Am I missing something, or is the block just unreliable?

[Detective Costeau]

I'm still very early in the game- stuck on Konrad, in fact. And a big part of why I'm stuck is that I've died three times to blocking apparently just not working.
And no, this isn't the yellow glowing attack, I know that one is supposed to be unblockable. I'm referring to his horizontal attacks where his spear doesn't glow.
I'm using the basic wooden shield because it's all I've found, and I'll have the RMB pressed, the shield's little stamina bar when you're blocking is visible, I'm locked onto Konrad, facing him directly with full stamina, and he does a horizontal sweep attack, and it hits me without the block doing anything at all.
So, is there something I'm missing, or does one of the core combat mechanics just sometimes not work?

[.:[Double Helix]:.]

i found block and parry to be very unresponsive. i dont think i ever used them. i used greatsword and evolved halberd until i got the life steal duel wield. its pretty much 1 hit most mobs and dps race the bosses with dodge and potions.
i spent a good half hour on Nurgi trying to dodge the BS tornados until i worked out it was best to just stand in front of him and just spam attack. you can find a position on most bosses where they just swing over you or through you hit box.

[NotPork]

You have to aim the shield toward his blade, so it doesn't hit your sides around the shield

But blocking isn't good against him anyway, since blocking his attacks will cost more stamina than you have. Most attacks in this game are supposed to be avoided entirely. Only block if you don't think you can avoid, and if you do have to block, you'll probably want to get away to regen all the stamina it cost.

[HeckinHarvey]

as others have stated, the blocking and parry system is unresponsive at best. it is possible to block him if you need to though. my best advice is block EARLY and do it while walking backwards. I would go ahead and just get used to not using a shield though. Its unreliable at the moment, and you'll be able to learn the bosses patterns in such a way that youll get used to just barely walking outside the bosses range and then dashing in for the damage

[MuraXLR]

I think what is happening with Konrad is the hitbox of his spear is actually on the blade(who would have thought!) The reach of the spear is probably hitting behind you, so blocking doesn't do much if you are up in his grill. That's my theory at least.

[Mene]

The boss fight with Konrad is hard only because of horrible control response. You press something and if he likes he does it, depending on his mood. Cannot block when i say, cannot run when i say, cannot dodge when i say.

[Odrax]

I found parry responsive and reliable all the way to Konrad boss fight. When fighting him parry input just doesn't register and I just stand there taking a hit. I actually just tried to parry him at least once before really trying to fight him and I was unable to do so for at least 10 encounters.

[SD777]

Originally posted by .:Double Helix:.:

i found block and parry to be very unresponsive. i dont think i ever used them. i used greatsword and evolved halberd until i got the life steal duel wield. its pretty much 1 hit most mobs and dps race the bosses with dodge and potions.
i spent a good half hour on Nurgi trying to dodge the BS tornados until i worked out it was best to just stand in front of him and just spam attack. you can find a position on most bosses where they just swing over you or through you hit box.

Where did you get the life steal dual wield? I'm assuming it's the dual axes I've seen on YouTube.

[pvggames]

I used a staff. Did halve his healt damage from a distance and the when the flux was done switch to Claymore.

[.:[Double Helix]:.]

Originally posted by SD777:

Originally posted by .:Double Helix:.:

i found block and parry to be very unresponsive. i dont think i ever used them. i used greatsword and evolved halberd until i got the life steal duel wield. its pretty much 1 hit most mobs and dps race the bosses with dodge and potions.
i spent a good half hour on Nurgi trying to dodge the BS tornados until i worked out it was best to just stand in front of him and just spam attack. you can find a position on most bosses where they just swing over you or through you hit box.

Where did you get the life steal dual wield? I'm assuming it's the dual axes I've seen on YouTube.

you get them from the big duel wielding guys. you meet the first one in the dark area under the mechanoid area then there is a couple of the on the way to the desert floor.

[NewYears1978]

You're probably blocking with no stamina or don't have enough stamina to absorb the attacks?

[SkyChrome]

I beat him purely by blocking as dodging doesn't seem to do much of anything.

[Shylaar]

Even in the current build this is still a problem, most of his attacks just completely ignore your shield for no apparent reason.

[Doroti]

So...
If his spear hits you side-ways, you will receive damage.
If you run out of stamina, while blocking an attack, you will be stunned AND receive damage.

Solution:
Roll away. Run away.

Oh, 1 additional piece of advise: Not all attacks that doesn't glow in yellow are colorless. (I am not joking, some have a Barely perceptible spark of yellow-line on them)

[CosmoCossack]

On Konrad right now blocking seems to be RNG as sometimes it works other times it doesn't.

[srfrogg23]

Yes. Block is unreliable. Parry is unreliable. Dodge is unreliable.

In short, this game is built around giving everything a wide berth until you can run in and hit it, then run back out and wait until you can repeat the process until the big thing eventually dies.