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For those who have experienced the popular action RPG, or most other 3D action game, you're likely familiar with the wonderful mechanic called the “dodge roll.” This avoidance maneuver lets your avatar to carry out a front, lateral, or rearward ground roll to evade incoming harm and gain space from the bad guy. Appears practical, wouldn't you say?

The dodge roll, however, has received a lot of flak, and not just because of the rolling; some have dubbed it dumb, a cop-out, and an unrealistic move — and sometimes, I concur. You should see me tumbling about nearby enemy groups in a well-known fantasy game — untouchable! But the title's evasion move represents the evasion to surpass every other rolling dodges, and here's the reason.

For this particular game, the designers identified a clever approach to address all opinions suggesting the technique is overly simple: simply give each opponent overwhelming force, increase it further, and each player character who dares come near them will be eternally grateful because of their evasion move, me included. Given the intense difficulty, successfully rolling to victory comes across as a triumph, instead of an unfair advantage.

No alternative avoidance technique in the game approaches this level of gratification and reliability, as quick dashes offer limited distance and blocking attempts are readily overcome by powerful foes. One player advised hopping as the main Elden Ring avoidance strategy, but besides failing to offer optimal placement, I couldn't understand how taking a crushing hit would improve my chances of overcoming challenges (skill issue, perhaps).

Perfecting the Skill

But even though the dodge roll offers respite in a famously difficult title, it isn't without skill. To begin with, Elden Ring's dodge roll only triggers a period of immunity following you stop pressing the dodge button, which prevents a hasty, frantic retreat from dire situations. Moreover, even though it can transport you away from enemies, it's significantly more useful to utilize it as a moment to get closer, ideally to their rear, and land some hits. And, finally, you must still comprehend and predict foe assaults, because rolling prematurely of a long charging animation might terminate your protection ahead of the attack striking… which will seriously hurt.

A Balanced Mechanic

While dodge-rolling in fast repetition might seem rather absurd (give it up for Geralt again), this isn't really an option in the game. Certainly, that still doesn't make it a plausible combat move — which is precisely why it would be pure horror to experience it in a product like Kingdom Come: Deliverance — yet we're discussing a dazzling imaginative experience being considered, thus why worry?

Comparable to any well-executed evasion move, Elden Ring's evasion sequence is spruced up with a little somersault-y hop at the start, giving it an energetic feel instead of plopping the player onto the ground. Depending on your gear, the technique may seem super agile or moderately cumbersome, yet it's always faster and more fluid than the rolling dodges used in the earlier games. Admittedly, you may embed your oversized sword on the floor if you're carrying one, but that's your own fault for avoiding alternative arms (Just kidding — don't play the game using ranged options).

Optimal Harmony

The game's avoidance feature creates the perfect balance between challenge and opportunity, providing prospects of success while threatening to take that hope away at the tiniest misstep. Perfect this move, and you'll be rewarded with not only success, but satisfaction.