I'd forgotten how bad the Mountaintops of the Giants were...

[MisterRed]

Replaying the game for the DLC, first time playing in close to a year I think, got to the mountaintops, tbh I forgot that the game became a 2/10 for that entire stretch of it. Somehow almost all my most hated bosses are there. The final deathrite bird, god of janky hitboxes and "How did they take no damage", Commander Nial, Lord of "I like Tornados", the Fire Giant, the most boring slog of a boss I can think of in any Fromsoft game. Its funny, because even though I dislike the Godskin Duo, I genuinely love Faram Azula, Moghwyn's Palace, and even the Haligtree once I get off the branches of it, but the mountaintops are IMHO the absolute worst part of this entire game by several thousand miles.

Anyways rant over, wish me luck as I approach the DLC area, and also, should I burn the erdtree first? Or will Melina actually have dialogue in the DLC if I save Faram Azula for after

[MisterRed]

Originally posted by opus132:

Originally posted by MisterRed:

Tbh I didn't even known you could parry Nial. I havent really learned parrying in Elden Ring at all after I successfully parried Radagon and learned I in fact wasnt allowed to riposte.

You should. It's easier than it was in Dark Souls because you are no longer confined to the buckler. You can now have the best parry frames on medium shields which makes it a bit safer.

Also, some bosses just have parry written as a counter. This was my fight with Naill for reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzVd8KhfnZY

Some parries are quite tricky, but sometimes it feels FromSoft are actually begging you do it. Nial has slow series of combos that almost feel written that if you miss the first (and you can just block it) you can get the next.

The fat Godskin guy also has that double stomp he does with the hilt of his sword. Both attacks are slow, and again it feels like they made that combo to give you a second change to parry if you miss the first.

Other enemies in the game that are made much easier with parry are Crucible Knights.

Elden Ring for me is much more of a puzzle game than Dark Souls ever was. Death Birb is a case in point holy literally makes mince meat of those things:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD-lFLjXHs4

Seems like its time to re-add the old reliable to my build, either the buckler, or the parrying dagger (I have like 1.2 equip load to spare), I just kinda gave up after one of the bosses shrugged off being parried, probably shouldn't have.

[First_AidS]

Its not just the mountaintops, I feel like almost everything after the capital is noticeably worse in quality. The bosses especially just get annoying for the most part.

[MisterRed]

Originally posted by First_AidS:

Its not just the mountaintops, I feel like almost everything after the capital is noticeably worse in quality. The bosses especially just get annoying for the most part.

I only kinda agree. Mohgwyn Palace, Faram Azula and the Haligtree are beautiful, and pretty fun to traverse, minus the Haligtree's roots at the very beginning of the dungeon. The capital of Ash as an area is pretty boring tho.

As for bosses, they are varying. To just give my personal rankings on them;
Fire Giant F
Mohg B+
Loretta B
Malenia C (She is just kinda.... mid as a boss once you learn Waterfowl and her rot clone attacks)
Godskin Duo F
Placcy A+
Malekith A
Gideon F
Hoarah Loux SS+ (My favorite boss)
Radagon A+
Elden Beast D-

[opus132]

Originally posted by MisterRed:

Originally posted by opus132:

You should. It's easier than it was in Dark Souls because you are no longer confined to the buckler. You can now have the best parry frames on medium shields which makes it a bit safer.

Also, some bosses just have parry written as a counter. This was my fight with Naill for reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzVd8KhfnZY

Some parries are quite tricky, but sometimes it feels FromSoft are actually begging you do it. Nial has slow series of combos that almost feel written that if you miss the first (and you can just block it) you can get the next.

The fat Godskin guy also has that double stomp he does with the hilt of his sword. Both attacks are slow, and again it feels like they made that combo to give you a second change to parry if you miss the first.

Other enemies in the game that are made much easier with parry are Crucible Knights.

Elden Ring for me is much more of a puzzle game than Dark Souls ever was. Death Birb is a case in point holy literally makes mince meat of those things:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD-lFLjXHs4

Seems like its time to re-add the old reliable to my build, either the buckler, or the parrying dagger (I have like 1.2 equip load to spare), I just kinda gave up after one of the bosses shrugged off being parried, probably shouldn't have.

Like everything it takes practice.

But like i said you don't have to rely on the buckler alone. Carian Retaliation and Golden Parry have the same parry frames (if not better actually), and can be used on medium shields that can also block if need be, unlike a buckler. Carian Retaliation has the added bonus that can even parry some spells, which you can adsorb and turn into a phalanx attack, while Golden Parry is supposed to have a bit more range, though to be honest i never trusted that. The rule is always that you parry the hand and not the weapon. Safer that way.

I would start by practicing on enemies that have long wind ups on their attacks, like the Crucible Knights. Pick one of those misfits and use them for practice. Once you master those you can move on the faster enemies.

[John]

Originally posted by le bomjue:

Originally posted by Clockwork:

Death Rite Bird cheat sheet:

Run towards him then dodge through his right leg then try fingers but hole
If it raises its stick and it starts glowing, RUN
Keep trying until either he is dead or you are bird food

death bird cheat sheet:
1. get ash of war with holy damage
2. apply holy damage until it dies

3. just throw holy pots