what to do when enemies parry you?

[Lycan]

So when enemies parry/perfect parry you, are you able to avoid damage? I've tried holding my shield up, blocking with a sword, dodging backwards, but every time they perfect parry/parry me, they seem to just "glide" forward and always do damage. What am I meant to do? If they parry me should I start sprinting away to avoid damage or what?

[lhapekl]

getting master striked is unavoidable - don't chain attack strong foes.

if the enemy attacks after perfect blocking you then you can perfect block that attack yourself.

[Lycan]

Originally posted by lhapekl:

getting master striked is unavoidable - don't chain attack strong foes.

if the enemy attacks after perfect blocking you then you can perfect block that attack yourself.

Ok so its basically 100% you will take damage? How can I avoid it? Sometimes I will circle an enemy, block their attack then try my own attack right after but the game still goes "slow-mo" and they will riposte my attack. Should I not attack at all and wait for them to miss or something?

[Tyni]

Depends on the angle of attack they block and what weapon the enemy is using. I like to use Shortsword and Shield to get that one and done strike to the face when the enemy attacks from your left/their right.

Some master blocks don't do damage but disorient and take stamina, like pommels strikes to the face or shield bashing.

[Valden21]

OP, I think you're getting your terminology confused, and this is a common misconception. What you're describing is referred to as the Master Strike, and it's NOT a parry; they're two different things. The parry is referred to in-game as the Perfect Block.

In order to avoid getting hit by a Master Strike, you have three choices, and all are legitimate options. Choice #1 is to use feints. Choice #2 is to look for openings, and just attack once or twice when you see an openings. Choice #3 is to force a clinch; if you win a clinch, it forces your opponent back and staggers them, setting them up for an unblockable attack from you.

[Lycan]

Originally posted by Valden21:

OP, I think you're getting your terminology confused, and this is a common misconception. What you're describing is referred to as the Master Strike, and it's NOT a parry; they're two different things. The parry is referred to in-game as the Perfect Block.

In order to avoid getting hit by a Master Strike, you have three choices, and all are legitimate options. Choice #1 is to use feints. Choice #2 is to look for openings, and just attack once or twice when you see an openings. Choice #3 is to force a clinch; if you win a clinch, it forces your opponent back and staggers them, setting them up for an unblockable attack from you.

Oh sorry you might be right, I wasn't sure what the difference was as "both" types seem to result from me 1: I swing, 2: enemy blocks followed by 3: enemy then gets a free damage hit. And I can't seem to stop them doing this, I've tried feints so i'll start "to swing from the left" then quickly change the directions to right or bottom-right or overhead or such, but its never made a difference as far as I can see? The enemy still just block+get free hit on me.

[ScareCrow]

I've had it with this, crappy combat, so I modded thje combat to have only duels and easy combat, and it changed the game to become enjoyable the way a GAME should be, so to anyone having a hard time, use mods!!

[SympliKrazi]

Originally posted by Lycan:

Originally posted by lhapekl:

getting master striked is unavoidable - don't chain attack strong foes.

if the enemy attacks after perfect blocking you then you can perfect block that attack yourself.

Ok so its basically 100% you will take damage? How can I avoid it? Sometimes I will circle an enemy, block their attack then try my own attack right after but the game still goes "slow-mo" and they will riposte my attack. Should I not attack at all and wait for them to miss or something?

Basically, make sure to have plenty of stamina, because stamina will soak up most of the incoming damage if you fail to block the attack. Also, use movement keys (ASD) to dodge and side step incoming attacks; it can help you get out of the way of an incoming combo, as long as you're not backed up to a wall.

Even though the combat has RNG elements, there is no such thing as a miss(because of low skill/ low rng roll) Hence, Block(Q) and the upgrade version of it, Masterstrike (taught by Bernard in Rattay) is a must for every incoming attack. Aka, in KCD, Good defense is the best offense.

The slow-mo you experience means you have a chance to hit Block for the perfect block, or perhaps use ASD to dodge the incoming blow.

Once you have experience blocking attacks, you can tentatively try a jab or regular attack, and get a feel for your opponent's skill/str

Originally posted by ScareCrow:

I've had it with this, crappy combat, so I modded thje combat to have only duels and easy combat, and it changed the game to become enjoyable the way a GAME should be, so to anyone having a hard time, use mods!!

Many people have done this when they dont like the combat. I think there's more to KCD than that aspect anyway. Also, if achievements dont get disabled while modding, i feel like there's nothing wrong with doing some adjusting the game to fit your play style.

The vanilla version takes a bit getting used to, and requires some patience and time to practice and let Henry gain exp and level up his combat Skills. I don't think it's all that bad now, although as a newb, i hated it.


As Henry gains exp in his combat skills and gets better gear, you will notice an improvement while fighting enemies also. Just gotta keep training him instead of frustrating one self by save scumming difficult fights. If the fight is difficult, it probably means Henry should have avoided it for later, ran away, or trained his arse off first.

Edit: spelgram

[ScareCrow]

Originally posted by SympliKrazi:

Originally posted by Lycan:

Ok so its basically 100% you will take damage? How can I avoid it? Sometimes I will circle an enemy, block their attack then try my own attack right after but the game still goes "slow-mo" and they will riposte my attack. Should I not attack at all and wait for them to miss or something?

Originally posted by ScareCrow:

I've had it with this, crappy combat, so I modded thje combat to have only duels and easy combat, and it changed the game to become enjoyable the way a GAME should be, so to anyone having a hard time, use mods!!

Many people have done this when they dont like the combat. I think there's more to KCD than that aspect anyway. Also, if achievements dont get disabled while modding, i feel like there's nothing wrong with doing some adjusting the game to fit your play style.

The vanilla version takes a bit getting used to, and requires some patience and time to practice and let Henry gain exp and level up his combat Skills. I don't think it's all that bad now, although as a newb, i hated it.


As Henry gains exp in his combat skills and gets better gear, you will notice an improvement while fighting enemies also. Just gotta keep training him instead of frustrating one self by save scumming difficult fights. If the fight is difficult, it probably means Henry should have avoided it for later, ran away, or trained his arse off first.

Edit: spelgram

For your info I have over 900 hours on this game and I allready finished the story once, this is my second round, and I tried the vanilla at first again, but its terrible, unforgiving and directly sadistic, to punish a new player this way is not a good way to introduce new players at all even a veteran like me have a hard time, and I know how to train and gain exp you cant expect totally new players to even have a good time. and btw I'd love it to be that easy to just simply avoid that mission and train Henry to be stronger, but ambushes are unavoidable and outright unfair, for example you get dragged off your horse and camera is wailing 365 degress while 3 or 4 bandits are simultaniously stabbing Henry to death in 3 to 4 seconds! thats not a game anymore thats outright an execution of the player, you cant possible defend a game mechanic like that :)

[SympliKrazi]

Originally posted by ScareCrow:

For your info I have over 900 hours on this game and I allready finished the story once, this is my second round, and I tried the vanilla at first again, but its terrible, unforgiving and directly sadistic, to punish a new player this way is not a good way to introduce new players at all even a veteran like me have a hard time, and I know how to train and gain exp you cant expect totally new players to even have a good time

Indeed. I'm not trying to debate you, I'm speaking from from personal findings, which are apparently, different from yours.
I was new, and after a little bit of frustration and a little bit of research, i find melee combat enjoyable now.

Either way, there's nothing wrong with modding. And if a mod is what made the game enjoyable, then what's wrong with that? I have nearly a dozen installed personally, though they do not affect melee

[ScareCrow]

Originally posted by SympliKrazi:

Originally posted by ScareCrow:

For your info I have over 900 hours on this game and I allready finished the story once, this is my second round, and I tried the vanilla at first again, but its terrible, unforgiving and directly sadistic, to punish a new player this way is not a good way to introduce new players at all even a veteran like me have a hard time, and I know how to train and gain exp you cant expect totally new players to even have a good time

Indeed. I'm not trying to debate you, I'm speaking from from personal findings, which are apparently, different from yours.
I was new, and after a little bit of frustration and a little bit of research, i find melee combat enjoyable now.

Either way, there's nothing wrong with modding. And if a mod is what made the game enjoyable, then what's wrong with that? I have nearly a dozen installed personally, though they do not affect melee

What about the ambushes i told you about then? the execution ambushes? you never experienced that? and how can you enjoy that?

[SympliKrazi]

Originally posted by ScareCrow:

Originally posted by SympliKrazi:

Indeed. I'm not trying to debate you, I'm speaking from from personal findings, which are apparently, different from yours.
I was new, and after a little bit of frustration and a little bit of research, i find melee combat enjoyable now.

Either way, there's nothing wrong with modding. And if a mod is what made the game enjoyable, then what's wrong with that? I have nearly a dozen installed personally, though they do not affect melee

What about the ambushes i told you about then? the execution ambushes? you never experienced that? and how can you enjoy that?

I learned quick that as a low level Henry(early game), to keep my eyes peeled ambushes and avoid them. So i got a fast horse and upgraded it with gear and horsemanship perks. That's all.

I almost never engage ambushes because most of them have telltale signs on the road, such as a dead body, a wailing woman or a roadblock.

Also, ambushes are a distraction from what i want to usually do in the beginning; questing.

I only start doing them mid/late game when I'm actively looking for a fight on my terms, and hoping the bandits/cumans have expensive gear to loot and sell.

Edit: i learned that fast travel is risky and not fast at all when it comes to ambushes, and that a good horse and going the long way tends to be safer and faster overall.

[Lycan]

I really appreciate people taking the time to answer my original post but can we please not argue over the merits of modding or how people personally feel about the combat? I'm not against mods/changes to the game but for the time being I'm trying to play vanilla and would just appreciate answers from people who are better/more familiar with the game than myself.

[SympliKrazi]

Originally posted by Lycan:

I really appreciate people taking the time to answer my original post but can we please not argue over the merits of modding or how people personally feel about the combat? I'm not against mods/changes to the game but for the time being I'm trying to play vanilla and would just appreciate answers from people who are better/more familiar with the game than myself.

Apologies. Didnt mean to start a debate...

As for mods.. i found some things a little too tedious and annoying, such as 3rd person camera change every time Henry picks an herb, no auto-walk and no cross hair for bow, and only being able to clean the clothes on Henry in a trowel, but not in inventory. If i kept playing the vanilla i would have gotten tired by the end of Prologue and likely quit the game before Henry reached Uzhitz in the main quest.

[uglyface2]

I know this is about master strikes, but when you start trading perfect blocks and ripostes, it's better to just end things on a perfect block. My experience has been that you'll keep trading shots until the game stops letting you perfect block and the enemy gets in a hit/combo/long series of strikes. Ripostes don't seem to land as often as you'd think they should.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by Lycan:

Oh sorry you might be right, I wasn't sure what the difference was as "both" types seem to result from me 1: I swing, 2: enemy blocks followed by 3: enemy then gets a free damage hit. And I can't seem to stop them doing this, I've tried feints so i'll start "to swing from the left" then quickly change the directions to right or bottom-right or overhead or such, but its never made a difference as far as I can see? The enemy still just block+get free hit on me.

It sounds like you're attacking too soon, then. You want to wait until your opponent actually changes the angle of how they're holding their weapon or shield, so if you're faking an attack from your left, you want to wait until your opponent shifts their defenses to that direction. If you wait until your opponent does that, THEN start your feint, it stands a better chance of getting through. This is part of the "Train Hard, FIght Easy" main quest. It's also possible to sometimes dodge an incoming Master Strike if you move fast enough, but doing that requires that you've gained enough experience in playing the game to recognize an incoming Master Strike, and that's something that only experience can teach.

Like I mentioned earlier, clinches are a good way to hit your opponent without having to worry about Master Strikes. The clinch is when you and your opponent lock weapons, and that's an important technique to remember. If you win a clinch, you get an opportunity to land a free attack. If you're fast enough, you can get close enough to start a second clinch before your opponent's fully recovered. With good timing, you can start what I call a "clinch-chain", which is when you enter into a situation where all you're doing is a chain of clinches and hits.