Can't seem to parry as Bulwark

[SievertChaser]

Am I doing something wrong?

[Kanonen-Gerda]

Since parry is perfectly possible with Bulwark ... the assumed answer is: YES. :D

Without any further details presented by you, what is happening or not, my guess is that you are simply holding the block button too long, what makes the BW drag his shield rather then a "normal parry".

[EvilJoshy]

Please tell me your not using a weapon with BLOCK in the defense slot? I ask because I have friends who've made this mistake.
If not then I suggest double tapping the block button. It made parrying a lot easier for me.

[Dingo]

You are probably used to holding down the parry button a little but on the Bulwark this results in raising the shield. Tap, not hold. This ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ double-binding gets you killed sometimes...

[Realigo Actual]

Quixotically (russian game), it's actually a bit harder to melee with the melee class. The parry window on power sword is not as forgiving as some other weapons. I haven't yet played it enough to know if that means you gotta be a bit earlier on the press because the parry window is shorter and towards the end of the animation, or if it means you gotta be a bit later.

I've had situations where I was early when I thought I shouldn't be, and late when I thought I shouldn't be. Anyway, can't be more helpful than that. But the reason is that power sword at least isn't as forgiving on parry as knives and chainswords.

[SievertChaser]

Originally posted by Dingo:

You are probably used to holding down the parry button a little but on the Bulwark this results in raising the shield. Tap, not hold. This ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ double-binding gets you killed sometimes...

Yep. I was beginning to get that impression... and wondering if I should be trying to shield-bash as a parry.

Originally posted by EvilJoshy:

Please tell me your not using a weapon with BLOCK in the defense slot? I ask because I have friends who've made this mistake.

No, master-crafted alpha with neither of the defense stats (slots?)

Originally posted by Realigo Actual:

Quixotically (russian game), it's actually a bit harder to melee with the melee class. The parry window on power sword is not as forgiving as some other weapons. I haven't yet played it enough to know if that means you gotta be a bit earlier on the press because the parry window is shorter and towards the end of the animation, or if it means you gotta be a bit later.

I've had situations where I was early when I thought I shouldn't be, and late when I thought I shouldn't be. Anyway, can't be more helpful than that. But the reason is that power sword at least isn't as forgiving on parry as knives and chainswords.

Which is weird. Power sword is the reason I play the class, and I hadn't had any issue in the campaign with it.

I guess the problem is shield + an already finicky weapon. Should I take the fencing option?

[Jimmy MacReady]

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

Am I doing something wrong?

Some attacks are unblockable, examples are power sword spin attack [The one where you delay for 0.5s after doing a light attack then double tap twice], Power fist charge and ofc Hammer heavy attack. Thats for PvP however.

[SievertChaser]

Originally posted by Hydran Agent:

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

Am I doing something wrong?

Some attacks are unblockable, examples are power sword spin attack [The one where you delay for 0.5s after doing a light attack then double tap twice], Power fist charge and ofc Hammer heavy attack. Thats for PvP however.

PvE only.

[Reyeme]

Use the power fist (it's got good aoe and nice parry speed) and only go for fencing weapons until you can perfect parry every time, then move to balanced, until they sort it out avoid block because it's trash (just use a token to master block weapons).

[Mohrrunkel]

Originally posted by Realigo Actual:

The parry window on power sword is not as forgiving as some other weapons.

Game file says no. Parry windows are the same across all weapons. The superstition arises from the difficulty of the Bulwark class I guess, not the weapon itself.

Originally posted by SievertChaser:

No, master-crafted alpha with neither of the defense stats (slots?)

Fencing is the best and only choice for weapons. An easier perfect parry leads to more gun strikes, which are THE bread and butter move in terms of damage and stagger. It keeps you alive while having the best damage output. A little bit of extra stats on a block or balanced weapon is NOT worth it.

Regarding the "just a short tap" matter, try double tapping. This makes it easier to get a grip of it.

[Chimz]

Holding C (parry button) and Right Clicking (melee attack) does a Shield Bash.

A lot of times in the middle of combat when you are spamming RMB and try to parry, you are accidentally hitting C+RMB, resulting in a Shield Bash rather than a Parry.

Be mindful of this trap and you'll be parrying with no problem from now on.

[Cikar]

you can do with balance or fencing weapon cannot do with block weapon

[Lutz2]

Originally posted by Cikar:

you can do with balance or fencing weapon cannot do with block weapon

i made this mistake once as bulwark, i choose the block energy fist and got down pretty fast. whats the point of these weapons? they're useless!

[Mohrrunkel]

Chimz reminded me: Remap your buttons. C is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. For something that is your most used button it's stupidly far away.

[Gamefever]

I've all the other classes done plenty of perfect parries and gunstriking is something I do plenty.

It is just tougher pulling a parry with a Bulwark and the closest explanation in this whole thread that makes sense is,

Originally posted by Dingo:

You are probably used to holding down the parry button a little but on the Bulwark this results in raising the shield. Tap, not hold. This ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ double-binding gets you killed sometimes...

On all other classes you are not punished for holding down the parry button and the perfect parry goes off without a hitch simply because that button only does parry.
On Bulwark the button is time sensitive and results in a block which I find way less useful in melee combat.
Without parry it is really hard to down majors as a Bulwark often results in clearing all the minors but the majors just tear you up because it is harder to proc a parry for a gunstrike.
Sure I can side roll an hit from another angle then followup with a heavy strike to stagger lock a major but most often I just need those gunstrikes which are way faster for downing majors.

Struggling with taking down a major can lead to some really complicated situations as well since the other players are going to be running into your melee either to help or steal your major execution simply because your timing is so off with parry>gunstrike.
This hurts a lot when this happens because as a melee only you really need those armor blips from execution more than other classes.

"Double Tapping Parry" will get you killed not parry. Just simple as. Someones controller may be in need of replacement if this is considered a viable solution< those LB/RB buttons on controllers do wear out quite quickly unfortunately.

A single press should be all you need.

Also it does not help when everyone in the thread is bringing up, Balance, Fencing, Blocking.

The issue is specific to Bulwark having its parry button shared with block button.

[Chimz]

Originally posted by Mohrrunkel:

Chimz reminded me: Remap your buttons. C is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. For something that is your most used button it's stupidly far away.

I hit it with my thumb and it's comfortable. Although I come from a Quake background where I had bound all weapons to the keys surrounding WASD for quicker access. You can get used to it quite soon actually.

While not related to SM2, for fun, I am going to share with you my bindings for Quake Champions as a showcase of using such keys:

Ripper (melee): Alt (Thumb) or Left Shift (Pinky)
Rifle: X (Thumb)
Nailgun: C (Thumb)
Shotgun: V (Thumb)
Rocket Launcher: Q (Ring finger)
Railgun: R (index finger)
Lightning Gun: E (index finger)
Tri-shot: X (Thumb)

Back when I was trying out this type of binding, it took me a few days to get adjusted but once I did I was swapping guns mid-air and within less than seconds. Quicker than using Numeral keys even. So coming from that background, C is pretty comfortable for me.