Here's how you parry, dodge, charge attack, & more in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has a fairly robust combat system - so here's how to parry, dodge & charge attack to get used to the combat basics.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has a fairly robust combat system, but it can take a while to get used to the basics. Thankfully, Tears of the Kingdom has almost exactly the same combat mechanics as Breath of the Wild, the game that came before it.
So, if you’ve recently played Breath of the Wild, then the combat basics in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom should be fairly familiar to you. In any case, here's our rundown of the combat mechanics in the game.
First up, to parry an attack in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you’ll need to equip a shield to - you can find these either in chests or dropped on the floor by certain enemies across Hyrule.
Once equipped, you’ll then need to keep an eye out for when an enemy is about to attack. For basic enemies, you’ll see that they bring their weapons behind their heads ready to swing the weapon down on you.
Alternatively, there may be an audible cue that indicates when an attack is about to hit you. Once you’ve identified this, you’ll need to be quick with your reflexes. Just before the attack is about to hit Link, hold up the shield in front of him with ZL, and press A.
This will cause Link to bat the attack away with his shield and achieve a ‘Perfect Guard’. This should cause the enemy to stagger slightly, letting you get a few hits in.
It’s also possible to parry incoming arrows and other ranged attacks. This can allow Link to either farm arrows in the early game or reflect ranged attacks at enemies, dealing huge damage from afar.
If you’re without a shield in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, then dodging an incoming attack is your next best option.
While targeting an enemy with ZL, keep an eye out for an incoming attack. Just before an attack hits Link, pull back on the left stick and press the jump button (X). If timed correctly, time will slow down and Link will enter ‘Flurry Rush’ mode.
This will allow him to get a few crucial shots in on his attacking enemy.
It’s also possible to dodge in either the left or right direction by moving in the corresponding direction on the left stick. The timing may take a bit of practice to get down, but it’s a crucial combat skill to get nailed down in Tears of the Kingdom.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of defensive combat abilities in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, let’s look at an offensive ability; a charged attack is the easiest way to deal more damage than a standard attack.
To perform a charged attack with a melee weapon, all you need to do is hold the attack button (Y). This will make Link charge up his attack, depleting his stamina wheel in the process. The longer the attack is held, the more damage it will deal. Many charge attacks deal damage in a wide area, which is great for dealing with groups of enemies.
Sometimes, close-quarters combat just won't cut it in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom; you can instead fire an arrow in slow-motion by pressing the ZR button whilst in the air to pull out, aim, and fire your bow and arrow.
Ranged attacks like these are perfect to get stuns in on your enemies.
However, the price for doing so is a hefty chunk of your stamina gauge, so make sure you are constantly upgrading your stamina when you can.
It will also come especially handy when fending off enemies like the Gleeok, by getting a more accurate shot at one of its three heads.
For more from the game, check out our Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom guides & news homepage for more essentials and updates right here at GGRecon.
About The Author
Joshua Boyles
Joshua is the Guides Editor at GGRecon. After graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in Broadcast Journalism, he previously wrote for publications such as FragHero and GameByte. You can often find him diving deep into fantasy RPGs such as Skyrim and The Witcher, or tearing it up in Call of Duty and Battlefield. He's also often spotted hiking in the wilderness, usually blasting Arctic Monkeys.
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