Mastering Parry Techniques in Avowed

There’s nothing more satisfying in an action game than parrying an enemy’s attack, turning their momentum into a wonderful moment of gut-stabbing action. If that’s the *Avowed* experience you’re looking for, here’s how to master the art of parrying in the game.

How to Unlock Parry in Avowed

To unlock the Parry ability in *Avowed*, you’ll need to navigate to the menu and select the “Abilities” screen, then head over to the “Ranger” tab. The Parry ability is located in the middle column at the top. To unlock it, you first need to invest an Ability point into any of the three core trees. Once you’ve done that, you can unlock Parry.

Parry comes with three ranks, each offering different enhancements as you level up. Here’s a quick breakdown:

At level 10, you can unlock “Arrow Deflection,” a related ability that allows you to block arrows and other projectiles by parrying.

How to Parry Attacks in Avowed

To successfully parry in *Avowed*, you must block just before an enemy’s attack lands. You’ll hear a distinct metal clanking sound and see a visual indicator on the screen as the enemy recoils from your parry. The timing can be tricky and varies between enemies, but with practice, you’ll get the hang of it. It’s not as challenging to master as in games like *Dark Souls* or *Elden Ring*.

Parrying Isn’t Always an Option

Keep in mind that not all attacks in *Avowed* can be parried. If you see a red circle, you’ll need to dodge instead. Additionally, not all weapons are capable of parrying. Single-handed and two-handed weapons can generally parry, but not if they’re in your off-hand. Shields in the off-hand can also be used to parry. However, ranged weapons like guns, wands, bows, and grimoires cannot parry, so don't take “the pen is mightier than the sword” literally.

What Parrying Does (& Why You Might Want to Do It)

Parrying in *Avowed* is a powerful tool for stunning your attacker, causing them to stagger. This gives you an opportunity to deal significant damage, making parrying an effective way to avoid taking damage while increasing your offensive capabilities.

Depending on your character build, parrying may be more or less beneficial. It’s particularly advantageous for melee-focused characters who engage enemies up close. If your character specializes in ranged attacks, you might want to skip parry. However, if you're a melee fighter, it’s an incredibly useful ability. The good news is that respecing in *Avowed* is straightforward and affordable, so if you decide parrying isn’t for you, you can easily adjust your abilities later.

And that’s how to master parrying in *Avowed*.

*Avowed is available now.*