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If you've played Elden Ring, or just about any action-adventure title, chances are you're familiar with the fantastic feature referred to as the “dodge roll.” This evasion technique allows your character to execute a front, lateral, or rearward tumble to evade any enemy attacks and move away from the bad guy. Appears practical, doesn't it?

This rolling move, though, has gotten significant backlash, and not just because of the rolling; some have dubbed it dumb, a cheap tactic, and an unbelievable technique — and in some cases, I agree. Just imagine me tumbling about local Doppler gangs in another popular RPG — they can't hit me! But this game's dodge roll represents the evasion to outdo all previous evasion moves, and here's the reason.

Regarding this title, the designers identified an excellent method to counter all sentiments claiming the maneuver is too easy: just grant all foes excessive power, increase it further, and each player character who ventures close them will appreciate deeply because of their evasion move, I'm no exception. Given the intense difficulty, successfully rolling to victory feels like an achievement, rather than a cheap trick.

No other evasion method in the game matches this sense of satisfaction and reliability, since rapid sprints provide minimal movement and guard stances are easily broken by powerful foes. Someone once recommended leaping as the primary game dodging technique, but aside from not providing optimal placement, I didn't see how getting my skull smashed in might boost my prospects of beating enemies (inexperience, possibly).

Learning the Move

While this evasion move provides relief in a famously difficult title, it requires practice. First of all, this title's rolling dodge only triggers a window of invulnerability once you release the dodge button, which stops a hasty, frantic retreat from dire situations. Moreover, even though it can carry you off from enemies, it's significantly more useful to utilize it as a moment to advance, optimally at their back, and strike blows. In conclusion, it remains necessary to grasp and foresee opponent moves, as dodging at the start of a long charging animation may end your invincibility prior to the hit connecting… causing significant harm.

A Well-Designed Feature

Even though rolling-dodging in quick succession might seem rather absurd (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't practically possible in this title. Certainly, that fails to transform it into a plausible fighting maneuver — the very cause why it would be terrifying to experience it in a product like a historical simulation — yet we're discussing a flashy fantasy title being considered, thus why worry?

Like any proper evasion move, this title's rolling animation is improved by a brief tumbling leap at the commencement, providing a dynamic sensation rather than plopping the player onto the ground. Based on your equipment, the maneuver might appear incredibly quick or relatively slow, yet it's always swifter and more seamless than the dodge rolls used in Dark Souls. Admittedly, you could plant your big blade on the floor when wielding such equipment, but that's your responsibility for not just playing alternative arms (In jest — don't play Elden Ring with projectile weapons).

The Perfect Balance

This title's avoidance feature forms an optimal harmony between difficulty and chance, offering hope of victory while risking the loss of that hope at the smallest error. Learn this skill, and you'll obtain not just victory, but gratification.