Getting staggered

[76561199395168868]

I feel kinda lame asking about this but I couldn't find a good answer on Google.

For context I'm a mage. I don't know if that's important or not.

I can handle myself decently well but if I'm caught by 1 or 2 enemies that have quick attacks I'm just done, in the beginning I tried button mashing, after that I tried calculated button mashing and after that I tried to just not give a damn anymore and just lie down until I get killed lol

Is this a souls thing or just a me thing?
Can I do something to avoid this?
Together with the camera I feel that's my biggest enemy.

Is there a way to tank hits but don't let that stop you from hitting back?

[CazadorDeLobo]

There are poise breakpoints at 0, 50, and 100 iirc and you can take one extra hit per breakpoint before getting staggered by the majority of PvE enemies. Exceptions include their biggest attacks and slams, where you will get staggered often in a different way than if you were at another breakpoint.

[nfinite.recursion]

Don't button mash. Ever.

[grishalit7]

Use a 100% block-rate shield(brass shield that godrick soldiers drop is the best early option) to block attacks completely, then counter attack them(any square shield will stagger enemies back as well when they hit it, like lordsworn greatshield that the godrick fellows drop too).

You can block with any weapon but shields will give best results.

One last tip: get armor with good poise so that light attacks cant stagger you(60 poise is enough for most light/medium enemy attacks).

Some will say that with bullgoat set you cant be staggerd by most attacks due to the 100+ poise you get but it way to heavy to use unless you invest into indurance for 70 or more points(I have 3 end game toons and I dont use that overly heavy thing on either of them).

[Yal]

Originally posted by Cootswig:

Is there a way to tank hits but don't let that stop you from hitting back?

The "Endure" ash-of-war sold by Bernahl (lives in the shack on Stormhill) is pretty good, it temporarily grants you complete immunity to hitstun and halves all damage. You basically only get the benefits for the duration of the pose but it's enough for tanking through one or two hits while charging up a counterattack.

[insta†.Nefer]

maybe in your specific case you want to talk to fia at the roundtable hold
and use the item she give u

[Jouni]

Trading hits with enemies is not something you should want to do. The idea is to hit and not get hit.

Do you use ranged spells in these situations? They are not always the best ones since it takes time to launch the projectile and some enemies dodge them if they happen to be idle. Stagger the faster enemies first with your backup melee weapon or some quick close range spell like Carian Slicer(available very early). If the enemy is already performing an attack then dodge it before doing your own attack.

Also prioritize leveling Vigor over mage stats if you think you die too easily. A mage can get past a lot of things by attacking from afar but it's not fun if you die to 1-2 hits.

[CazadorDeLobo]

Originally posted by Jouni:

Trading hits with enemies is not something you should want to do. The idea is to hit and not get hit.

But I want every combat encounter to be that one Samurai/Anime trope where two guys charge past each other with a dramatic slash, and one starts to falter, but then the other one bloodsplodes, then a gust of wind caresses the reeds and I sheathe my sword dramatically.

Fortunately, there is an Ash of War and Poise for this

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by Cootswig:

I feel kinda lame asking about this but I couldn't find a good answer on Google.

For context I'm a mage. I don't know if that's important or not.

I can handle myself decently well but if I'm caught by 1 or 2 enemies that have quick attacks I'm just done, in the beginning I tried button mashing, after that I tried calculated button mashing and after that I tried to just not give a damn anymore and just lie down until I get killed lol

Is this a souls thing or just a me thing?
Can I do something to avoid this?
Together with the camera I feel that's my biggest enemy.

Is there a way to tank hits but don't let that stop you from hitting back?

Yes, it is a souls thing that even if you are overleveled if you are taken by many enemies or by fast attack enemies you are screwed and maybe even to death.

There is poise to help you but above all, good positioning, good dodge and above all good choice of battles to fight and how to fight each battle.

[76561199395168868]

Originally posted by nfinite.recursion:

Don't button mash. Ever.

I didn't bother to read the rest of the responses just because of this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ message. I explained in detail what I've done and ask for help. And you get a response like this, garbage.

[76561199395168868]

Originally posted by insta†.Nefer:

maybe in your specific case you want to talk to fia at the roundtable hold
and use the item she give u

Lol so specific just like the npc in this game. Anyway thanks I will try to remember it once it comes to fruition

[76561199395168868]

Originally posted by Jouni:

Trading hits with enemies is not something you should want to do. The idea is to hit and not get hit.

Do you use ranged spells in these situations? They are not always the best ones since it takes time to launch the projectile and some enemies dodge them if they happen to be idle. Stagger the faster enemies first with your backup melee weapon or some quick close range spell like Carian Slicer(available very early). If the enemy is already performing an attack then dodge it before doing your own attack.

Also prioritize leveling Vigor over mage stats if you think you die too easily. A mage can get past a lot of things by attacking from afar but it's not fun if you die to 1-2 hits.

It's more like this. I use katana, they attack me at almost the same time, maybe earlier, and I'm ♥♥♥♥♥♥

[Lenox]

Unfortunately, as a mage, I'd say that you shouldn't get into a situation where multiple enemies are on you like that. But you've chosen the path of the Moonveil, meaning you're probably in melee range more and more. So to stop that, you need more poise via heavier armor. Meaning more endurance. So, leaving the path of the mage. Which is OK. But yeah. I sprint away to gain distance a lot on my Astrologer. Roll, roll, sprint.

Originally posted by Cootswig:

Originally posted by nfinite.recursion:

Don't button mash. Ever.

I didn't bother to read the rest of the responses just because of this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ message. I explained in detail what I've done and ask for help. And you get a response like this, garbage.

This sounds like it's not helpful, but it is. What I think he's getting at is that Elden Ring has a queueing system. So sometimes if you press too many actions at once, they all get queued up and keep you in place and get you killed. It still happens to me sometimes. Try to never press 2-3 buttons in a row. It can get you killed.

[Lenox]

Originally posted by Cootswig:

Originally posted by Jouni:

Trading hits with enemies is not something you should want to do. The idea is to hit and not get hit.

Do you use ranged spells in these situations? They are not always the best ones since it takes time to launch the projectile and some enemies dodge them if they happen to be idle. Stagger the faster enemies first with your backup melee weapon or some quick close range spell like Carian Slicer(available very early). If the enemy is already performing an attack then dodge it before doing your own attack.

Also prioritize leveling Vigor over mage stats if you think you die too easily. A mage can get past a lot of things by attacking from afar but it's not fun if you die to 1-2 hits.

It's more like this. I use katana, they attack me at almost the same time, maybe earlier, and I'm ♥♥♥♥♥♥

You should be attacking after their swing animation or combo completes, not at the same time. Or if you're fast enough, before their swing completes.

[MULTIPASS]

It's about timing and spacing. You can attack if you know you'll hit first and it will interrupt the animation they're likely to be performing. Sometimes, an enemy can use an animation that will resist being interrupted so you need to be careful. If your weapon is fast enough, you could hit and then dodge the incoming attack. If your weapon is long enough, you could hit from outside the reach of their attack. With practice you'll get a feel for these things.

[Jouni]

Originally posted by Cootswig:

It's more like this. I use katana, they attack me at almost the same time, maybe earlier, and I'm fucked

You need to analyze enemies to ensure that it doesn't happen. Watch what they are doing and act according to that. A quick forward lunge with a running attack or a running jump attack is also a great way to stagger the enemy before it can stagger you. If the enemy is some armored knight which won't get staggered by your light attacks then use strong attack versions of those attacks.