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For those who have experienced the popular action RPG, or nearly any action-adventure title, chances are you're familiar with the fantastic mechanic known as the “rolling dodge.” This evasion technique enables your hero to carry out a forward, sideways, or backward ground roll to evade any enemy attacks and gain space from opponents. Seems useful, right?

The dodge roll, though, has received significant backlash, and not just as a result of the somersault; some have dubbed it dumb, a cheap tactic, and an implausible action — and in some cases, I concur. You should see me tumbling about nearby enemy groups in The Witcher 3 — untouchable! But the title's rolling dodge represents the evasion to surpass every other rolling dodges, and let me explain.

In Elden Ring's case, the creators discovered an excellent method to address all opinions that the move is too easy: simply give each opponent excessive power, increase it further, and all heroes who ventures close them will be eternally grateful because of their evasion move, myself included. When the stakes are this high, pulling off a perfect dodge comes across as a triumph, instead of an unfair advantage.

No alternative avoidance technique in the game approaches this level of gratification and consistency, as quick dashes offer limited distance and defensive postures get quickly shattered by powerful foes. One player advised hopping as the main game dodging technique, but aside from not providing perfect repositioning, I didn't see how getting my skull smashed in would improve my chances of defeating bosses (skill issue, perhaps).

Perfecting the Skill

Although the rolling dodge offers respite in a famously difficult title, it isn't without skill. To begin with, Elden Ring's evasion move only triggers a period of immunity following you let go of the roll control, which hinders a hasty, frantic retreat from dire situations. Additionally, while it might transport you away from enemies, it's far more effective to utilize it as a moment to get closer, optimally at their back, and deliver attacks. And, finally, you must still understand and anticipate enemy attacks, as dodging at the start of a long charging animation could conclude your immunity ahead of the attack striking… causing significant harm.

A Balanced Mechanic

Even though rolling-dodging in rapid sequence might seem rather absurd (credit to Geralt once more), this isn't truly feasible in this title. Certainly, that fails to transform it into a believable battle technique — exactly the reason it would be terrifying to witness it in a title like a historical simulation — but this is a dazzling imaginative experience under discussion, therefore, it doesn't matter?

Like any proper evasion move, the game's dodge motion is spruced up with a brief tumbling leap at the start, giving it an energetic feel rather than dropping the character downward. Based on your equipment, the move can feel incredibly quick or moderately cumbersome, however, it's consistently quicker and smoother than the dodge rolls found in Dark Souls. Certainly, you will stick your big blade in the dirt when wielding such equipment, but that's your responsibility for not just playing a crossbow (Just kidding — avoid using the game with a crossbow).

The Perfect Balance

The game's avoidance feature creates the perfect balance between challenge and opportunity, granting chances of triumph while threatening to take that hope away at the smallest error. Learn this skill, and you'll gain more than triumph, but satisfaction.