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If you've played Elden Ring, or most other action-adventure title, you're likely familiar with the wonderful mechanic called the “evasion roll.” This defensive move allows your character to carry out a forward, sideways, or backward ground roll to evade any enemy attacks and gain space from the bad guy. Seems useful, wouldn't you say?

This rolling move, however, has received significant backlash, and not just due to the tumbling; it's been labeled foolish, a cheap tactic, and an unrealistic move — and in some cases, I concur. You should see me rolling around nearby enemy groups in The Witcher 3 — can't touch this Geralt! But this game's evasion move represents the evasion to top all dodge rolls evasion moves, and let me explain.

For this particular game, the developers found a clever approach to address all opinions that the move is overly simple: simply give each opponent unreasonable strength, triple that, and each player character who dares come near them will feel immensely thankful thanks to their rolling skill, myself included. With so much on the line, evading successfully seems like an accomplishment, rather than a cheap trick.

No different defensive move in the game approaches this feeling of accomplishment and dependability, as quick dashes provide minimal movement and defensive postures are easily broken by tough opponents. Someone once recommended leaping as the primary game avoidance strategy, but in addition to lacking perfect repositioning, I didn't see how taking a crushing hit would improve my chances of beating enemies (inexperience, possibly).

Perfecting the Skill

While this evasion move offers respite in an otherwise brutal game, it requires practice. To begin with, Elden Ring's dodge roll just activates a period of immunity once you stop pressing the evasion key, which hinders a rapid, fearful withdrawal from perilous circumstances. Furthermore, while it might transport you away from foes, it's far more effective to utilize it as a moment to move nearer, ideally to their rear, and strike blows. Lastly, it remains necessary to comprehend and predict opponent moves, since evading too early of an extended wind-up may end your invincibility ahead of the attack striking… which will seriously hurt.

A Balanced Mechanic

Although evasion-rolling in fast repetition may look a bit ridiculous (give it up for Geralt again), this isn't truly feasible in this title. Of course, that fails to transform it into a believable battle technique — which is precisely why it would be terrifying to see it in a game like a realism-focused RPG — however, this is a flashy fantasy title we're talking about, therefore, it doesn't matter?

Comparable to any well-executed rolling dodge, this title's evasion sequence is enhanced with a little somersault-y hop at the beginning, giving it an energetic feel instead of dropping the character downward. Depending on your gear, the maneuver might appear extremely nimble or relatively slow, however, it's consistently quicker and smoother than the rolling dodges used in the previous titles. True, you will stick your oversized sword in the dirt when wielding such equipment, but that's your responsibility for failing to use a crossbow (I'm joking — don't play the game using ranged options).

Ideal Equilibrium

This title's evasion system forms an optimal harmony between challenge and opportunity, providing prospects of success while endangering that very prospect at the smallest error. Learn this skill, and you'll be rewarded with more than triumph, but fulfillment.