Use These 19 Elden Ring Weapons for Parry-Based Combat
Elden Ring offers an immense variety of combat styles, but one of the most rewarding and skillful approaches is parrying. Mastering the art of parrying allows you to deflect enemy attacks and create windows of opportunity for devastating ripostes. Choosing the right weapon for parry-based combat can significantly improve your chances of survival, especially against tough bosses or high-level enemies.
If you enjoy a parry-focused playstyle, here are 19 weapons that shine in this area, offering great timing windows, versatility, and excellent damage potential when combined with well-timed counters.
1. Buckler
The Buckler is the quintessential parrying weapon in Elden Ring. Its small size and fast parry window make it perfect for those looking to counter enemies quickly. It’s ideal for skilled players who want to take full advantage of a riposte.
2. Small Shields (Heater Shield)
Small shields like the Heater Shield are another fantastic option for parry builds. They offer a balanced combination of parry speed and physical damage absorption, making them perfect for both defense and offense.
3. Red-Feathered Branchsword
The Red-Feathered Branchsword is unique because it excels at both parrying and increasing your attack power when your HP is low. This makes it an excellent weapon for aggressive parry users who want to take calculated risks in battle.
4. Parrying Dagger
As the name suggests, the Parrying Dagger is a fantastic choice for a parry-based combat style. It’s fast, light, and highly responsive, allowing you to parry attacks with ease and perform ripostes with incredible precision.
5. Raptor’s Black Feathers
A distinctive weapon, Raptor’s Black Feathers excels at not only parrying but also offers added bonuses for dexterity builds. It’s a solid choice if you're looking to blend parrying with offensive damage output.
6. Caduceus Round Shield
The Caduceus Round Shield has a small and light design that gives you an excellent parry window. It’s especially useful in tight spaces and quick battles where every second counts. The shield also offers decent stability, making it a reliable choice.
7. Iron Round Shield
A great starting shield for players new to parrying, the Iron Round Shield is a good balance of defense and parrying ability. It can block most enemy attacks while giving you a solid chance to parry in the right moment.
8. Mantis Blade
The Mantis Blade has a unique design and offers some of the best parry frames in the game. It’s a great weapon to use for those who enjoy quick strikes and fast counters. Pair it with a nimble playstyle for maximum effectiveness.
9. Guardians’ Glaive
This halberd has surprisingly good parrying potential for a weapon of its size. Its wide range and decent parry frame allow you to react to enemy attacks effectively while keeping your distance.
10. Twinblade
The Twinblade might not seem like an obvious choice for parrying, but its agility and dual-wielding nature give it a unique advantage. It can perform quick counters, especially if you’ve mastered the timing of its attacks.
11. Kris
The Kris dagger is a lightweight weapon with a fast parry animation. It’s perfect for players who want to stay mobile and fluid while still being able to parry enemy attacks with precision.
12. Lordsworn's Greatsword
While not typically a weapon associated with parrying, Lordsworn’s Greatsword provides some surprising versatility. Its large size can be daunting, but if you have the right skill and timing, it can be used for parries in addition to its heavy swings.
13. Short Sword
The Short Sword is a classic weapon choice for parrying builds. It has a rapid parry window and is lightweight enough to allow quick reactions. Perfect for players who like to stick to the basics but still want the efficiency of a great parry weapon.
14. Raven’s Flail
This weapon may look more suited for bludgeoning enemies, but it has decent parrying potential. The Raven's Flail offers a unique playstyle for players who enjoy unconventional combat options while still keeping parrying in mind.
15. Dragon Slayer
The Dragon Slayer isn’t the first weapon you'd think of when considering parrying, but it’s an excellent option for dexterous players. Its long reach allows for a quick parry and strike, which can give you an edge in tougher encounters.
16. Erdsteel Dagger
The Erdsteel Dagger is quick and precise, making it one of the best daggers for parry-based combat. It offers high mobility and a swift reaction time, which is crucial when facing aggressive foes that require rapid counterattacks.
17. Knight's Greatsword
The Knight's Greatsword is another weapon that can catch enemies off guard due to its reach and slow but powerful swings. While it’s not as fast as smaller parrying weapons, it still allows for excellent riposte opportunities after successful parries.
18. Scythe
The Scythe has a longer reach compared to traditional parrying weapons, allowing you to control space effectively. The longer range combined with decent parry windows makes this weapon a great choice for defensive players who like to keep their distance while parrying.
19. Winged Scythe
Similar to the regular Scythe, the Winged Scythe comes with a unique curved design that provides excellent parry windows and damage potential. Its reach and grace make it effective for timing your parries and dealing substantial riposte damage.
Mastering parrying in Elden Ring requires a blend of skill, precision, and patience. These 19 weapons will give you a solid foundation for creating a parry-based build that thrives in one-on-one combat with enemies and bosses. If you’re looking to elevate your parrying skills and want to buy Elden Ring runes for key upgrades or cheap Elden Ring items for your gear, be sure to focus on items that improve your timing and damage output. A well-timed parry can change the tide of battle, and with the right weapons, you’ll be a parry master in no time.