The lack of handholding also carries over into Crimson Desert‘s somewhat convoluted combat system, where even basic mechanics like Parry, Counter, and i-frame dodging are not properly explained. These are usually standard in most ARPGs, but here you are left to piece them together on your own, which can feel a bit rough early on and make you vulnerable to attacks you can otherwise avoid with ease.
With how unforgiving Pywel can be when it comes to its bosses and general fodder encounters, understanding how these mechanics work can prove a much-needed edge. So here’s how to parry, counter, and dodge in Crimson Desert.
Table of Contents
- How To Parry In Crimson Desert
- How To Dodge (Backstep) In Crimson Desert
- How To Counter In Crimson Desert
How To Parry In Crimson Desert
In the Skills menu, you’ll find Parry already unlocked by default under the Spirit tree in Keen Senses, and it works similarly to how it does in any other game. To execute a perfect parry, you need to block right before an incoming attack is about to land.
You’ll need a shield, an offhand weapon, or a two-handed weapon, and you must press block with LB/L1 or CTRL, depending on what you’re playing with, within a very tight timing window. You’ll know you have landed it correctly when you hear a distinct cling, followed by a green visual cue that pushes the enemy back and leaves them open to a counterattack.
Consequently, a successful parry also restores all of your spent Spirit and Stamina, which makes it a reliable defensive tool if you get the hang of it.
However, while you can parry most attacks in Crimson Desert, you need to watch out for those with a red glow, as these cannot be parried, and you’ll mostly find them used by bosses. The same caveat applies to the Dodge (backstep) and Counter mechanic. More on this below.
How To Dodge (Backstep) In Crimson Desert
Dodge works quite similarly to the Parry skill, but you will need to unlock it first before you can use it in combat. To do so, you must upgrade the Keen Senses ability to Level 2 by spending one Abyss Artifact.
Once unlocked, you can execute it by pressing the evade input, which is B or Circle on a controller, or Alt on keyboard, within the proper timing window. If done correctly, Kliff performs a backstep that avoids the incoming attack.
A perfectly timed dodge triggers a visual cue similar to parrying and restores your Spirit and Stamina. It is a reliable option when you are unsure about committing to a parry.
How To Counter In Crimson Desert
The Counter skill is also part of the Keen Senses skill line, and you will need to unlock it before you can use it. To do so, you need to upgrade Keen Senses to Level 3 by spending two Abyss Artifacts, but you can save those materials, as Counter can also be learned by observing it in action.
In Hernand, you will find two spear-wielding guards behind the Lioncrest Manor practicing this ability. We’ve shown their location on the map, and if you take a moment to observe them, you’ll learn Counter for free, which is easily the better option.
When it comes to utilizing Counter in combat, it’s noticeably riskier and unforgiving than the other two abilities. While Parry and Dodge still offer some safety if mistimed because their input corresponds to a block or evade, Counter requires you to press RB/R2 or the left mouse button, right before an attack lands, and the timing window is even stricter.
If you manage to land it, however, it’s a highly rewarding move. You interrupt the incoming attack much like a parry, but you also immediately retaliate with a counterattack that deals damage, making it a high-risk, high-reward option.