GS vs Arkveld Grab

[Kvervandi]

GS mains, how do you deal with Arkveld's grab attack?
If I offset the first part, he still grabs me. If I perfect guard the first part, he grabs me. If I get hit by the first part, he grabs me.
What is a boy to do? Roll???

[Grimperson]

Is it a big deal if he grabs you? Just pop a slinger in his face, no? It kinda makes sense that you can't block a grab I think.

[Xaelon]

Grab a rockburst or some other kind of damaging slinger ammo off the ground BEFORE the fight and shoot him in the face after he grabs you. That's what I do if I'm fighting something that likes to grab. I just make sure to snag some kind of slinger ammo on the way to the monster.

Besides just being "not in range", ie "completely OUT of the hitbox" I don't think grabs are avoidable. I assume the mechanic is there as a way to counter perfect guards/offset attacks being an answer to literally everything else.

[Mrrshan68]

You dont even need to use slinger ammo, you can just equip the throwing knife. Works the same without having to look for ammo.

Basically makes grabs a total non issue, if you dodge them you take no damage. If you get grabbed you plink them with a knife and still take no damage.

[Lunaire]

You can stabby stab too. If you destroy your controller by mashing the button the moment he grabs you, you can get released.

[Null Winter]

Greatsword main here.

You can roll away or just not be in a position to be hit. The initial "hit" from the first spin has a lot of very distinct wind-up. If you're using the greatsword properly, then you're either so close that the sweep isn't going to hit you because you're under Arkveld or super far because you were busy sharpening/healing or cutting the tail while she grabbed someone else.

If you did get grabbed, then Flash ammo from your Slinger will instantly escape and leave Arkveld at a disadvantage; other ammo types also offer a fast escape. You can mash out of it with strong knife attacks, but the escape threshold increases on subsequent grabs.

Weird devil's advocate argument, but being grabbed is arguably the best outcome. The incomplete grab deals very little damage if you escape; the finishing blow if you don't escape can't cart you unless you are under 50%HP without good armor. Arkveld stands very still during the long animation with all body parts in easy reach of any weapon. Lastly, Arkveld's face usually becomes available to a Focus Attack even without wounds during the grab, allowing someone a chance to free you, deal great damage, and set up any weapon-specific gimmicks they have all at the same time.

[Lalalla]

just blast his face with a slinger ammo or side step dodge when he lift his arm up to grab

[Glimmer]

1. Slinger, load it before the fight
2. Stab with your knife. Mash Y or X (knife attacks like you were mounted) to stab at the monster with your knife when it grabs you. If you do it enough, it should let you go.