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Having spent time with Elden Ring, or nearly any action-adventure title, chances are you're familiar with the wonderful feature called the “dodge roll.” This avoidance maneuver enables your hero to execute a forward, sideways, or backward ground roll to evade incoming harm and gain space from foes. Seems useful, doesn't it?

The dodge roll, however, has attracted significant backlash, and not only as a result of the somersault; some have dubbed it foolish, a cop-out, and an unbelievable technique — and in some cases, I see the point. Picture me rolling around hostile mobs in another popular RPG — can't touch this Geralt! But the title's rolling dodge is the dodge roll to top all dodge rolls evasion moves, and let me explain.

Regarding this title, the developers found a great way to counter all sentiments claiming the maneuver is overly simple: simply give all foes unreasonable strength, increase it further, and all heroes who dares come near them will appreciate deeply because of their evasion move, me included. Given the intense difficulty, successfully rolling to victory feels like an achievement, rather than a cheap trick.

No different defensive move in the game approaches this feeling of accomplishment and consistency, since rapid sprints don't cover much ground and defensive postures are easily broken by strong enemies. Someone once recommended jumping as a go-to game dodging technique, but besides failing to offer perfect repositioning, I couldn't understand how taking a crushing hit would improve my chances of overcoming challenges (inexperience, possibly).

Mastering the Technique

While this evasion move offers respite in a famously difficult title, it demands ability. Firstly, Elden Ring's rolling dodge only triggers a window of invulnerability once you let go of the evasion key, which hinders a hasty, frantic retreat from dire situations. Moreover, even though it can carry you off from opponents, it's much better to utilize it as a moment to get closer, optimally at their back, and strike blows. Lastly, it remains necessary to understand and anticipate enemy attacks, because rolling prematurely of a long charging animation may end your invincibility ahead of the attack striking… causing significant harm.

A Well-Designed Feature

Although evasion-rolling in fast repetition might seem rather absurd (kudos to the Witcher anew), this isn't really an option in Elden Ring. Of course, that still doesn't make it a believable battle technique — which is precisely why it would be pure horror to see it in a game like a historical simulation — yet we're discussing a dazzling imaginative experience under discussion, so who cares?

Similar to any respectable evasion move, Elden Ring's evasion sequence is enhanced with a small acrobatic jump at the start, providing a dynamic sensation as opposed to plopping the player on the floor. Based on your equipment, the move can feel extremely nimble or moderately cumbersome, but it remains faster and more fluid than the dodge rolls featured in the earlier games. True, you may embed your large weapon on the floor while equipped with it, but that's your responsibility for failing to use a crossbow (Just kidding — don't play the game with a crossbow).

Optimal Harmony

The game's evasion system forms an optimal harmony between obstacle and possibility, granting chances of triumph while risking the loss of that hope at the smallest error. Perfect this move, and you'll be rewarded with more than triumph, but fulfillment.