Critical hit when stance broken

[Party Pineapple]

In the tutorial, it says I can use heavy attacks to break some enemies stance which opens them up to a critical hit. I've done it plenty of times but I can't land the critical hit. It seems like DS3 where they get stunned and fall on one knee and you just walk in front of them, attack, and you do a massive dmg blow. They do the same animation in this game but I can't seem to perform the attack. My guy just swings like normal. The tutorial only explains how to break stance and how they're now vulnerable, but doesn't mention how to actually perform the critical hit. Is there a certain button I'm simply not pressing or something?

[Party Pineapple]

Weird then. I feel like that's what I'm doing. I'll try moving my character in different positions. Maybe I'm just standing an inch away from where I need to be or something. Good to know for the glowing stuff too. Thanks.

[Xendo]

Stand in front of them and do it and wait like a half second after the stance break or wherever it glows on their body when you stance break

[Sabaithal]

Not all enemies can be crit when stance broken.

Also make sure they are actually stance broken and not just staggered (the sound).

[dontu_worry]

Originally posted by Party Pineapple:

In the tutorial, it says I can use heavy attacks to break some enemies stance which opens them up to a critical hit. I've done it plenty of times but I can't land the critical hit. It seems like DS3 where they get stunned and fall on one knee and you just walk in front of them, attack, and you do a massive dmg blow. They do the same animation in this game but I can't seem to perform the attack. My guy just swings like normal. The tutorial only explains how to break stance and how they're now vulnerable, but doesn't mention how to actually perform the critical hit. Is there a certain button I'm simply not pressing or something?

Do you have stamina left? try taking just one step forward for some enemies. The treespear crucible knight always is hard for me to crit.

[Party Pineapple]

Originally posted by NotEvenEpic:

Stand in front of them and do it and wait like a half second after the stance break or wherever it glows on their body when you stance break

Turns out this was the problem. I was right and it works just like DS3 and I was going about it right for everything except the timing. I was going too early and they simply weren't fully on the ground yet. Just needed to wait a second. Idk how I forgot that from DS.

Originally posted by csand:

Generally for humanoid you would just go directly in front or behind them when they are stance broken and use the light attack (r1) to do the critical hit. For larger enemies they willl have a glowing spot and that is where you need to attack, often you will need to unlock your targeting to do so

Thank you for letting me know about the glowing spot. It probably would've taken me a lot longer to figure that out.

I get it very consistently now. If they're stance broken then I'm going to land it. Thanks for the help guys. :)

[Lenox]

I find it helps to hold forward while trying to land the front-crit.

Also, for some enemies, there will be no glow (example: Mad Pumpkin Head). So do try experimenting on stance-broken enemies even if you don't see the glow. You'll be pleasantly surprised by a riposte.

[doublejesus]

Originally posted by Lenox:

I find it helps to hold forward while trying to land the front-crit.

Also, for some enemies, there will be no glow (example: Mad Pumpkin Head). So do try experimenting on stance-broken enemies even if you don't see the glow. You'll be pleasantly surprised by a riposte.

This right here continue to walk into them as you buffer the R1 and your character should snap into place. Stance break will always be denoted with a very loud pow kind of noise you can't miss it, it's like a hit marker it gets your dopamine going.

[Lenox]

Originally posted by doublejesus:

Stance break will always be denoted with a very loud pow kind of noise you can't miss it, it's like a hit marker it gets your dopamine going.

It's still so satisfying after so many hours played to hear the stance-break and then pull it off. Although, it sometimes gets me killed to go after it too. Especially for large bosses like Ulcerated Tree Spirits. Probably one of my favorite combat changes in Elden Ring when compared to Dark Souls.