant for 3,000 ruins in Caria Manor.
Storm Wall: Storm Wall allows you to deflect incoming projectiles as well as parry attacks. It can be used on small and medium-sized shields. You can find it north of Stormhill Shack around the collapsed bridge. Defeat the teardrop scarab in the outcropping to the west to obtain Storm Wall.
Thops's Barrier. Thop's Barrier has slightly better parrying stats when applied on a small or medium-sized shield. It can also deflect magic, but it doesn't give you Glintblades. Thops's Barrier has 3 startup frames and 5 active frames of animation. It can be found in the Church of Irith. It is dropped by a teardrop scarab after delivering the Academy Glintstone Key to Thops.
Golden Parry: Golden Parry can parry attacks from a greater distance. It is dropped by teardrop scarabs in the Capital Outskirts.
Regular Parry: If your shield does not have a parry skill, you can purchase one from the vendor at Warmaster's Shack at the start of the game.
Parrying Tips
Start with a small shield. If you are new to parrying, start with a small shield, such as a buckler shield. Small shields have a more active frames of animation and fewer startup frames. A larger shield may be better at blocking attacks, but a smaller shield is better for parrying and more forgiving for beginners.
Watch your opponent's hands. You may be tempted to watch their hands, but you'll be able to respond better by watching their hand instead.
Parry as soon as you see the forward motion. Enemies usually telegraph their attacks with a wind-up. You will see them pull their weapon back before an attack. Press R2 or T2 as soon as you see the rapid hand movement coming at you. Do not delay. Don't try to parry when the attack lands. By then, it's too late.
Use guard while you parry. You can parry while guarding. Press L1 to guard. Holding a guard will protect you if your parry is unsuccessful.
Watch for tells in the animation. Study the enemy's attack animation. Look for tells that indicate the proper time to parry.
Keep practicing. The only way to get good at parrying is to keep practicing. Try practicing on low-level enemies, such as the soldiers in Limgrave. Eventually, you will learn muscle memory and it will become almost automatic.
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