Why deflect does not usually work?

[monitor]

Hi, deflect does not work for me most of the time. Anybody knows why? Is it a timing problem? Do I have to face the enemy at a certain angle? Do I need more training?

[Xaphnir]

Yes, you do have to be facing the enemy. If your back is to an enemy when they attack, you cannot deflect their attack. If you're failing when facing the enemy, you're probably just missing the timing. I do sometimes feel like I'm missing deflects because the game is eating inputs, but it doesn't happen often, so if you're missing most of your deflects it's not likely to be that.

Are you playing on a TV? If so and it has any form of post-processing for the image (most newer ones do) make sure it's set to game mode or you'll get significant input lag.

[EF_Neo1st]

For deflecting you need to be facing the enemy, so set target lock on to target when you want to deflect.
Also, deflect becomes a block (or a complete miss) if you misstime your deflect or if you just spam deflect, so it is not a matter of siamming (and if you keep the button pressed for much more than a tick it will automatically become a block).

[md2501]

I would recommend using the lock on to make deflecting easier. That said you can deflect angled attacks so my guess is that you're actually struggling with the timing.

[erneiz]

Sekiro is actually rather generous in deflect window, if you keep failing deflect then try pressing guard a little earlier than you would usually.

[EF_Neo1st]

Originally posted by erneiz:

Sekiro is actually rather generous in deflect window, if you keep failing deflect then try pressing guard a little earlier than you would usually.

Or a little late . . . some slower or charged attacks are actually tricky to deflect properly.

[EF_Neo1st]

Just keep in mind that "just spamming deflect" may trick you into a false sense of secutiry, where from time to time it will miss deflect and let you get full hit or it will become a block and your posture may fill or even be broken by that hit.

The thing is, pay attention to the start of the attack and the moment the hit land on you.
If you want to test it use block and pay attention to the sounds and visual cues.

[md2501]

There are generally 2 types of attacks in this game: fast and slow. You can pretty much mash out deflects against a fast combo, but slower attacks with bigger arcs will require patience.

Also worth noting that spamming deflects reduces the timing window, so try to be deliberate with the L1 presses. You can try deflecting out of and into block as this will help you with posture management and you will block even if you mistime the deflect.

[Krono]

It's possible that your setup leaves you with some input lag, so your timing gets thrown off

[Xaphnir]

Originally posted by erneiz:

Sekiro is actually rather generous in deflect window, if you keep failing deflect then try pressing guard a little earlier than you would usually.

The one exception to this would be for attacks that hit rapidly. Some (though not all) have very tiny windows for deflecting certain parts of them, with one I think requiring frame-perfect timing for one of the hits.

[Sokurah]

Fight locked on and get the timing 🤗

[monitor]

Thanks. About the timing... When is the best time to hit the button to deflect? When the danger word shows up? I found those enemies in Hirata Estate even more difficult to deflect. Those who carry a long wooden rob like to hit me non-stop like crazy.

[Sokurah]

Originally posted by monitor:

Thanks. About the timing... When is the best time to hit the button to deflect? When the danger word shows up? I found those enemies in Hirata Estate even more difficult to deflect. Those who carry a long wooden rob like to hit me non-stop like crazy.

Attacks with a red symbol sould not be deflected. It works but the window for that is quite small.
They should be jumped (sweep) or mikiri countered (thrust), or sometimes dodged (grab).

The deflect wiondow for all usuall attack ist pretty generous tbh.

[monitor]

My Attack Power is 1. Maybe that is why I cannot fight with enemies face to face. How to increase it?

[Sokurah]

Originally posted by monitor:

My Attack Power is 1. Maybe that is why I cannot fight with enemies face to face. How to increase it?

Confront boss memorys

[Krono]

Originally posted by monitor:

Thanks. About the timing... When is the best time to hit the button to deflect? When the danger word shows up? I found those enemies in Hirata Estate even more difficult to deflect. Those who carry a long wooden rob like to hit me non-stop like crazy.

Thrust attacks can be deflected with perfect timing, but it's much better to use the Mikiri counter skill instead. Sweeping attacks should be jumped over, and grab attacks should be dodged or jumped away from. The one exception to grabs is in the Snake Eyes fight, where the grab can be deflected for some reason.

Originally posted by monitor:

My Attack Power is 1. Maybe that is why I cannot fight with enemies face to face. How to increase it?

As Sokurah said, you have to defeat bosses and "Confront the memory" at a shrine to increase your attack power. Similarly, to increase your health you get Prayer Beads (usually by defeating a mini boss) and use four of them at a shrine to increase your health