How can one tell if an attack is blockable with Sword + Shield?

[Glimmer]

Do you just have to attempt to block, and either block the damage or get your ass kicked?

[Amadeus]

Think of it like the parry system from Dark Souls, but slightly easier to execute. You can do it to just about any attack except One shots. As far as I know, only two monsters have true One Shots. SPOILERS!!!! Jin Dahaad is one of them. The final Boss of Low rank is the same.

Look into the Guard, Guard Up, and Offensive Guard Decorations. It'll help with damage reduction, help block more unblockable attacks to a degree, and Offense Guard gives you an attack bonus if you perfect guard.

[Dotsforlife]

What Amadeus said. Nearly all attacks are blockable, though some require certain skills to be able to.

[Glimmer]

Thanks, folks!

I've pretty much mastered the bow at this point, looking into learning a new weapon, and maybe I'm gonna do sword/shield. It goes completely against my normal playstyle of agility/evasion, as I never use a shield/block weapon in games that have a dodge system. But it might be fun to experiment.

[Wutever]

Perfect blocking is ridiculously strong in Wilds even without getting rewarded for doing it with a massive damage buff. If you know you can perfect block you probably should.

[SeymourButtz]

Bigger hits deal chip damage or even break through depending on how heavy of an impact they are, you just have to experiment. Sword and shield has the weakest shield of all weapons. Getting the guard skill will raise your shield "level" and let you block stronger attacks without getting staggered. Perfect guarding also lets you block heavier attacks without the chip damage and works as a max level block when you pull it off.

Some attacks like certain ultimates or AOEs are also unblockable, but the guard up skill will let you block most of them except for stuff like Jin Dahaad nova.

[Glimmer]

Originally posted by SeymourButtz:

Bigger hits deal chip damage or even break through depending on how heavy of an impact they are, you just have to experiment. Sword and shield has the weakest shield of all weapons. Getting the guard skill will raise your shield "level" and let you block stronger attacks without getting staggered. Perfect guarding also lets you block heavier attacks without the chip damage and works as a max level block when you pull it off.

Some attacks like certain ultimates or AOEs are also unblockable, but the guard up skill will let you block most of them except for stuff like Jin Dahaad nova.

Thanks for the information! I don't mind using a weaker shield. I saw some weapons with bigger shields, but I just don't like slow heavy weapons at all.

[Corvo]

This is the best S&S has been since oils, perfect blocking into clashes feels amazing!

[Shakoris]

Originally posted by Glimmer:

Thanks, folks!

I've pretty much mastered the bow at this point, looking into learning a new weapon, and maybe I'm gonna do sword/shield. It goes completely against my normal playstyle of agility/evasion, as I never use a shield/block weapon in games that have a dodge system. But it might be fun to experiment.

You can play SnS without utilizing the shield. Its that mobile.

[Glimmer]

Originally posted by Shakoris:

Originally posted by Glimmer:

Thanks, folks!

I've pretty much mastered the bow at this point, looking into learning a new weapon, and maybe I'm gonna do sword/shield. It goes completely against my normal playstyle of agility/evasion, as I never use a shield/block weapon in games that have a dodge system. But it might be fun to experiment.

You can play SnS without utilizing the shield. Its that mobile.

At that point, I might as well dual blades, though. I might as well learn a new fighting style to tide me over until more content releases.

[Koryiaki]

Originally posted by Glimmer:

Originally posted by Shakoris:

You can play SnS without utilizing the shield. Its that mobile.

At that point, I might as well dual blades, though. I might as well learn a new fighting style to tide me over until more content releases.

Dual blade has a version of perfect blocking called perfect dodging where you dash through the enemy, deal damage along the way, and get a damage buff as well.